On that foremost of those capable of charming people, the righteous
Rama, repairing to the forest, Kaucalya crying in grief said unto her
husband, "Your great fame has spread over the three worlds; and the
descendant of Raghu is kind, munificent and fair-speaking. Why then have
you forsaken those foremost of men along with Sita? Brought up in
happiness, and now brought to misery, how can they bear it? And how can
the youthful daughter of Mithila of slender make, tender, and deserving
of happiness, bear heat and cold? Having formerly partaken of
(excellent) rice with curries, how will Sita feed on wild rice? Having
heard excellent vocal and instrumental music, how will Sita hear the
frightful cries of carnivorous lions? Resembling the gonfalon of the
great Indra, where sleepeth the mighty-armed and exceedingly powerful
Rama, making his arm like unto a mace his pillow? When shall I behold
Rama's countenance hued like the lotus, with his hair ending beautifully
(in curls), and his breath impregnated with the fine perfume of the
lotus, and his eyes resembling lotus leaves? Surely my heart, without
doubt, is made of the essence of the thunderbolt, since not beholding
him, it is not cracked in a thousand fragments. It is because of your
sad act that mine own, being thwarted, although worthy of happiness, are
miserably ranging the wilderness. If after the expiration of the five
and ten years, Raghava does return, it does not appear likely that
Bharata will renounce the kingdom and the exchequer. Some on the
occasions of the Sraddha (first) feast their own friends, and having
done this, they mind the choice Brahmanas. But those twice-born ones
that are meritorious, learned, and like unto celestials, do not at the
last moment regard even viands resembling ambrosia. Brahmanas of high
respectibility endowed with wisdom never bear being entertained after
the other twice- born ones have been feasted, even as bulls never
quietly bear to have their horns cut off. Why will not an elder brother
and one who has sterling merits, O monarch, disregard a kingdom which
hath been thus enjoyed by his younger brother? A tiger doth not like to
feed on food procured by others. Even so that tiger-like personage does
not regard anything that has come to be tasted by another. Clarified
butter, sacrificial cakes, Kuca, stakes of catechu having been used in
one sacrifice cannot be used in another,--even so this kingdom which
hath been already enjoyed, like unto liquor deprived of its essence or a
sacrifice whose _soma_ hath been eaten, cannot be accepted by Rama. Such
an ill treatment Raghava will not put up with, even as a powerful tiger
cannot bear the rubbing of its tail (by another). This world aided by
the gods fear to encounter him in high conflict; but he restrains
himself, thinking any such action on his part as unrighteous. Indeed,
that righteous one brings back people to morality. Surely, that
mighty-armed one endowed with exceeding prowess, can with his golden
shafts burn all creatures and the oceans, like the Day at the
dissolution of all. But such a man of men, possessed of leonine
strength, and graced with the eyes of a bull, has been destroyed by his
father, like a fish destroying his offspring. If you had believed in the
morality prescribed in the scriptures, and which is followed by the
twice-born ones, you would not have banished your son. But disregarding
such morality, you have banished your virtuous son. One of the refuges
of a woman is her husband, a second is her son, and a third is her
relatives; and a fourth she has none. But you cease to be mine; and Rama
has been sent to the woods. I do not like to go into the forest; so I am
entirely undone by you. This kingdom, your own kingdom, has been
destroyed by you; destroyed are; along with the counsellors; destroyed
am I with my son; and destroyed are the citizens: your son and your wife
are alone delighted." Hearing these words uttered in heart-rending
accents, Dacaratha exceedingly distressed, became senseless. And being
afflicted with grief, he again remembered his evil act.