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Some New Events
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them silent and still. After a little while, Shri Ram began playing on the divine veena presented to him by Gokarna, the king of Yakshas.
Shri Ram was playing on the veena producing divine melodies. Lakshman was singing sweetly vocalizing the whole gamut of tunes, and darkness slowly covered the area. The music and the dance continued for sometime and then stopped. Shri Ram became conscious. He believed that the supernatural being that had been making that sound every night would appear on that night also. The same thing happened.
In the sky there appeared some black and monstrous figures making terrific noises. Slowly those black and diabolical figures went behind the munis.
At once a supernatural being with a monstrous form became visible. He stood before the munis and began laughing arrogantly. He was a supernatural being called Bethal. The other monsters also began to cause impediments to the munis by their horrid cries and their frightful gestures. Shri Ram looked to
akshman. He made a sign to Sita suggesting to her that she be seated near the munis. Then Shri Ram and Lakshman assumed their ferocious and formidable forms and attacked the monsters. The Bethal and the monsters felt paralysed by the astounding splendour of Shri Ram and Lakshman. All their supernatural powers and abilities began to fail and they began running away and the spell they had cast also disappeared. Since the impediments disappeared and serenity descended upon the area the two munis attained Kevalinan.
The sounds of divine trumpets were heard in the sky. Gods, goddesses, Gandharvas and Kinnars and Vidyadhars came to celebrate the event of the attainment of Kevalinan by the munis. There was a grand celebration and jubilation. Shri Ram, Lakshman and Sita offered their devotion to the Kevaljnanis.
After the great celebration was over Shri Ram saluted the munis and said :
“Oh great men ! What is the secret of the Bethal who was causing impediments to your endeavours ? Who is he and why
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