Book Title: Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4
Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra
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THE KIDNAPING OF SITA
229 himself and looked at him. After observing him; he said, "Unstring your bow, Saumitri. You, longed for, have come because of my daughter's merit.”. When Saumitri had unstrung the bow, Mahidhara, being comfortable, noticed Rāma, descended from his excellent chariot, and bowed to him. He said to him : "Even before, I intended this girl for your brother Saumitri, because she herself was in love with him. Now a meeting between them has taken place by my good fortune. Certainly, Lakşmaņa as a son-in-law is not easy to obtain, nor you as a connection.” With these words Mahīdhara led Janaki, Rāma, and Lakşmaņa to his own palace with great honor.
One day while they were there, a messenger from King Ativīrya came and said to King Mahīdhara while he was in the council: "The king of Nandyāvartapura, Ativīrya, an ocean of strength, summons you for assistance in a quarrel with Bharata that has arisen. Many kings have come in Dāśarathi's army. Therefore, you, very powerful, are summoned by Ativīrya.” Lakşmaņa asked, "What is the reason for the quarrel of the king of Nandyāvarta with King Bharata?” The messenger replied: "Our master wishes homage from Bharata, but he is not willing to give it. That is the cause of the quarrel." Rāma asked the messenger, "Is Bharata a match for Ativīrya in battle, sir, that he disdains service to him?” The messenger said: "Our Ativirya is very powerful; Bharata is no ordinary person. Therefore, which one of the two will be victorious is in doubt."
Saying to the messenger, "I shall come quickly," the king dismissed him and said to Rāma: “Alas for the ignorance of this Ativīrya of little wit that he intends to fight with Bharata, after summoning us. Going with a complete army we, our hostility being unknown, shall kill him, as if at Bharata's command." Rāma said, "You stay here. I shall go there with your sons and their armies and shall do whatever is suitable.” He agreed,
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