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JAIN RAMAYAN
sudden demise of Lakshman and the sudden renunciation of samsar by Lav and Kush". All this was like a dream, the very thought of which filled them with a nameless fear. Shri Ram's extraordinary attachment for Lakshman and his consequent anguish had agitated the minds of the people. The ministers stunned by the events kept watching them in utter stupefaction. In such a situation, who could console the grief-stricken ones? All were plunged in grief. The events that had taken place in the royal family had filled everyone with anxiety and anguish.
How is this samsar and how are its ways? Even the family of Shri Ram, the greatest of men that ever lived in the tide of times was not free from vicissitudes. Even that family had to pass through sun and shade; joys and sorrows; elations and depressions. If we take a bird's eye view of the events that took place in Shri Ram's life, we find that his life was full of vicissitudes; ups and downs; joys and sorrows, conflicting with each other and confounding him.
After Shri Ram regained his consciousness, he began sobbing.
"Dear brother. Have I insulted you at any time? Why have you become so silent? You have never been angry with me thus any time. Because of your sudden silence, Lav and Kush discarded me forever and went away from me. Yet, you do not speak a single word. I do not know what sin I have committed that all have been reproving me thus. You have left me in the midstream of life and joining them all, you too have reproved me. You have slighted me".
Shri Ram began lamenting like an insane person talking incoherently. The anguish of all increased. Vibhishan, Sugriv, Shatrughna and the others gathered near Queen-mother Kausalya who had grown old and decrepit. Kausalya who was once the radiant queen of Ayodhya had faced many calamitous situations in her life and her face had grown bleak and blighted.
Shri Ram going away to the forests with Lakshman and Sita; King Dasharath's renunciation and death; Shri Ram's
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