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226
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Looking once again at the Pampa,, full
of lotuses and water-lilies, Rama, of true
valour, spoke these words to Lakshmana :
"O best of men, meet Sugriva, the
king of monkeys.
 
राज्यभ्रष्टेन दीनेन तस्यामासक्तचेतसा ।
कथं मया विना शक्यं सीतां लक्ष्मण जीवितुम् ॥
 
O Lakshmana, how can I, deprived of
my kingdom and helpless and with my
heart fixed on
her, live in the absence
 
of Sita?"
 
D