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102
JAIN RAMAYAN.
The vast court-yard in front of the palace was teeming with thousands of the Rakshasa warriors. Tremendous cries of victory reverberated in the sky. Moving slowly but majestically, the three Princes sat in their respective chariots. The horses neighed enthusiastically. As soon as the court-priest gave them a signal, Dashmukh Ravan's chariot moved majestically. The march of victory commenced.
The whole sky began to reverberate with the commotion of the Rakshasa army and their deafening cries of victory. Heavenly beings caused a shower of flowers over the princes. The sun-god of the million radiant rays, for a moment emerged from behind clouds and shone out in all his splendour. The whole earth became resplendent with the incomparable radiance of the sun as if the sun-god was blessing them with victory.
The Rakshasa army led by the three princes left Pathal Lanka and began marching towards Lanka. Dashmukh Ravan was at the head of the army, commanding it. Kumbhakarna was marching slowly immersed in his own slumberous thoughts absent-mindedly. Just then, Vibhishan's hand fell on his shoulder. Vibhishan said, “Dear brother! Why are you thinking so deeply? What are you thinking of ?" .
But Kumbhakarna did not pay heed to what he said. He was lost in his own slumberous thoughts. Would he be Kumbhakarna if he woke up from his slumber at the very first call ? Vibhishan thought for a few moments and then took a sharp and pointed arrow from his quiver. He fixed the arrow to his bow and took aim; and released it.
The arrow ran by Kumbhakarna's ear-rings with a whizzing noise. Suddenly, Kumbhakarna was upset and he leaped a little from his place. At once, he took up his mace and looked around angrily to find out who had shot the arrow. At this point, he saw Vibhishan near him with a smiling face.
"Oh! I think this is your heroism !”
"No brother. No ! That is not my heroism; it is your younger brother's" and the two brothers burst into uproarious laughter.
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