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An Incident in the Royal Court
119.
Once, Dashmukh Ravan thought of the holy mountain Meru. He entertained a strong desire to visit that holy place and to worship the permanent Jin images situated there.
"Auspicious plans should be carried out at once".
He decided to go to Meru on a pilgrimage with his friends and relatives and made arrangements for going there and to worship the Jin images; and at the appointed time, he set off with all pomp and show on a pilgrimage to- Meru. But after Ravan left for Meru, a thrilling event took place in Lanka. No one had even dreamt of such a thing.
A certain Vidyadhar by name Khara, the son of Meghprabha was travelling through the sky towards Lanka. At that time, Dashmukh Ravan's sister Chandranakha happened to be sitting at a window of her magnificent palace, watching the beauty of nature.
Khar, the Vidyadhar happened to see Chandranakha; and he became infatuated with her, fascinated by her beauty. He watched her beauty spell-bound. A spring of love surged out in his heart for Chandranakha. When her eyes met his eyes and when she saw him, she too became infatuated with him. The language of love removed the distance between them and united their hearts. As a result of this, Khar abducted Chandranakha and went away to Pathal Lanka.
Chandrodar, the son of King Aditya was ruling over Pathal Lanka. It was Dashmukh Ravan who had made him king of Pathal Lanka. Khar fought against Chandrodar and turned him away; and he occupied the throne of Pathal Lanka. "
When, after completing his pilgrimage, Ravan returned to Lanka, he came to know of this event. When he heard that in his absence, his sister had been abducted, he became furious; and burnt like a comet. It did not take much time for Mandodari to know the matter. She at once realized the impact that this event brought about on her husband.
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