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22
JAIN RAMAYAN
"O you hero ! Ratnajati ! You have displayed extraordinary courage in challenging Ravan to a fight. Oh! I do not know how greatly Sita is grieved and where she is now."
"My lord! The agonised cries of Sita filled all creatures, all birds and animals with deep grief. I could not bear to witness her grief. Hearing the grief-stricken screams and cries of Sita, I drew my sword and attacked Ravan. I did not care to lose my life in defending and trying to save Sita."
"Dear Ratnajati! You are indeed blessed! You are indeed brave, kind and compassionate. That ignoble Ravan might have deprived you of your powers but I will destroy all his powers and potentialities and take a severe revenge against him by sending him to the kingdom of Death. Only after that will I breathe freely. Is Sita crying in grief? Is her lamentation filling the skies ?”
"O my lord! What shall I say? The tears kept flowing from her eyes like rivers. She was weeping bitterly. She kept repeatedly saying. “O Ram ! O Lakshman ! O Bhamandal !" She said nothing else but her heart-rending cries had no effect on Ravan. He was not at all moved by her grief."
What Ratnajati said filled Shri Ram with inordinate grief but he was also delighted to hear some news about Sita; and he tried to console himself by repeatedly questioning Ratnajati about Sita. He tried to seek consolation and relief by passing his hand gently over the shoulders of Ratnajati, the king of Sursangitnagar. But he could not check his grief and agitation. He heaved a deep sigh and got up and began walking to and fro.
Lakshman, Sugriv, Bhamandal, Viradh, Nal, Neel and the other Vanara heroes heard the entire story of Sita from Ratnajati and were waiting for Shri Ram's commands.
“Dear Sugriv !”
"Dear Lord! What are your commands ?" The king of Vanars stood up and bowed his head in veneration.
“How far is Lanka from here ? How can we reach Lanka ?”
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