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sorrow of any kind. He tried his best to prevail upon him to give up his idea of renunciation but Indrajit did not change his decision. Meghavahan also announced his decision to become a mendicant. Kumbhakarna also expressed the desire, to carry out endeavours to attain salvation. Mandodari and the other queens also expressed their desire to renounce the world and to become Sadhvis.
Shri Ram, Lakshman, Sugriva, Bhamandal etc. bowed their heads in veneration on seeing the greatness of the members of Ravana's family. All began to shed tears of joy. The people of Lanka were plunged in sorrow on account of the death of Ravana. When they heard about the decision of the royal family of Lanka to renounce worldly life, they came thronging lamenting loudly to the palace where Shri Ram and others were seated. Even the people of Lanka entreated Kumbhakarna and others not to renounce worldly life but Indrajit explained to the people the futility of worldly life, the greatness of human state and the imperishability of the felicity of salvation. He explained to people all these things.
Lanka was plunged in the ocean of sorrow. Just at that time, a great Muni by name Aprameyabala who was performing a penance in a garden called Kusumayudha attained Kevaljnan (supreme knowledge). Whenever a great Muni attains Keval jnan, gods come from heaven to earth and express their exhilaration by blowing on divine trumpets. Thousands of celestial beings therefore came to the Kusumayudha garden and blew their trumpets, expressing their joy.
It was night. All were resting on the banks of the lake, Padmasarovar. In the morning, the guards of the garden approached Shri Ramachandraji and conveyed to him the news that the Mahamuni had attained Kevaljnan and that celestial beings were celebrating the event in a festive manner. Shri Ramachandraji went to the Kusumayudha garden accompanied by Ravana's family.
He performed three circumambulations around the great muni, Aprameyabal and bowed to him in veneration. The Mahamuni delivered a magnificent sermon. The decision of
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