________________
Sorrow and Joy
347
gate of Ayodhya, he recovered his consciousness. In utter confusion and amazement, he looked around. There were no soldiers and there was no noise of battle. For a few moments, he was lost in amazement, but when he realised the situation, he roared like a lion.
“Viradh! Where are we? Who brought me here? Where is the enemy? No battle is going on here, why ?"
"Dear lord ! Hit by the enemy's weapons you swooned. We were surrounded by enemies. Fearing capture, I brought you to safety here.”
"Viradh ! You have committed a great blunder. You have certainly blundered. I am Shri Ram's brother and Emperor Dasharath's son. Shall I run away from the battle-field, to save my life like coward ? No. No. This is unbecoming of a descendant of the Ikshvaku dynasty. What will Shri Ram say when he comes to know of this ? Viradh! What a disgraceful thing have you done! At once, turn the chariot towards the battle-field. Drive me to the battle-field without delay. Where is that enemy? I will not rest till I destroy him. I will cut off his head without delay. This chakra of mine will surely destroy the enemy. Drive me back to the battle-field."
Viradh shuddered with mortal dread on hearing Lakshman's
At once, he drove the chariot back to the battle-field but his mind was full of fears and doubts. He had witnessed from a close point, the enemy's extraordinary abilities. He had not seen or heard of any hero who could deal such a deadly blow to Lakshman himself and throw him down unconscious but he had to obey Lakshman's commands. Therefore Viradh did not say anything against Lakshman's command. He drove the chariot to the battle-field at a great speed.
"Wait a little, you ignorant boy! I will teach you a lesson!” Lakshman thundered again as soon as he entered the battlefield. The very next moment, he released the chakra and it went whirling and flashing through the sky. It went speeding towards Kush.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
