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458
JAIN RAMAYAN
"Mother! Why are you so fearful ? Don't you have confidence in your son's heroism. It is impossible to attain any great objective without courage and firmness. Therefore, please do not dissuade me from my path. Please do not oppose my wish. I am determined to go to the Dandakaranya."
Shambuk stuck to his guns and he set off to the Dandakaranya. He entered the terrible forest; found a convenient place and then declared :
"If anyone impedes my endeavours I shall make an end of him." Then he tied his feet to a branch of a banyan tree and hung his head downwards. He became absorbed in reciting the mantras to attain the sword called Suryahas. He had to carry out this tapas for twelve years and seven days. Shambuk was an absolutely celibate young man. He had conquered his senses. He with a pure mind began carrying out Tapas to attain that supernatural weapon.
Year after year passed. Shambuk was carrying out his Tapas with an unbroken concentration.
Twelve years passed and only seven days remained. Even there four days had passed.
If he continued the penance for three more days, he would attain the Suryahas sword.
He was almost on the point of attaining the Suryahas.
The Suryahas sword kept shining in the sky with an extraordinary radiance. The great sword produced light sky flashing out divine radiance. It was absolutely at hand. If he had a longer hand, he could have seized it easily. Such was the proximity of the sword. Shambuk by means of his determination was about to attain his objective.
Meanwhile, Lakshman happened to come near that bamboo grove. Shambuk was performing his Tapas in that bamboo grove. Lakshman suddenly noticed the radiant Suryahas hanging over him. At the very first sight, he found out that it was
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