Doha - 71
Overwhelmed with emotion he could not answer, but clasped his Brother's feet in anguish, " My lord, I am your slave and you my master; if you abandon me, what help!"
Chaupala
"My lord you have given me a sound advice; but due to my faintheartedness it sounds impracticable to me. Only those noble men who are self-possessed and champion the cause of virtue are fit to be taught the gospel of the Vedas and moral philosophy. I am a mere child fostered by your loving care; can a cygnet lift Mount Mandara or Meru? I know no preceptor nor father nor mother: I tell you sincerely; believe me, my lord. Whatever ties of affection, love and confidence exist in the whorld as declared by the Vedas--for me they are all centred in you and you alone, my lord. O friend of the afflicted, O knower of the innermost heart of all! Piety and propriety should be taught to him who is fond of glory, fortune and a noble destiny. He, however, who is devoted to your feet in thought, word and deed,---should he be abandoned, O ocean of grace?"
Doha - 72
Hearing these soft and polite words of His noble brother, the all-compassionate Lord clasped him to His bosom and consoled him, perceiving that he had lost his nerve through love.
Chaupala
"Go and ask leave of your mother; then quickly return and accompany me to the woods." Laksmana rejoiced to hear these words from the Chief of Raghus; great was his gain and a mighty loss was averted. He went up to his mother delighted at heart as a blind man who had regained his lost vision. Approaching her bowed his head at her feet, while his heart was with Sri Rama (the Delighter of Raghu's race) and Janaka's Daughter. Finding him depressed in spirit the mother inquired the reason, when Laksmana related at length the whole incident Sumitra was alarmed to hear this cruel report as a doe on finding wild fire all about her. Laksmana apprehended that things would take a wrong trun that day and that his mother would frustrate his plans due to her affection. He therefore, felt nervous and hesitated in asking leave of her; for he thought within himself, "Good God, will she allow me to accompany Sri Rama or not?"
Doha -73
Remembering the beauty, amiability and noble disposition of Sri Rama and Sita and considering the king's affection for Them, Sumitra beat her head as she perceived that the wicked queen (Kaikeyi)had played him foul.
Chaupala
Perceiving that the time was unpropitious to them she collected herself and, possessing as she did a naturally good heart, spoke in gentle words, "My dear son, Videha's daughter is your mother while Rama, who loves you in every way, is your father. Ayodhya is there where Rama dwells; there alone is the day where there is sunlight, If Sita and Rama are really proceeding to the woods, you have no business in Ayodhyaa. One's preceptor, parents, brother, gods and master-all these should be tended as one's own life. Rama, however is dearer than life, the soul of our soul and the disinterested friend of all. Whosoever are worthy of adoration and most dear to us should be accounted as such only in so far as they are related to Rama. Bearing this in mind accompany him to forest and derive, my boy, the benefit of your existence in the world.
Doha - 74
"It is your great good fortune as well mine, I solemnly declare, that your mind has sincerely taken up its abode in Rama's feet."
Chaupala
"That woman alone can be said to have borne a male issue, whose son is a devotee of Rama (th Lord of Raghus). Otherwise she had better remain issueless; for she who deems herself fortunate in having a son hostile to Rama has yeaned in vain. It is due to your good fortune that Rama is proceeding to the forest; there is no other ground for his doing so, my boy. The highest reward of all meritorious acts is verily this-to have spontanceous love for the feet of Sita and Rama. Never give up all sorts of morbid feelings serve them in thought, word and deed. You will be happy in every way in the forest since you will have with you your father and mother in Rama and Sita. Take care, my son, that Rama may be put no touble in the woods; that is my admonition to you."
"My admonition to you, dear child, is this: it is up to you to see that Rama and Sita lead a happy life in the forest through your good offices and forget their father and mother, near and dear ones as well as the amenities of city life. " Having thus admonished the Lord of Tulasidasa (Laksmana) Sumitra granted him leave (to accompany Sri Rama) and then invoked her blessing on him: " May your devotion to the feet of Sita and the Hero of Raghu's race be constant and untainted and ever new."
Doha - 75
Bowing his head at his mother's feet Laksmana left at once with a timid heart apprehending any further development that might bulk his plans and interfere with his accompanying (Sri Rama to the forest); it looked as if a deer had luckily suceeded in bursting a strong snare and made good his escape.
Chaupala
Laksmana went straight to where the Lord of Janake (Janaka's Daughter) was; he was glad heart to find himself in the company of his beloved Brother. Bowing to the charming feet of Sri Rama and Sita he accompanied Them to the king's palace. The men and women of the city said to one another, "How strange that God wellnigh fulfilled our hopes and then shattered them!" With emaciated bodies, a sorrowful heart and doleful face they felt miserable as a bee that has been robbed of its honey. They wrung their hands, beat their heads and lamented like birds that had been clipt of their wings and were restless without them. A huge crowd had collected at the entrance of the royal palace and there was untold grief which knew no bounds. The minister (Sumantra) raised the king and seated him communicating to him the agreeable news that Sri Rama had come. When he saw his two sons with Sita, his distress was profound.
Doha - 76
The king felt much agitated as he gazed on his two sons with Sita. Overwhelmed with emotion he pressed them to his bosom again and again.
Chaupala
The king was too restless to speak; there was terrible agony in his heart due to excess of grief. Most affectionately bowing His head at His father's feet, the Hero of Raghu's race then arose and asked his permission to proceed to the woods: "Father, give me your blessings and commands; why should you be sorrowing at this hour of jubilation? By swerving from the path of duty due to attachment for a beloved object, dear father one's reputation is lost and obloquy incurred." Hearing this the king got up in his love and holding Sri Rama (the Lord of Raghus)by the arm he made Him sit down and said, "Listen my boy: of You the sages declare that Rama is the Lord of the entire creation, both animate and inanimate. God requites our actions according as they are good or bad, weighing them in the scale of His judgment. He alone who does an act reps its consequences: such is the law of the vedas and so declare all. ""
Doha - 77
"But in this case we find that one commits the offence and another reaps the fruit. Highly mysterous are the ways of God: no one in this world is competent to know them."
Chaupala
The king sincerely tried every means to detain Sri Rama. But he discovered Sri Rama's intention and came to know that He was not going to stay, a champion of righteousness, strong-minded and foresighted as He was. The king thereupon clasped Sita to his bosom and most lovingly admonished Her in many ways. He described the terrible hardships of forest life and explained to Her the comforts She would enjoy if She chose to stay with Her husband's parents or Her own father. sita's mind, however, was attached to Sri Rama's feet; hence neither home seemed attractive to Her nor the forest repulsive. Everyone else too expostulated with Sita dwelling on the many miseries of the forest. The minister's (Sumantra's) wife as well as the preceptor's (Vasistha's) and other prodent fondly urged Her in gentle tones: "Nobody has exiled you to be forest: therefore, do as your husband's parents and preceptor bid you. "
Doha - 78
This advice, soothing, friendly, agreeable and tender as it was, did not sound pleasing to Sita's ears. It seemed as if the touch of the rays of the autumnal moon had made a female Cakravakaa bird restless.
Chaupala
Sita was too modest to give any reply. But Kaikeyi flared up on hearing their talk. She brought hermits' robes, ornaments and vessels ande, placing them before Sri Rama, addressed Him in soft accents, "You are dear as life to the king, O Hero of Raghu's line; he is too soft to shake off his scruple and attachment for you. He would sooner forfeit his virtue, good reputation and his happiness in the other would than ask you to proceed to the woods. Bearing this in mind do as you please. "Sri Rama rejoiced to hear His stepmother's admonition; but her words pierced the king like shafts. "Will my wretched life never depart, "he said to himself. The people felt much distressed while the king fainted; no one knew what to do. Sri Rama presently dressed Himself as a hermit and bowing His head His parents departed.
Doha - 79
Having completed all the equipment and preparations for a journey to the woods the Lord with His Spouse and brother bowed to the feet of the Brahmanas and the preceptor (Vasistha) and departed leaving everyone in bewilderment.
Chaupala
Issuing out of the palace the party halted at Vasistha's door and found the people scorched with the fire of impending separation. The Hero Raghu's race comforted all with soothing words and them summoned hosts of Brahmanas. He requested His preceptor to give them subsistence for a year and captivated their hearts through courtesy, gift and humility. He gratified mendicants with gifts and attentions and sated His friends with pure love. He then called His men-seervants and maid-servants and entrusting them to the care of His Guru spoke to him with joined palms, "My lord, pray look after them and tend them as their own father and mother. " Again and again with joined palms, Sri Rama addressed each one present there in soft accents, "He alone friendly to me in every, through whose good offices the king derives solace. "
Doha - 80
"Take care all of you clever citizens, to see that none of my mothers is smitten with the pangs of separation from me. "
Chaupala
In this way Sri Rama consoled all and cheerfully bowed His head at the lotus feet of His preceptor. Invoking Lord Ganapati, goddess Gauri (Parvati) and the Lord of Kailasa and receiving the blessings of His Guru, the Lord of Raghus proceeded further. There was great lamentation as He sallied forth; the piteous wail of the citizens was revolting to the ears. Evil omens appeared in Lanka and Ayodhya was plunged in grief, while the abode of gods was overcome with a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow. When the spell of unconsciousness broke, the king woke and calling Sumantra thus began, "Rama has left for the woods, but my life refuses to depart. I wonder what joy it seeks after by clinging to this body! What agony more servere than this can I have, that will draw my breath out of my body?" Then, recovering himself, the king said, "Follow him, my friend, with your chariot."