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408
JAIN RAMAYAN
"But, revered lord! You have narrated the story of Bhamandal very briefly.”
"Vibhishan! I will narrate the story of your earlier lives in detail. That will satisfy your curiosity.”
"Revered Lord! You have bestowed a great compassion on us. Otherwise, how could we ever know the stories of our earlier lives. Kindly narrate the stories of the earlier lives of Lavan and Ankush." Lavan and Ankush were sitting in front of Vibhishan. They were experiencing great delight, hearing the stories that the muni was narrating. The two brothers sat spellbound deeply absorbed in the stories that the great muni was narrating but when they heard Vibhishan questioning the muni about their earlier lives, they too became eager to hear that story. They glanced at each other revealing their joy and eagerness. Vibhishan placed his hands on the heads of the brothers affectionately.
"Noble man ! Once there was a prosperous city by name Kakandi. A brahmin by name Vamadev lived in that city. His wife was Shyamala. They begot two sons who were named Vasunand and Sunand.
One day, when the two brothers were at home, a muni came to their door for Madhukari (food). On that day the muni had to end his fast which had lasted a month. Vasunand and Sunand received him with great veneration and gave him excellent food.
What an extraordinary efficacy of benevolence! The two brothers after their death were born as Yugaliks (twins). They
by nature, simple, amiable and serene. After their death they were born in the second heaven. After completing their
nly existence, they were born again as princes in the city of Kakandi. They were born as the children of King Rativardhan and Queen Sudharshana. They were named Priyankar and Shubankar. In course of time, they became Kings and then they adopted the path of Charitradharma.
As shramans, they carried out excellent spiritual austerities and after their death, they were born in the heavenly world
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