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LXXXI
THE ROYAL COURT OF LANKA
Ravan stopped the war on the fourth day and invited all his ministers for a consultation. Since he was very arrogant and obstinate, he never liked to hear anyone else being praised in his presence. For having given sensible advice to him, he once got ready to kill his younger brother Vibhishan who loved justice and righteousness. So Vibhishan left him for good. He knew very well what kind of counsel his ministers would give him but he had been facing reverses in the war and all his endeavours to achieve a victory were ending in a failure. He had suffered heavy losses and reverses. He had caused the death of lakhs of Rakshasa soldiers for the sake of Sita. Apart from this, he had suffered a heavy loss of chariots and weapons. The great Rakshasa heroes Indrajit, Meghavahan, Kumbhakarna and others were captives in the Vanara camp. Many of his sons had died, fighting. Even now, Sita shunned and despised him. She considered it a terrible sin even to look at his shadow Ravan knew all this but what could he do ? He had no selfcontrol. His infatuation for Sita had blinded him to reason. He was determined to attain Sita even if it meant the loss of his empire. He would not mind any loss but he was bent upon attaining Sita. He planned to carry out his evil desires on the strength of the counsel of his minister.
All the ministers arrived and occupied their seats in the royal court but on that day the magnificent golden palace of Lanka appeared to them to be bleak and blighted. It seemed to have been enveloped by hellish murkiness. The floor studded with gems appeared to be flooded with blood. Gloom and grief filled the faces of all the warriors, lords and attendants in the palace. There was despair in the face of everyone. The lamps
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