Hearing Rama's words and seeing him clad in a garb of an hermit, king Dasharatha and all his wives save Kaikeyi, became extremely grief-stricken. As he was wretchedly agonized, king Dasharatha just could not even glance at Rama. Dasharatha was semi-conscious for quite some time. When his distressed and repented mind cleared to some extent, his mind was thinking of Rama and only Rama. His mind wandered and started thinking like "I think that in my younger days many people were separated from their children by me or in any case many living beings were killed. Hence, this (calamity) has befallen me. Life does not decamp from the body surely not before the appointed time. That must be the reason why Death does not claim me, even being tormented by Kaikeyi and even though I behold my son, effluent as fire, standing before me clad in the robes of an ascetic having cast off his fine garments. All these people are suffering on account of only Kaikeyi, who sought refuge in chicanery, with an implicit intent of selfishness."
Then he said "Oh, Rama!" only once. He was not able to speak any more, as his vocal chord was completely choked with grief. When his mind cleared after some time, the king, with his eyes filled with tears, told Sumantra "You come with my best chariot, yoked with the best horses and take these highly distinguished princes and the princess beyond this territory. Since a pious and a valiant son is being sent to exile by father and mother, I think such is said to be the reward of virtues for the virtuous."
Sumantra went out immediately and quickly returned there with a chariot duly decorated and fitted with the best set of horses available. The charioteer told the prince with joined palms about that chariot decorated by gold, fitted with superb horses. The king, who knew what should be done at a proper place and time and was clear by all means, quickly called the officer placed in charge of the treasury and ordered him in a decisive tone "Quickly bring for Seetha, clothing of great worth and ornaments of high quality, taking into consideration all the years (that Seetha has to spend in exile)." The order was obeyed promptly without any undue delay. Setting out as she was to the forest, Seetha adorned her beautiful limbs with those lovely jewels. Seetha, beautifully adorned as she was, illumined that palace, as the sky in a morning is illuminated by a rising sun. Embracing (Seetha) in her arms kausalya, who never behaved in self-pity, and smelling her head(as a token of affection) said "Throughout this world, a dishonest woman, even though adored all the time by her husband, cease to esteem her husband when he comes to fall into evil days. Having enjoyed happiness in the past, she becomes spoiled and even desert her husband, on his getting into even the least misfortune; such is the nature of (bad) women. Young women, who are vicious and untruthful in their disposition, are affected by passion and their essence, incomprehensible. They get aversion within a moment. Neither a noble descent, nor an accomplishment, nor learning, nor a gift nor even entertainment can capture the heart of women. They are unstable of their heart indeed! But, for women established in good conduct, truthfulness, sacred learning and mental quietness, their husband alone is the most sacred entity, the best of all. My son who is being sent to the forest should not be despised by you. Even if he is invested with riches or without riches, let him be a deity to you."
Seetha replied "I shall do just all that, as your venerable self wants me to. I know how I should behave towards my husband. I have also heard about it earlier. Your venerable self is not worthy of equating me with evil women. I just cannot deviate from virtue, even as a moon from the moonlight. Vina (Indian lute) does not resonate without chords. Chariot does not move without wheels. How can a wife bereft of her husband, even if blessed with hundred children, will lie happily in comfort? A father indeed gives happiness a limited extent, a mother in a limited measure and a son in moderation. Which woman, then, would not adore her husband, the bestowed of the limitless! Having heard about the special and ordinary duties of a wife from the most excellent women, how can I, as such, despise my husband, Oh venerable lady? Husband is indeed a deity to women."
Hearing Seetha's words, which touched her heart, Kausalya of pure mind suddenly started shedding tears born of agony and delight. Rama joining his palms, approached his mother and said "Oh, mother! You do not grieve. You look after my father. The end of exile will come rather soon. Fourteen years will elapse, while you are asleep. You as such, will see me, duly arrived here in my entire being, surrounded by my well-wishers."
Uttering the aforesaid words of such quality and appropriate meaning to his mother, Rama thought once again and gazed at his three hundred and fifty step-mothers. Rama joined his palms and saluted those step mothers also, who were too distressed in the same way and said "Please excuse me, if I have done any mistake either because of our living together or due to ignorance on my part. I now take leave of you all." All those women, whose minds were overpowered with grief, heard the aforesaid cool submission of Rama, which was in consonance with righteousness. While Rama was speaking thus, an outcry, resembling the wail of female cranes arose from those wives of Dasharatha. His palace, which was earlier resounding with tom toms, large drums and Meghas( musical instruments which sound like rumbling of clouds) was now filled with wails and cries and fallen on evil days.
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Then he said "Oh, Rama!" only once. He was not able to speak any more, as his vocal chord was completely choked with grief. When his mind cleared after some time, the king, with his eyes filled with tears, told Sumantra "You come with my best chariot, yoked with the best horses and take these highly distinguished princes and the princess beyond this territory. Since a pious and a valiant son is being sent to exile by father and mother, I think such is said to be the reward of virtues for the virtuous."
Sumantra went out immediately and quickly returned there with a chariot duly decorated and fitted with the best set of horses available. The charioteer told the prince with joined palms about that chariot decorated by gold, fitted with superb horses. The king, who knew what should be done at a proper place and time and was clear by all means, quickly called the officer placed in charge of the treasury and ordered him in a decisive tone "Quickly bring for Seetha, clothing of great worth and ornaments of high quality, taking into consideration all the years (that Seetha has to spend in exile)." The order was obeyed promptly without any undue delay. Setting out as she was to the forest, Seetha adorned her beautiful limbs with those lovely jewels. Seetha, beautifully adorned as she was, illumined that palace, as the sky in a morning is illuminated by a rising sun. Embracing (Seetha) in her arms kausalya, who never behaved in self-pity, and smelling her head(as a token of affection) said "Throughout this world, a dishonest woman, even though adored all the time by her husband, cease to esteem her husband when he comes to fall into evil days. Having enjoyed happiness in the past, she becomes spoiled and even desert her husband, on his getting into even the least misfortune; such is the nature of (bad) women. Young women, who are vicious and untruthful in their disposition, are affected by passion and their essence, incomprehensible. They get aversion within a moment. Neither a noble descent, nor an accomplishment, nor learning, nor a gift nor even entertainment can capture the heart of women. They are unstable of their heart indeed! But, for women established in good conduct, truthfulness, sacred learning and mental quietness, their husband alone is the most sacred entity, the best of all. My son who is being sent to the forest should not be despised by you. Even if he is invested with riches or without riches, let him be a deity to you."
Seetha replied "I shall do just all that, as your venerable self wants me to. I know how I should behave towards my husband. I have also heard about it earlier. Your venerable self is not worthy of equating me with evil women. I just cannot deviate from virtue, even as a moon from the moonlight. Vina (Indian lute) does not resonate without chords. Chariot does not move without wheels. How can a wife bereft of her husband, even if blessed with hundred children, will lie happily in comfort? A father indeed gives happiness a limited extent, a mother in a limited measure and a son in moderation. Which woman, then, would not adore her husband, the bestowed of the limitless! Having heard about the special and ordinary duties of a wife from the most excellent women, how can I, as such, despise my husband, Oh venerable lady? Husband is indeed a deity to women."
Hearing Seetha's words, which touched her heart, Kausalya of pure mind suddenly started shedding tears born of agony and delight. Rama joining his palms, approached his mother and said "Oh, mother! You do not grieve. You look after my father. The end of exile will come rather soon. Fourteen years will elapse, while you are asleep. You as such, will see me, duly arrived here in my entire being, surrounded by my well-wishers."
Uttering the aforesaid words of such quality and appropriate meaning to his mother, Rama thought once again and gazed at his three hundred and fifty step-mothers. Rama joined his palms and saluted those step mothers also, who were too distressed in the same way and said "Please excuse me, if I have done any mistake either because of our living together or due to ignorance on my part. I now take leave of you all." All those women, whose minds were overpowered with grief, heard the aforesaid cool submission of Rama, which was in consonance with righteousness. While Rama was speaking thus, an outcry, resembling the wail of female cranes arose from those wives of Dasharatha. His palace, which was earlier resounding with tom toms, large drums and Meghas( musical instruments which sound like rumbling of clouds) was now filled with wails and cries and fallen on evil days.
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