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RĀMA'S EMANCIPATION
343 of wealth and take this wretched initiation?” The Indra of Saudharma knew by clairvoyance this thought of Rāma's and said in his council : "Indeed, the course of karma is uneven. Räma, who has his final body, laughs at dharma himself and, on the other hand, praises comfort which consists of sense-objects. Or rather, it is well known that there is a very deep mutual affection between Räma and Lakşmaņa, the cause of attachment to existence." From curiosity two gods there went to Lakşmaņa's house in Ayodhyā to test their affection. By using sorcery they suddenly showed Lakşmaņa all the women of the household weeping pathetically. “Oh, Padma, lotus-eyed, sun to the lotuses of relatives, what is this sudden death of yours terrifying to the universe ?." Seeing the women of the household lamenting in this way, beating their breasts, their hair disheveled, Laksmana, sorrowful, said: "Is he, my brother, the life of very life, dead ? Has this been done by malignant Kộtānta by using trickery?” As he was saying this, Saumitri's life departed with the speech. The ripening of karma is hard to overcome. He remained seated on his lionthrone, leaning against a golden pillar, his eyes protruding, motionless, like an image to be anointed. Seeing Laksmaņa lifeless, the two gods, sorrowful, said to each other, "Alas! what have we done? Why did we kill this man, the support of the universe, alas!” Blaming themselves very much, they went back to their own heaven.
Seeing Lakşmaņa lifeless, the women of the household and their attendants wept, their hair disheveled. Hearing their lamentation, Rāma went there and, ignorant of the calamity, said: "What has happened? While I am alive, my younger brother lives. Some disease affects him. Medicine is the remedy for that.” Saying this, Rāma summoned physicians and astrologers, and had repeated use made of charms and spells. At the uselessness of charms and spells Raghūdvaha swooned. Having regained consciousness finally, he lamented in a loud
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