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Six Years in Lanna
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sands of architects, sculptors and skilled builders went to Ayodhya accompanying Narad. They all went travelling through the sky.
The news spread in Lanka that on the sixteenth day from that day, Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman would leave Lanka for Ayodhya accompanied by their friends.
On hearing this news the people of Lanka were greatly agitated and grieved. They began thronging the palace of Vibhishan. They begged with tearful eyes; “Oh Lord of Lanka! Kindly persuade Shri Ram not to go to Ayodhya. Kindly see that at any rate, he remains here. If Shri Ram is not here; Lanka will be desolate and helpless."
Hearing the entreaties of the people, Vibhishan's eyes welled up with tears. Their hearts grew heavy with grief. He found it impossible to console the people. He remained silent. So, the crowds proceeded towards Shri Ram's palace. The loud cries and the commotion that arose from the crowds disturbed Shri Ram's meditation. He went to the window of his palace to see what was happening. The people humbly appealed to Shri Ram. “Dear Lord ! Kindly do not go to Ayodhya. If you go away, Lanka will be orphaned." Shri Ram watched the crowds arriving endlessly like sea-waves. All were weeping bitterly. Some could not even weep. All were shedding tears.
Shri Ram saw them; and was himself sad. Restraining his sorrow a little. he said in a dignified voice;
"Beloved citizens of Lanka! Bound by your bounteous love and affection, I have stayed here for six years and to me these six years have been like six hours but for our mothers and the others in Ayodhya, these six years have been like six millenia. I do not know what terrible anguish my mothers and my younger brothers are experiencing on account of their separation from us. They are finding it difficult to live without us. Spending every moment in our absence is more painful than death to them. Therefore kindly permit us to meet them and to end the long separation from them. We can never forget in
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