Then, Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana(who was very miserable), bowed down and touching the feet of the king and went round him clockwise with joined palms. After taking leave of Dasharatha, Rama bowed along with Seetha to Kausalya. Of course, Lakshmana too bowed to Kausalya, then clasped the feet of his mother Sumitra. Smelling (as a token of affection) the head of Lakshmana, his mother Sumitra weepingly told him "Being highly fond of your brother Rama, you have been permitted (by me) to dwell in the forest with him. My son! Do not neglect your brother Rama. Whether in adversity or in riches, he alone is the refuge to you. It should become the code of conduct in the world, that an younger brother should be subject to the control of his elder brother. It is indeed the practice right from ancient times in your race."
After a pause she continued "Look upon Rama in the same way you would your father. Look upon Seetha, the daughter of Janaka as myself. Consider the forest as Ayodhya and depart happily, my son!"
Then, Sumantra, the charioteer told Rama in the same manner as Matali (the charioteer of Indra) would to Indra (the ruler of gods) "Mount the chariot, Oh! the highly illustrious prince! May all be well with you! I shall take you speedily, wherever you direct me to go. You have to reside in the forest for fourteen years. Those years, as dictated by the queen, are to be considered as commenced."
Having adorned herself with the jewellery and the garments given to her by the King Dasharatha, Seetha with her comely buttocks, mounted with a delighted mind, that chariot which was shining like the sun. Thereafter, Rama and Lakshmana quickly mounted that chariot, which was decked with gold was resplendent like fire.
After the departure of Rama, a sense of blankness, senselessness and stupefaction prevailed in the city. There was some faintness, a sort of blackout, collapse and unconsciousness in the strength of the people. The city (of Ayodhya) was filled with some flurry, with its elephants intoxicated in rut and highly excited, and resonant with the tinkling of the ornaments of the agitated horses. That city, including the youngsters and the old, stricken with extreme agony, ran towards the chariot in which Rama was going, in the same way as one afflicted with the heat of the sun rushes towards water. Crowding all the sides of the chariot with their faces filled with tears turned towards Rama, all those people said in loud voices to Sumantra "Hold in the reins of the horses and go slowly, very slowly, Oh! charioteer! We desire to behold the face of Rama, which would henceforth be difficult to behold by us. The heart of Rama's mother (Kausalya) is surely and undoubtedly made of iron, since it does not get broken when Rama, resembling an offspring of god is going to the forest. Seetha (the princess of Videha kingdom) has done what ought to be done, by going along with him like a shadow, delighted in virtue as she was and does not leave her husband in the same way as Mount Meru does not leave the effulgence of the sun. Oh, Lakshmana! You are attending ever to your brother who always speaks affectionately and is equal God. It is an immense fulfillment for you; it is a tremendous good fortune for you, nay, it is even a means to heaven that you are following this Rama".
Saying so, those people were not able to restrain their tears flowing like rain and followed Rama, their beloved delight of the Ikshvakus. Then, the king with the distressed mind, saying that he would behold his beloved son, came out of his palace surrounded by his women who were dejected, too. In front of him was heard a huge noise of crying women, echoing like the trumpeting of female elephants when a lordly elephant has been pinioned. At that time, the father of Rama as was well known as the glorious king Dasharatha, looked shrunk, like the full moon overshadowed by an eclipse. Rama, that glorious son of Dasharatha and one who with inconceivable courage, directed the charioteer to drive the chariot fast. The people cried to him to stop! Urged on the passage, the charioteer could not do both. The dust raised on the road due to the moving out of the chariot carrying the mighty armed Rama, was suppressed by the falling tears of the citizens. With full of wailing tears, some of the citizens, who could not keep pace with the faster moving chariot, after making loud cries became unconscious with deep agony. Tears came out of anguish flowed from the eyes of women like (drops of) water falling from lotuses by the commotion of fish. Seeing the city with singleness of mind, the glorious monarch Dasharatha fell down with agony, like a tree slain at its root. Thereafter, seeing the king becoming feeble and much distressed, the outcry of the people rose from the rear of Rama. Some people crying "Oh, Rama!" and some other crying "Oh, Rama's mother!", made the entire women from the gynaeceum to weep. Looking back, Rama saw the king sorrowful and perplexed in mind, as well as his mother following (him) on the road. Rama, bound by the bond of righteousness, could not gaze openly at his parents, as a foal caught in a snare would not properly look at its dam. Seeing them coming by foot, though worthy of a chariot, habituated to comfort and unworthy of suffering, Rama commanded the charioteer to go faster.
Rama was not able to bear that plight of his father and his mother.
Rama's mother (Kausalya) ran towards her son, as a cow fond of her calf and whose calf is tied (in a stall), runs home for her calf. Rama again and again saw that Kausalya, his mother who was crying, running after that chariot as though dancing, shouting "Oh, Rama, Rama!" "Oh, Seetha!" and "Oh, Lakshmana!" Tears descending from her eyes for the sake of Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha. Dasharatha exclaimed saying "Stop!" while Rama called out "Go on, proceed! You can say to the king that you did not hear (his call), when admonished (later). I no longer am able to see their grieving faces." The charioteer, doing as per Rama's words, took leave of those citizens and drove the horses more speedily. The king's people returned after (mentally) going round Rama. Their minds did not return. Their flow of tears also did not get reduced. The ministers advised the king not to go on following chariot. The king stopped short, gazing along with his wife, at his son Rama, with his whole body perspiring and wearing a dejected look.
After a pause she continued "Look upon Rama in the same way you would your father. Look upon Seetha, the daughter of Janaka as myself. Consider the forest as Ayodhya and depart happily, my son!"
Then, Sumantra, the charioteer told Rama in the same manner as Matali (the charioteer of Indra) would to Indra (the ruler of gods) "Mount the chariot, Oh! the highly illustrious prince! May all be well with you! I shall take you speedily, wherever you direct me to go. You have to reside in the forest for fourteen years. Those years, as dictated by the queen, are to be considered as commenced."
Having adorned herself with the jewellery and the garments given to her by the King Dasharatha, Seetha with her comely buttocks, mounted with a delighted mind, that chariot which was shining like the sun. Thereafter, Rama and Lakshmana quickly mounted that chariot, which was decked with gold was resplendent like fire.
After the departure of Rama, a sense of blankness, senselessness and stupefaction prevailed in the city. There was some faintness, a sort of blackout, collapse and unconsciousness in the strength of the people. The city (of Ayodhya) was filled with some flurry, with its elephants intoxicated in rut and highly excited, and resonant with the tinkling of the ornaments of the agitated horses. That city, including the youngsters and the old, stricken with extreme agony, ran towards the chariot in which Rama was going, in the same way as one afflicted with the heat of the sun rushes towards water. Crowding all the sides of the chariot with their faces filled with tears turned towards Rama, all those people said in loud voices to Sumantra "Hold in the reins of the horses and go slowly, very slowly, Oh! charioteer! We desire to behold the face of Rama, which would henceforth be difficult to behold by us. The heart of Rama's mother (Kausalya) is surely and undoubtedly made of iron, since it does not get broken when Rama, resembling an offspring of god is going to the forest. Seetha (the princess of Videha kingdom) has done what ought to be done, by going along with him like a shadow, delighted in virtue as she was and does not leave her husband in the same way as Mount Meru does not leave the effulgence of the sun. Oh, Lakshmana! You are attending ever to your brother who always speaks affectionately and is equal God. It is an immense fulfillment for you; it is a tremendous good fortune for you, nay, it is even a means to heaven that you are following this Rama".
Saying so, those people were not able to restrain their tears flowing like rain and followed Rama, their beloved delight of the Ikshvakus. Then, the king with the distressed mind, saying that he would behold his beloved son, came out of his palace surrounded by his women who were dejected, too. In front of him was heard a huge noise of crying women, echoing like the trumpeting of female elephants when a lordly elephant has been pinioned. At that time, the father of Rama as was well known as the glorious king Dasharatha, looked shrunk, like the full moon overshadowed by an eclipse. Rama, that glorious son of Dasharatha and one who with inconceivable courage, directed the charioteer to drive the chariot fast. The people cried to him to stop! Urged on the passage, the charioteer could not do both. The dust raised on the road due to the moving out of the chariot carrying the mighty armed Rama, was suppressed by the falling tears of the citizens. With full of wailing tears, some of the citizens, who could not keep pace with the faster moving chariot, after making loud cries became unconscious with deep agony. Tears came out of anguish flowed from the eyes of women like (drops of) water falling from lotuses by the commotion of fish. Seeing the city with singleness of mind, the glorious monarch Dasharatha fell down with agony, like a tree slain at its root. Thereafter, seeing the king becoming feeble and much distressed, the outcry of the people rose from the rear of Rama. Some people crying "Oh, Rama!" and some other crying "Oh, Rama's mother!", made the entire women from the gynaeceum to weep. Looking back, Rama saw the king sorrowful and perplexed in mind, as well as his mother following (him) on the road. Rama, bound by the bond of righteousness, could not gaze openly at his parents, as a foal caught in a snare would not properly look at its dam. Seeing them coming by foot, though worthy of a chariot, habituated to comfort and unworthy of suffering, Rama commanded the charioteer to go faster.
Rama was not able to bear that plight of his father and his mother.
Rama's mother (Kausalya) ran towards her son, as a cow fond of her calf and whose calf is tied (in a stall), runs home for her calf. Rama again and again saw that Kausalya, his mother who was crying, running after that chariot as though dancing, shouting "Oh, Rama, Rama!" "Oh, Seetha!" and "Oh, Lakshmana!" Tears descending from her eyes for the sake of Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha. Dasharatha exclaimed saying "Stop!" while Rama called out "Go on, proceed! You can say to the king that you did not hear (his call), when admonished (later). I no longer am able to see their grieving faces." The charioteer, doing as per Rama's words, took leave of those citizens and drove the horses more speedily. The king's people returned after (mentally) going round Rama. Their minds did not return. Their flow of tears also did not get reduced. The ministers advised the king not to go on following chariot. The king stopped short, gazing along with his wife, at his son Rama, with his whole body perspiring and wearing a dejected look.
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Really touching to read this part!
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