Then exceedingly distressed, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, bowing down unto
the king, circumambulated him. Then with the king's permission, the
righteous Raghava stupified with sorrow, in company with Sita, paid
respect unto his mother. Following his brother, Lakshmana saluted
Kaucalya; then he again took hold of his mother Sumitra's feet. As the
son of Sumitra, was thus engaged in honoring his mother, his mother
smelling the crown of his head, thus spoke unto the mighty-armed
Lakshmana,--"Although attached unto thy friends here, thou hast my
permission to go to the forest. When Rama shall have gone (to the
woods), do not, O son, show any negligence unto him. O sinless one,
whether in prosperity or in adversity, even this one is thy way. That a
younger brother should follow his elder is in this world the duty of the
righteous. These are the legitimate duties ever observed by this
race--charity, initiation into sacrifice, and renunciation of the body
in the field of battle. Do thou consider Rama as Dacaratha, and Janaka's
own-begotten as myself; do thou regard Ayodhya as a wilderness,--go my
son, at thy sweet pleasure." Having thus spoken unto that dear
descendant of Raghu, who had made up his mind (to journey to the
forest), Sumitra, again and again said unto him,-- "Go! Go!" Then like
unto Matali addressing Vasava, that one understanding humility,
Sumantra, with joined hands humbly said unto Kakutstha,--"O illustrious
prince, good betide you: do you ascend the car. O Rama, I will speedily
take you to wherever you will tell me. You will have to spend fourteen
years in the forest, and your stay must commence from this very day. So
the noble lady has ordered." Then having adorned her person, that best
of her sex, Sita, with a glad heart ascended the car resembling the sun.
Counting the term of their stay in the woods, her father-in-law
furnished Sita following her lord with attires and ornaments. And then
he placed in front of the car various weapons, coats of mail, a basket
bound in hide and a hoe. At length the brothers Rama and Lakshmana
swiftly ascended the flaming car garnished with gold. And seeing them
with Sita for the third, mounted, Sumantra drove the car yoked with
goodly horses resembling the wind in celerity. On Raghava having left
for the forest to stay there for a long period, the men and beasts
within the city were deprived of their senses (by grief). And in the
city there arose a mighty tumult in consequence of the hurrying of
people, the elephants waxing mad and furious, and the neighings of
horses. And the entire city containing young and old, extremely
afflicted, rushed after Rama, like persons oppressed with the heat of
the sun rushing towards water.
At his side and back, the people bending forward with their faces
covered with the vapour of grief, and sighing hard, said unto the
charioteer,--"O charioteer, rein in the horses,--do thou proceed softly.
We will see the countenance of Rama, which we shall never see again.
Surely the heart of Rama's mother is made of iron, for it does not burst
on witnessing her son resembling Skanda repairing to the forest.
Vaidehi, attaining her desire, follows her husband, like a
shadow--attached to virtue, she does not forsake him even as the Sun
forsakes not meru. O Lakshmana, you are blessed, since you will serve
your god-like brother ever speaking fair. This design of yours is great;
this is your mighty good fortune; this the way to heaven that you are
following him." Saying this, they could not supress their fears; and the
men followed the beloved descendant of Ikshwaku. Then the king, his
senses overcome by grief, surrounded by his distressed wives, went out
of his house, saying--"I will behold my dear son." He heard before him a
mighty noise proceeding from weeping women, like unto the roars of
she-elephants, when a great elephant has been taken captive. Thereupon
Rama's father, the graceful Kakutstha, became shorn of his splendour,
like unto the full-moon enveloped at the appointed time during the
eclipse. Then the auspicious son of Dacaratha of soul incapable of being
comprehended, ordered the charioteer, saying,--"Do thou proceed more
speedily Rama saying unto the charioteer,--"Go," and the people,--
"Stay," thus desired on the way, the charioteer could not act both ways
at once. As the mighty-armed Rama proceeded, the dust of the earth
raised by the car-wheels were laid by the tears of the citizens
showering down. And in consequence of Raghava's departure, the entire
city filled with despair, and uttering with their senses lost
exclamations of "Oh" and "Alas," became exceedingly afflicted. And the
tears begot of heart's grief that flowed from the eyes of the females,
resembled rain-drops scattered around from lotuses shaken by the
movements of fish. And beholding the citizens absorbed in one thought,
the auspicious monarch fell down in grief like a tree whose roots have
been severed. Then seeing the sovereign senseless and stricken with
exceeding sorrow, the multitudes at the rear of Rama broke out into a
loud tumult. And seeing the king weeping aloud with the inmates of the
inner apartment, some exclaiming "Oh Rama," and others, "O Rama's
mother," began to bewail. Then turning back, Rama saw that his
sorrow-stricken and bewildered father along with his mother, was
following his track. As a colt fastened in a snare cannot see its
mother, so Rama fastened in the bonds of virtue could not look at his
mother openly. And seeing his parents deserving of comfort and worthy of
going in a carriage, going on foot, Rama said unto the charioteer,--"Go
thou swiftly." And that foremost of men was incapable of bearing the
looks of his father and mother, like unto an elephant afflicted with the
hook, (not being able to look at what is placed on its back.)
Rama's mother rushed after him like a cow having a calf which has been
fettered, rushing towards the fold, for the purpose of seeing it. Rama
beheld his mother Kaucalya running after the car, bewailing aloud,--
"Rama, Rama, Ah Sita, Lakshmana," shedding tears for Rama, Lakshmana and
Sita, and appearing as if she had been dancing incessantly. The king
exclaimed,--"Stay," Raghava said,--"On, On." Sumantra's mind vascillated
like that of one placed between two hosts burning to encounter each
other. Rama said unto him--"When taxed by the monarch (on your return),
you will say, 'I did not hear you.' But delay will impart me terrible
pain." Thereupon, doing Rama's bidding, the charioteer, telling the
people to desist, made the horses already coursing, run faster. The
retainers of the king stopped after circumambulating Rama, but their
minds did not turn back. But the others did not return either bodily or
mentally. Then the courtiers said unto that mighty monarch,
Dacaratha,--"He that is expected back should not be followed far."
Hearing their words, the king endued with every virtue, with his body
covered with perspiration and his countenance woe-begone, and exceeding
distressed, stopped short and stood along with his wife looking at his
son.