Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 263

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CHAPTER FIVE
become a mendicant and that Rāma and Saumitri had departed, and he was much depressed. Mahidhara promised Vanamālā to Surendrarupa, the son of King Vṛṣabha in Candranagara.
When Vanamālā heard that, she determined to die and, alone, went by fate to that garden during that night (when they were there). After entering the temple, she made a pūjā to the forest-deity and said, "May Saumitri be my husband in another birth." She went to the banyan tree and was seen by Lakṣmaṇa who was awake, a watchman for the sleeping Janaki and Rāma. Saumitri thought: "Is this a forest-deity, or the presiding deity of the banyan, a Yakṣiņi?" While he was thinking, she climbed the banyan and Lakṣmaṇa climbed it also, wondering, "What is she going to do?" With hands folded submissively, she said: "Mothers! Goddesses of the forest, of the directions, of the sky! All of you hear my prayer. Since Lakṣmaṇa was not my husband in this birth, may he be in another birth, if there is devotion on my part to him."
With these words she made a noose from her outer garment, tied it to the banyan and quickly hanged herself. Saying, "Fair lady, do not be rash. I am Lakṣmaṇa," Lakṣmaṇa took off the noose and took her down. In the last part of the night Lakṣmaṇa related the complete story of Vanamālā to Rāma and Sītā who had wakened. Her face veiled from shame, Vanamālā at once bowed to the lotus-feet of Janaki and Rāma.
Now Indrāṇī, wife of King Mahidhara, missed Vanamālā and shrieked pitiably. Mahidhara went out to search for Vanamālā and, wandering back and forth, saw her standing there. When the soldiers cried with raised weapons, "Kill! kill the kidnapers of the princess," the younger brother of Rama stood up angrily. He put the string on the bow, like an eyebrow on the forehead, and made a twanging noise which destroyed the enemy's arrogance. The enemy were terrified, trembled, and fell at the sound of the bow; Mahidhara stood before Saumitri