________________
36
JAIN RAMAYAN
Since, it believed that it had swallowed him. it began to exult over its victory but its exultation did not last long. Hanuman struck it with his mace and paralysed it from within. He tore off its body and came out. This was the only impediment he had to overcome. After overcoming it, he found it easy to enter Lanka. By means of his own supernatural powers, he destroyed the Aashalika power. Vajramukh, the Rakshasa warrior who was guarding the fort took up his sword and came forward furiously to attack Hanuman.
Actually, Hanuman was a warrior of outstanding skill. He was at once heroic and intelligent. This kind of attack was but a children's game for him. He held Vajramukh's hand and killed him by dealing deadly strokes to him with his mace.
The man who is determined to achieve success in his endeavour goes forward surmounting the impediments and difficulties that appear on his way. Such a hero never feels helpless; nor is he daunted or discouraged by such impediments. He faces them with patience and heroism and overcomes them.
Vajramukh was killed.
Lankasundari was the valiant daughter of Vajramukh. She was renowned throughout Lanka not only for her extraordinary beauty but for her unexampled accomplishments and virtues such as politeness and wisdom. Many Rakshasa warriors and statesmen were yearning for her hand in marriage, but no one had been able to secure her.
Can man in this world attain what he desires ? No; yet he keeps yearning to attain what he desires; and writhes in agony if he does not attain them.
Lankasundari was greatly grieved to hear about the death of her father. She never believed that her father who was a mighty Rakshasa hero would be killed. So, she wanted to know who had killed her father. She took up her sword and rushed out of her palace. The sight she saw as soon as the reached the passage of the main entrance of the palace stupefied her. Her father's body lay in a pool of blood and nearby a mighty hero was fighting and killing Rakshasa warriors.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
