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INTRODUCTION
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told him that through his separation, Uparambhā was on the verge of death (12). If he accepted Uparambhà he would be the master of Asāli, Sudarśana Cakra and Nalakūbara. At this Rävaņa looked at Vibhişaņa. The messenger went to take her bath. Vibhisana observed, "This is the occasion for employing strategem (13). If you are bent on success, somehow acquire Āśäli and you can still manage not to touch Uparambhā. Agreeing with this, Rāvana presented garments and ornaments to the messenger and then asking for the Aśālī charm got it (14). Now the two hostile armies fell upon each other. Vibhişaņa soon captured Nalakūbara. The city as well as the Sudarśana were also captured. Uparambhā was not accepted by Rāvana. Nalakūbara was thus subdued, and the kingdom was given back to him (15).
ana presented the Aśāli charm bhisana soon capo
XVI Sandhi. Indra's consultation with his ministers:
Failure of the negotations: Rāvana and Indra prepare for war.
Indra's spies gave him an idea of Rāvana's policy and the strength of his army (1), of how he spent his day and night according to a fixed schedule, which made provision for doing justice to all the state and private duties (2-3). As Indra did not avail any of the previous opportunities of extirpating the enemy, who had grown from strength to strength, now he had become very mighty. But Indra said: "To have killed a boy was below my dignity (4). Indra then proceeding to the consultation hall, where extreme secrecy was maintained, asked his ministers: 'As the enemy now appears almost invincible, what course of policy is to be followed?' Bharadvāja said: 'You act according to your best lights without consulting the counsellors. Thereupon Visalacakşu said: "Even in chess the king does not move without the help of the minister' (5). Parāśara, Piśuna, Kautilya, Manu and others stressed the necessity of an increasingly greater number of ministers for the successful running of the state. Eventually all expressed their opinion in favour of maintaining friendly relations with Rāvana (6). So long as the expedients of conciliation, dissension or gift worked why should anybody resort to war? They pointed out various malcontents among Rāvana's feudatories who provided a fruitful soil for sowing dissension. They advised, With this end in view the messenger Citrānga should be sent to Rāvana's court' (7). Accordingly Citrānga was called and while Indra was giving him instructions, Nārada informed Rāvana of the impending arrival of extremely clever Citrānga, and of the political design underlying it. He strongly advised him to reject the offer of friendship as at that moment Indra was weaker of the two. This good turn was done to him by Nārada remembering Rāvaņa's help at the time of Marutta's sacrifice (8). Nárada left and Rāvaņa gave instructions to his commander-in-chief to guard the forces against spies.
Citrānga came to Märīca's palace and thence was brought to Rāvana, who, after due ceremony inquired about the strength of Indra's forces. Citrānga said, 'Indra is all powerful' (9). Rāvana praised him as a very clever messenger and asked the purpose of
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