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194
JAIN RAMAYAN
to know of all this, his love for Shri Ram grew a thousandfold. His heart overflowed with affection and devotion for Shri Ram.
Lakshman had narrated all this to Vishalya. She had fully shared and approved of his thoughts and feelings. Would she now insist upon his accepting her suggestion ? No. She never thought of doing so.
The discussion she had with Lakshman gave Vishalya, great joy. The day was about to dawn; and the time was fast approching for their journey to Ayodhya. The bell rang from the magnificent palace of Lanka to indicate that the night had ended.
The day dawned. The goddess of the dawn appeared in the eastern horizon in all her grace and beauty. The radiant goddess came dancing from the east and led with her the flowery morning. The stir of activity appeared everywhere. The citizens of Lanka, the great heroes of the Rakshasa line, the courtiers, the ministers, the officers and the members of the Royal family gathered at the palace to bid good-bye to Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman; their honoured and beloved guests. There seemed to be an ocean of human beings rolling in front of the palace.
The Pushpak Viman was ready for its flight. At an auspicious time, Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman ascended the Pushpak accompanied by their friends. At once, the Pushpak rose into the sky; and began to fly towards Ayodhya. The people of Lanka bade farewell to Shri Ram and others with tearful eyes. The cries of victory issued by them began to reverberate in the skies. Gods and goddesses blew on heavenly conch-shells, at the time of their departure.
Sita's face was radiant with joy and elation since she had been released from captivity. Her joy knew no bounds. She felt as though mighty waves of joy were rising in her heart. We do not come across in any grantha a true description of her joy and jubilation; nor has any writer endeavoured to describe in words and to give it a local habitation and a name. And where is any need for it? It is a thing to be felt and realized; not to be read in a book.
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