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442
JAIN RAMAYAN
"What has happened? I am alive and brother Lakshman also is alive. When that is so why this lamentation?"
Suddenly his eyes fell on Lakshman's dead body lying on the throne. He was thunder-struck and cried aloud.
"Dear brother Lakshman ! What has happened to you? Why are you sitting mute and motionless thus ? Are you afflicted with some dreadful disease? Please speak out. There are remedies for maladies. We will give you expert medical treatment. Do not lament unnecessarily. O you Queens! I have sent for the best doctors in Ayodhya to attend on Lakshman".
All the ministers gathered in the place. The Chief Minister had already learnt that Lakshman had died but he found it difficult to inform Shri Ram of the truth because Shri Ram would not believe that Lakshman had died. Therefore, he sent messages to Vibhishan, Sugriv, Shatrughna and others to come to Ayodhya, so that all might be ready for any eventuality. First of all, Shatrughna came from Mathura. He was filled with anguish when he saw Shri Ram. He already knew that Lakshman had died and that nothing could be done in the situation but it was not easy to comfort Shri Ram who was in great anguish.
Of course, Shatrughna. Vishalya and all the others knew that Lakshman had died but they did not know the cause for his death. How could they know it? Only three knew it; the two divine beings and Lakshman. Lakshman's sudden demise filled everyone with bitter anguish. Everyone shed tears of grief.
Large numbers of the citizens of Ayodhya thronged the courtyard of the palace to pay their last respects to Lakshman. Thousands of Vidyadhars, Kinnars and Gandharwas came and landed at Ayodhya. The cloudless sky was covered with airships. When they came into the palace they found that Shri Ram had not yet realised fully the truth that Lakshman had died.
A tremendous commotion arose in every nook and corner of the universe on account of the sudden demise of Lakshman. Shri
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