Jain Ramayana Part 3

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 70

58
TAIN RAMAYAN
This event brought about a change in Ravan. He who had been thinking of Sita now began to think of taking revenge against Shri Ram. Ravan was the very embodiment of pride. The disgrace he had suffered at the hands of Hanuman was worse than death. He became mad with fury.
Vibhishan also was not inactive. He had been silently and carefully watching the actions of Hanuman. He knew the destruction that Hanuman had caused in the garden. He also knew how Hanuman had disgraced Ravan. One question kept appearing in his mind again and again. "Why have all these unhappy things occurred ? It is all on account of the obstinacy of the emperor of Lanka. It is all on account of his lust for a woman!” He was greatly agitated over his elder brother's contemptible and ignoble action. He had no solution to the problem of what might happen to Ravan and how he could be prevented from committing enormities. “What will happen if he continues to be obstinate ?" The answer to this question was clear enough, "The destruction of Lanka and the decimation of the Rakshasa dynasty."
Vibhishan was deeply worried. He was full of contempt for Ravan's ignobility and inhumanity. He was deeply grieved over it. He was full of contempt and abhorrence for the flatterers and time-servers who surrounded Ravan but the fiatterers did not care for his attitude because they enjoyed Ravan's favour and patronage. Ravan ignored Vibhishan's advice and valued their wicked advice. Vibhishan felt that the events would lead to a terrible disaster but he was unable to do any. thing.
Sita who had been kept captive in the Devaraman garden began dreaming of a joyful and happy future. She felt that happy days were not far in her life. Hanuman's visit filled her with new hopes and dispelled her despair. Colourful clouds of joy and elation began to hover through the firmament of her imagination. "Shri Ram and Lakshman will arrive. Ravan will be destroyed. Lanka will be devasted and my lord will release me from this captivity." She began weaving in her imagination a garland of joyful thoughts and emotions.