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198
JAIN RAMAYAN
grain over Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman and performed an auspicious aarthi to them. At the same time, they stood speechless watching the sight of the return of Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman to Ayodhya. In softly uttered accents, they extended a hearty welcome to them. Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman waved their hands to greet them and to accept their greetings.
But they were eager to meet their mothers. Their mothers also were eagerly awaiting their arrival. Oh! The reunion that takes place after a long and impatient waiting is indeed thrilling. It is indeed felicitous and it is indeed delightful. The Pushpak landed in the vast courtyard of the palace. Shri Ram, Sita, Lakshman and others alighted from the Pushpak and proceeded towards the palace of queen Aparajita.
As soon as they entered the palace Shri Ram, Lakshman and Sita fell at the feet of mother Aparajita and bathed them with tears. Queen Aparajita bestowed her heartiest blessings upon them. Shri Ram looked into the face of his mother. Her face which was wrinkled and skinny looked withered like a dry leaf, prematurely old. She seemed to be a mere skeleton covered with skin. She had not put on any colourful garments or ornaments. Though she was the queen of a vast and mighty kingdom there was no sign in her face or in her movements, of royal splendour or the pride of power and authority. Her eyes looked gloomy and sunken and her voice was choked with emotions. Shri Ram placed his head on her feet again and again and bathed them with his tears. Having been silent for a while, he turned towards his other mothers Sumitra, Kaikayi and Suprabha and saluted their feet. They too, overwhelmed with emotions, bestowed their bounteous blessings upon them. The four brothers then sat near queen Aparajita.
Then, Sita, Vishalya and the other daughters-in-law bowed to the feet of Aparajita, Sumitra, Kaikayi and Suprabha. Queen Aparajita took Sita and Vishalya into her lap and fondled them with an inexpressible affection. She embraced them and blessed them.
The members of the royal family at Ayodhya were seeing Vishalya and the other princes now for the first time. The
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