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154
SETUBANDHA
35. The host of apes whose security depended on Rāma lost heart as they looked at the directions that seemed to be empty. Paralysed with fear, and huddling together, they did not forsake Rāma, even though he had fallen.
36. Dejected, disheartened and anxious, the host of apes kept still as in a picture, their eyes fixed on Rāma, and hearts smitten with grief.
37. Even though Rāma had fallen, the visible serenity of his face, maintained with abiding fortitude, and highly prized because there was no trace of anguish, assured the host of apes that there was no cause for fear.
38. Thereupon Sugriva, whose eyes were sprinkled with consecrated water by Vibhişana, saw the demon, the son of Rāvana,14 as he stood close at hand, armed with his bow, having performed the task assigned to him.
.
39. Wrathfully lifting up a mountain, Sugrīva sprang up all of a sudden and rushed headlong, and halted only after he had chased the demon to Lankā as he ran away in fear.
40. Gratified at the destruction of the scions of Raghu, as reported by Indrajit, Rāvana cheered up, delighted to have found a means of winning Sītā.
41. Thereupon brought to the battlefield by the female demons by Rāvana's command, Sītā witnessed the momentary widowhood15 that had just befallen her. Beside herself, she wept aloud and swooned away after mourning a while.
42. Opening his eyes as he regained consciousness, Rāma beheld Lakşmaņa and began to lament, forgetting at the moment all his grief for Sītā.
43. 'Even Laksmana hath passed away. All the three worlds seemed to be in peril when his bow was strung. None there is in the world whom the sequel of fate doth not reach.
14. i.e., Indrajit.
15. Momentary because Rama was soon delivered from arrows, as described below.
the serpent
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