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440
JAIN RAMAYAN
Lakshman was absorbed in amusements and delights in his palace. He sat on his throne and was engaged in a jovial conversation. Just then, he heard a heart-rending lamentation. Even as he was wondering what it was, he found that the hundreds of Queens in his harem and their attendants were lamenting loudly. They seemed to be experiencing great grief. Their hair had fallen over their shoulders. The tears were streaming from their eyes and they were beating t were repeatedly saying, "O Ram! O Padma. 'O Ram! What have you done? What has happened to you? You have died prematurely. What will happen to the world? Who will take care of this world now ?” A great commotion had arisen in the palace. The palace was reverberating with the cries of their anguish and grief. The whole atmosphere was filled with grief and gloom.
Lakshman stood stupefied. His eyes were wide open with horror. His mind became a total blank. He began to cry, "Has my dearest friend died ? Has the pillar of my life collapsed ? Has my dear brother gone to the other world ? O you wicked god of Death! What have you done? The god of Death has taken away my brother leaving me in utter darkness and I am still alive. Fie upon my life! I too will join him. Alas! O Ram ! What has happened !” Lakshman's voice was choked with grief. He could not speak a single word; nor could he think of doing anything. Suddenly his heart stopped beating and the bird of his life flew away from his body. He died on the spot.
Lakshman died by merely hearing that Shri Ram had died. What a tremendous effect of Karmas! Who can prevent the Karmas from exercising their power ?
When the divine beings saw that Lakshman had died, they found that the ground beneath their feet was shaking. They began to shudder with fear. They felt stunned and in great grief they kept looking at each other.
“O what a calamity has occurred on account of us! We have unnecessarily committed a great blunder. We have destroyed the very pillar that supported this world. We have destroyed
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