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The Reunion with Relatives
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princesses were greatly overwhelmed with joy at the sight of the incomparable splendour of Ayodhya, the affection and love of the members of the royal family and of the people of the city. They were amazed at the extraordinary affection shown by their mothers-in-law. They were deeply moved by the affection shown by their mothers-in-law.
Queen Aparajita's heart overflowed with affection for Lakshman. Of course, he was the son of Sumitra but Shri Ram and Lakshman were like her two eyes. The princesses sat at the feet of their mothers-in-law and Lakshman sat beside Queen Aparajita. He took her hand into his and kept looking at her eyes.
"Mother dear!” Lakshman said affectionately...
“Dear Child !" Lakshman placed his head upon Queen Aparajita's lap and began weeping like a child. The tears streamed down the checks of Queen Aparajita. She kept stroking the head of Lakshman with overflowing affection. Lakshman looking towards his mother, Aparajita said :
"Mother! How withered your face is! How grief-stricken your face is ! Indeed, you have grown old prematurely."
“Dear son! The days of my adversity have ended. I am supremely happy that all of you have returned to Ayodhya. The day of our happiness has dawned. This joy will surely rejuvenate me and make me young again. Your presence fills me with an indescribable joy. I feel as if you are born today; and my heart overflows with affection for you. I feel a fresh spring of joy has been surging in my heart."
"Mother ! On account of grief you have become a mere skeleton. We had almost forgotten you !" And Lakshman began to weep like a child.
"Dear son! What a thing to say ! In the forests, you had to experience adversities at every step. You had to wander amidst pathless forests! You had to wander without food or water for days on end. You had no shelter except the shadows of trees.
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