Jain Ramayana Part 1

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 50

20
JAIN RAMAYAN
use of thus giving way to agitation and despair ? Someone has rightly said”, “If the head is safe, hats are many". You are worrying yourself in vain".
"Prajnanidhi! I am deeply worried by one thing. Fate did not favour us inspite of our tremendous endeavours and the cruel death of our dear brother. I do not know what is in store for the Rakshasa dynasty. I do not know what Destiny has decreed regarding our future."
"Oh King of Lanka ! Though this is a time of ill-luck for us I think instead of losing heart, we should strengthen our army and plan to teach a bitter lesson to Indra who is haughty. I think we should destroy him", the commander of the army. Vajranand said in an angry voice, spitting fire.
"No, No. My dear friends! That is absolutely impossible. Did you not witness the pitiable consequences of our unwise endeavour ? Unnecessarily, thousands of soldiers were violently killed. Countless friends of ours were slain in the battle. The darling children of many mothers, the loving brothers of many sisters and the loving husbands of many noble women have slept in the lap of Time for ever. Countless noble women have been widowed, in the twinkling of an eye. Yet, what did we benefit from all this? Mere defeat; mere disgrace and mere frustration! We faced a humiliating defeat in the war; and we have been expelled from our own country. No, my dear heroes ! I do not want to repeat the blunder and cause the total decimation of the Rakshasa race". Sumali said in a voice charged with profound sorrow, heaving a long sigh.
“Then, what shall we do now, dear Lord !" somebody said summoning up courage.
“We have to spend sometime in this manner. We have to spend time with patience and peacefulness until a mighty warrior of incomparable militaric prowess is born in our Rakshasa dynasty. There is no use of impatience and anxiousness”. Sumali thus spoke in grave and measured accents explaining his future policy.