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JAİN RAMAYAN
back to Ayodhya. Dear brother! Do not delay. If you delay even a moment, serious calamities might occur; and Sita unable to bear with the separation from you will commit suicide."
"Can Sita still be alive in that terrible forest ?” "Surely dear brother !"
"Then, I will set off at once."
Shri Ram, at once, got up. Lakshman also got ready to
him. The commander Kritantavadan and others like Vibhishan also got ready for the journey. They all sat in the Pushpak Viman; and set off in the direction of the Simhaninad forest. Within a short while, they reached the forest. The Pushapak began flying over the forest. The Pushpak landed where the commander had left Sita. Shri Ram and Lakshman leaped down at once. All began to search for Sita Shri Ram wandered through the forest crying, "Sita !'.. Oh Sita !” Lakshman climbed tall trees and looked around for Sita. Kritantavadan went into dense parts of the forest and searched for Sita in every bush and brake. Vibhishan followed Shri Ram like his shadow.
They searched for her in every mountain, every valley and every cave.
They searched for her in every bush, brake and bower.
But they could not see Sita anywhere; nor could they find any trace or mark of her movements there.
In consequence, Shri Ram sank to the ground in utter gloom and despair, like a severed branch of a tree. Lakshman, Vibhishan and Kritantavadan also sat down by Shri Ram's side in utter gloom and anguish.
"How can she remain alive in this terrible forest which abounds in wild animals? Some wild beast might have killed and eaten her.” Imagining this possibility, Shri Ram felt stupefied. His heart broke to pieces. His body seemed to be falling to pieces. Again summoning some courage and entertaining new
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