The people, who yarned after Rama having truth for prowess, followed him
repairing to the forest Even when the king in the interests of his son
had with much ado restrained himself, these, following Rama's car, did
not desist. That illustrious one crowned with every perfection was unto
the inhabitants of Ayodhya like unto the full moon himself. Although
besought by the subjects, the truthful Kakutstha having pledged his word
unto his father, kept on going to the forest. And affectionately eying
them as if drinking them with his sight, Rama touchingly addressed those
subjects as if they were his own,--"The love and regard which the
inhabitants of Ayodhya have for me, let them, for pleasing me, extend in
full measure towards Bharata. That enhancer of Kaikeyi's delight bearing
an auspicious character, will duly compass your happiness and welfare.
Aged by virtue of his wisdom, although young in years, and mild albeit
furnished with heroic virtue, that remover of fear will make a fit ruler
for ye. Crowned with every regal virtue and selected as the
heir-apparent (by the monarch), he is more meritorious by far than I am.
It behoves ye to obey the order of your master. And seeking my good, it
behoves ye to act so that when I shall have gone to the forest, the king
may not grieve." But as Dacaratha's son was bringing home to the people
that their duty lay in obeying the royal mandate, they desired that even
Rama should rule them. And Rama in company with Sumitra's son attracted
the inhabitants of the city subdued by his virtues, who stood with tears
in their eyes. And the three kinds of the twice born ones, viz., those
old by virtue, respectively, of age, wisdom, and ascetic energy, the old
folks with their heads shaking through length of years,--cried from a
distance,--"O ye fleet coursers boasting of exalted extraction that bear
Rama away, do ye desist,--do not go; do ye do even what is for the good
of your master. And more particularly being creatures furnished with
ears, do ye, ye horses, knowing our prayer, desist. And pure of spirit
and heroic and ever firm in noble promises, that master of yours should
in justice be carried (unto the city) and not unto the forest away from
it." Suddenly seeing those old Brahmanas thus lamenting distressfully,
Rama speedily descended from his car. And along with Lakshmana and Sita,
Rama bound for the forest, began to walk near them on foot. Endowed with
kindness, that friend of the good, Rama, could not by proceeding on his
car bear to part with the Brahmanas that were following on foot. Seeing
him thus going, the Brahmanas with agitated hearts, and burning in
grief, addressed Rama in these words,--"The Brahmanas in a body are
following thee ever seeking their good, and mounting on the shoulders of
the regenerate ones, the (sacrificial) Fires are walking in thy wake.
And behold these raised umbrellas of ours got from the Vajapeya
sacrifice, that like unto autumnal clouds follow at your back. With
these umbrellas got at the Vajapeya sacrifice, we will afford shade unto
Rama destitute of his own white umbrella, when he shall feel the heat of
the (solar) rays. That intelligence of ours which ever followeth the
Vedic Mantras, is now, O child, ready to follow thee unto the forest in
thy interests. That best of treasures, the Vedas, resides in our bosoms;
and our wives protected by their chastity abide in our homes. As we have
already made up our minds to follow thee, it is useless to fix our
hearts afresh. But if thou overlookest virtue, what becomes of abiding
by righteousness?[145] O thou that art ever firm in virtue, we beseech
thee by humbling unto the dust our heads covered with hair white like
cranes, do thou desist. These numerous Brahmanas that have come hither
have entered upon many a sacrifice. The completion of these, O child,
depends upon thy return. All creatures mobile and immobile cherish thee
with high regard. All these beseech thee. Do thou show consideration
unto those that regard thee. Tall trees deprived of motion in
consequence of being fast rooted to the earth and incapable of following
thee, are prohibiting thee by sounding with the wind. And birds staying
upon trees and neither manifesting any motion nor seeking for their
food, beseech thee to have compassion upon all creatures." While the
Brahmanas were loudly demanding the return of Rama, he found the
darkness to descend as if forbidding him. Then Sumantra unyoked the
fatigued horses from the car, which at once fell to rolling in the dust.
And then bathing them and making then drink, he soon as the dusk set in,
set fare before them.
[145] Another reading is; _What becomes of the virtue that we expect at
thy hands?_-- T.