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very fierce battle between them took place, terrifying to the Khecaras, the sole festival to the god Yama. There were words in the air, "Khara, whose strength is such in battle with Vişņu, is superior to a Prativişņu." Saumitri himself, ashamed from impatience, thought, "Time is being wasted in killing him," and cut off Khara's head with a sharp knife instantly. Duṣaṇa and his army, ready to fight with Lakṣmaṇa, were destroyed like an elephant and its herd by a forest-fire. Then Rama's brother returned with Virādha; and a twitching left eye surely announced bad fortune to the two gentlemen. After going a long distance, he saw Rāmabhadra among the trees; and when he had seen him without Sita, he became extremely dejected. The chief of the Raghus (Rama), not seeing Saumitri standing before him, wounded by the arrow of separation from Sītā, said in the empty space:
"While wandering over this forest, I have not seen Janaki. Have you seen her? Tell me, goddesses of the forest. Leaving Sītā alone in this terrifying forest filled with demons and wild animals, I have gone to Lakṣmaṇa, alas! Leaving Lakṣmaṇa alone in a battle with a thousand Rākṣasa-soldiers, I have come here again. Shame on the sense of stupid me! Oh! Sītā, how could I leave you in this unpeopled forest, my dear! Oh! dear Lakṣmaṇa, how could I leave you in the danger of battle!"
CHAPTER SIX
With these words, Ramabhadra fell to the ground in a swoon, powerful, seen by the birds even with lamentations. Lakṣmaṇa said to him, "What is this! Here is your brother, Lakṣmaṇa, before you, after conquering the enemy. Rāma regained consciousness from that speech, as if sprinkled with nectar, saw his younger brother before him, and embraced him. Weeping, Saumitri said, "This kidnaping of Sītā by some sorcerer was certainly the reason for the lion's roar. I intend to take away Janaki together with his life. Let us try now to get news of her. Install Viradha in his ancestral kingdom of Pātālalankā. For I promised him that in the battle with Khara."
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