Having for a long time conversed with Sumantra, Guha distressed at heart
on Rama reaching the southern bank, retraced his steps homewards.
Learning from envoys at (Sringaverapura) all about Rama's visit to
Bharadwaja at Prayaga and his reception (at Bharadwaja's place) as well
as their destined journey (to Chitrakuta), Sumantra, taking the
permission (of Guha), yoked those excellent horses and with a heavy
heart directed his course to the city of Ayodhya. And beholding perfumed
woods and rivers and watery expanses and towns and villages, he eagerly
proceeded on his way. And on the third day at dusk the charioteer
arriving at Ayodhya saw it bereft of happiness. And beholding it empty
and still, Sumantra afflicted with exceeding sorrow, and overwhelmed
with grief, thought, "Perhaps the city with her elephants and horses and
men and king has been consumed by the fire of grief on account of Rama."
Having thus reflected, the charioteer drawing up to the city- gate by
means of those fleet-coursing horses, speedily entered the city.
Thereupon, people by hundreds and thousands rushed after the charioteer,
Sumantra, asking, "Where is Rama?" To them he replied,--"Having asked
Raghava on the Ganga and being permitted by him, I have been sent away
by that high-souled righteous one." Learning that they (Rama and the
rest) had crossed over (the Ganga), the men with tears in their eyes,
sighed forth "O fie!" and began to bewail, exclaiming, "Ah Rama." And he
heard crowds exclaim,--"Not seeing Rama in the car, we cease to exist.
We shall no longer see the righteous Rama in the midst of mighty
assemblies engaged in charity, sacrifice or nuptial rites. What was
necessary for this body? What was dear to them and what did they delight
in?--(constantly revolving all this in his mind), Rama ruled this city
even as, a father. Then proceeding past the stalls, Sumantra heard the
lamentations of females at windows, burning in grief for Rama. With his
face muffled, Sumantra proceeded on the highway towards the palace of
Dacaratha. Swiftly alighting from the car and entering the royal
residence, he went past seven apartments thronged with people. And
beholding Sumantra returned to the city crowned with edifices, seven-
storied houses, and palatial mansions, the women, stricken with the
absence of Rama, set up a cry of "Oh" and "Alas." And waxing still more
aggrieved, the females looked at each other with their expansive and
transparent eyes fast flooded with tears. And then he heard the talk, as
toned down it proceeded from the royal mansions, of the wives of
Dacaratha afflicted with grief for Rama. "Going in company with Rama,
and returning without him, what will the charioteer answer Kaucalya
bewailing (for her son)? Surely life is miserable, yet is incapable of
being renounced, since, although her son leaving (the installation) hath
gone away, yet Kaucalya still liveth." Having heard those words of the
queens, fraught with truth, Sumantra burning as it were in grief, at
once entered the (next) apartment. And entering the eighth apartment he
beheld in a gloomy chamber the king distressed and in a pitiable plight,
woe-begone for grief for his son. Thereupon presenting himself before
the monarch, Sumantra saluted him and then conveyed unto the king the
words of Rama as he had uttered them. Hearing them silently, the monarch
with his mind exceedingly wrought, dropped down to the ground in a
swoon, afflicted with grief for Rama. On the lord of earth swooning away
and falling to the ground, the inmates of the inner apartment raising
their arms burst into lamentations. Kaucalya availing herself of the aid
of Sumantra, raised up her fallen lord and addressed him, saying, "This,
O eminently virtuous one! if the envoy of that one of an exceedingly
arduous achievement, returned from the forest. Why do you not accost
him? O descendant of Raghu, you are ashamed to-day, having done this
wrong. Do you rise: merit be yours (arising from this act.) Let not your
adherents come to naught (because of your sorrow). O worshipful one, she
from fear of whom you do not speak to the charioteer, Kaikeyi, is not
here. Do you therefore speak to him without fear." Having said this unto
the monarch, Kaucalya overwhelmed with grief, with her voice oppressed
with the vapour begot of emotion, all on a sudden fell to the earth.
Beholding Kaucalya fallen on the ground bewailing, as also their
husband, the ladies seated around, began to lament. Hearing the sounds
of wailing arise from the inner apartment, old and young as well as
females, set up lamentations all round; and the city was again filled
with them.