Jain Ramayana Part 3

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 292

280
JAIN RAMAYAN
“That is a fact.”
"But how monstrous! What a gross sin she has committed ! Eventhough she is the wife of such a great man as Shri Ram, she has stooped to this level; has she not ?"
"What else could she do? Was not the prosperous city of Lanka a happy place compared to the forests where she had to wander with Shri Ram ? Added to this, Ravan who is a Prativasudev admired her. She had the good fortune of securing such an admirer. So, naturally she stooped to this mean level.”
The attitude of the people of Ayodhya towards Sita totally changed. The evil design of the wicked queens Ratinibha, Shridhama and Prabhavati succeeded. They were fully successful in staining the character of Sita which was pure and white like milk. A cyclone of rumours and scandals rose all over the city of Ayodhya. The joy and satisfaction of the jealous queens knew no bounds. They felt elated and triumphant since Sita's character was now stained and besmirched. They thought, “Now, our lord will despise Sita. Henceforth, he will be in our possession and we will bathe him with the waters of our love." The three queens were experiencing reckless happiness. They felt triumphant and forgot themselves in their joy.
The rumours and scandals relating to Sita spread to every nook and corner of the city. The leading citizens of Ayodhya fell into a confounding dilemma. They were shocked to hear these rumours. They began to spend sleepless nights. So, the leading citizens decided to hold a meeting to discuss the matter. Accordingly, the leading citizens of Ayodhya, Vijayashreshti, Surdev, Madhumal, Pingal, Shuladhar, Kashyap, Kal, and Kshema met in the house of Vijayashreshti. All were in a state of distress and gloom. They looked bleak and blighted. They knew the purpose of the meeting. They were fully aware of the seriousness and importance of the matter. They knew that the voice of Duty was stern and exacting. They knew how hard it was to carry out their duty in this regard. After a long silence, Vijayshreshti began;