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Entering Ayodhya
Arrangements were made for the stay of Lav and Kush in Shri Ram's palace. Thousands of citizens, villagers and the members of the royal family, relatives and friends thronged the palace to have a glimpse of the heroic princes Lav and Kush. The people offered their highest respect to the princes. After a long time Shri Ram's palace began to shine resplendent. Since the time Sita left the palace it was desolate like a burial ground. Now again it looked radiant and magnificent.
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On that day, a grand banquet was arranged in honour of Lav and Kush at the palace of Lakshman. He took Lav and Kush to his palace. The thousands of queens in Lakshman's harem were waiting impatiently to see the young princes; to receive them with love and affection and to spend some time happily with them, showering upon them their motherly love.
Lakshman had invited even Sugriv, the king of the Vanardweep to that banquet. He had also extended such special invitations to Vibhishan the king of Lanka, Hanuman, the son of Pavananjay, Angadh and Bhamandal, the beloved. All gathered in Lakshman's palace at the appointed time.
Before the banquet began, Lav and Kush met Lakshman's queens whose love and affection overwhelmed them with joy. The affectionate treatment given to them by Lakshman at the time of the banquet filled them with inexpressible delight. The guests such as Sugriv and Vibhishan also extended to them an honourable welcome befitting their heroism.
The banquet began in the midst of the divine melodies emanating from various musical instruments on which experts were playing. All were enjoying the banquet but only Sugriv was sad and depressed. He was eating food silently; and he looked serious and thoughtful. He kept glancing at Lav and Kush repeatedly. Bhamandal kept watching carefully the thoughts and feelings appearing on Sugriv's face, while Lav and Kush forgot themselves overwhelmed by the affection shown by the others.
After the dinner, all gathered in Lakshman's counselchamber. Lakshman sat with Lav and Kush on a magnificent
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