Doha - 141
Accompanied by Laksmana and Sita Sri Rama shone in His hut of leaves even as Indra who dwells in the city of immortals with his spouse, Saci, and his son,
Chaupala
The Lord watched over Sita and Laksmana in the same way as the eyelids protect the eyeballs; while Laksmana in his turn waited upon Sita and Sri Rama (the Hero of Raghu's race) just as a fool (who identifies himself with his body) tends his own body. In this way the Lord, who was as friendly to birds and fawns as to gods and ascetics, lived happily in th forest. Thus have I told the delightful story of Sri Rama's journey to the woods; now hear how Sumantra reached Ayodhya. When the Nisada chief returned after escorting the Lord, he saw the minister (Sumantra) with the chariot. The minister was distressed to see the Nisada chief; words fail to describe the agony which he felt at the moment. Crying out "Rama, Rama, Sita, Laksmana" he (Sumantra) dropped on the ground utterly helpless; while the horses kept looking on to the south and neighed. They were as restless as birds shorn of their wings.
Doha - 142
They would neither eat grass nor drink water; while their eyes kept shedding tears. The whole party of Nisadas was distressed to see the horses of Sri Rama (the Chief of Raghu's line)
Chaupala
Then recovering himself the Nisada said, "Sumantra cease sorrowing now. You are a man of wisdom and a knower of the highest truth; therefore, compose yourself realizing that Fate is unpropitious to you." Narrating various legends in soft accents, he took him by force and seated him in the chariot. But overpowered by grief he could not drive the chariot; the agony of separation from Rama(the Chief or Raghu's line) was severe in his heart. The horses would not move along the road; they were getting fidgety. It seemed as if wild animals had been caught and put in harness. They would topple. down and turn to look behind, torn away from Rama and smarting with deep anguish. If anyone mentioned the name of Rama, Laksmana or Sita, (Janaka's Daughter) they would start neighing and regard him with love. How could anyone descibe the anguish of separation the horses felt; they were as restless as a snake robbed of its gem.
Doha - 143
The Nisada was overcome with grief as he beheld the minister and his horses. He then called trusted grooms and sent them with charioteer (sumantra).
Chaupala
Seeing off the charioteer, Guha returned; the agony of his separation was too deep for words. And the Nisadas drove off to Ayodhya, plunged in sorrow every moment. agitated and stricken with grief, Sumantra lamented: "Accursed is life without the Hero of Raghu's race. This wretched body will not survive in the long run; but what a pity it did not earn fame by perishing at the time of its parting from the Hero of Raghu's race. This life has become a sink of infamy and sin; I wonder what prevents it from departing Als! this vile soul has missed its chance. Oh, that my heart does not break in twain even now!" Wringing his hands and beating his head he rued his lot like a mister who has lost his hoard and beating his head he rued his lot like a mister who has lost hoard of riches. It seemed as if after assuming the role of, and posing as, an eminent hero, a great warrior had taken to fight.
Doha - 144
The minister gave himself up to grief like a discreet Bhrahmana of noble descent, who though well-versed in the Vedas and esteemed by the virtuous. Has been deluded into drinking.
Chaupala
The minister felt in his heart agony as terrible as that of a virtuous and disceer lady of high birth who is devoted to her husband. His eyes were full of tearsand lacking in vision, His togue cleaved to the palate; yet his life-breath didi not depart, the term of exile serving as a door to prevent its deparature from his heart. He had turned pale and repelled the sight as if he had murdered his own fathe and mother. Great was the despondency which preyed upon his mind as a result of the loss he had just suffered; he looked like a sinner mounrning while on his way to the abode of Death. Words failed him and he lamented within himself: "What shall I see on reaching Ayodhya? Whoever shall find the chariot devoid of Rama will shun my sight."
Doha - 145
"When the agitated citizens run to make equiries of me, I shall answer them all with a heavy load on my heart."
Chaupala
"When all the helpless and officted mother question me, good God, what shall I say to them? when Laksmana's mother (Sumitra) puts questions to me, what glad tidings shall I convey to her? And when Rama's mother (Kausalya) comes running like a cow that has recently borne a calf and has her thoughts fixxed on it, "running like a cow that has recently borne a calf and has her thoughts fixed on it,"
the only answer make to her queries will be "Rama, Laksmana and Sita(Videha's Daughter) have left for the woods," Ayodhya Again, when the king who is oppresssed by grief that having safely escorted the prinfe I have come back ?? The moment he hears the news of Laksmana Sita dn Rama the king will drop his body, like a piece straw.
Doha - 146
While Sumantra was lamenting on the way, his chariot presently reached the bank of the Tamasa river. He politely dismissed the Nisadas, who fell at his feet and retured with a heart striken with grief. The minister hesutated ti ebter tge cutt as if he had murdered his own preceptor, killed a Brahmana or butchered cow. He passed the day sitting under a tree and found his opportunity only when it was dusk. He entered Ayodhya in the dark and slunk into the palace leaving the chariot at the gate. All who heard the news flocked to the entrance of the royal palace to see the charior. When they recognized the chariot and found the horses restless with their body wasting away as hail in the sun, the citizens, bothe men and women, were sore distressed as fish when the water run short.
Doha -147
The moment they heard of the minister's arrival the whole gynaeceum was restless. To him the palace looked as dreary as though it were an abode of spirits.
Chaupala
In deep agony all the queens questioned him; but no reply came from him, his voice failed him. His ears could not hear, nor could his eyes see; he asked whomsoever he met. "Tell me, where is the king?" Seeing his confusion, the maid-servants conducted him to Kausalya's apartment. Arriving there Sumantra found the king as pale and lustreless as the moon without nectar. Without a seat, couch or ornaments he lay on the ground in a most wretched condition. Heaving a sigh he lamented even as Yayati when he had fallen from the abode of gods. With his heart bursting with grief every moment, he looked like Sampati who had dropped from the heavens on account of his wings having been singed. That great lover of Rama cried "Rama, Rama" and again "Rama, laksmana and Sita."
Doha - 148
The minister, on seeing the king, exclaimed, "Be victorious and live long!" and made obeisance to him by falling prostrate on the ground The moment he heard this the king rose in bewilderment and said, "Tell me, sumantra, where is Rama?"
Chaupala
The King pressed Sumantra to his bosom as if a drowning man had laid hold of some support. Seating him affectionately by his side and with his eyes full of tears the king asked him: "Apprize me of Rama's welfare, O loving friend; where are Rama (the Lord of Raghus), Laksmana and Videha's daughter (Sita)? Have you brought them back or have they left for the woods?" At these words tears rushed to the minister's eyes. Overwhelmed with grief the king asked again, "Tell me the news about Sita, Rama and Laksmana" Recalling again and again Sri Rama's beauty, virtues, amiability and temperament the king sorrowed within himself: "Proclaiming my intention to instal him as Regent I exiled him to the woods; Proclaiming my interntion to instal him as Regent I exiled him to the woods; but the news neither delighted his soul nor grieved it. But my life did not depart even though I had to part from such a son! Who can be such a great sinner as I ?
Doha - 149
"Take me, my friend, to the place where Rama, Sita and Laksmana are. If not, I sincerely tell you, my life is going to depart very soon."
Chaupala
Again and again the king asked the minister; "Communicate to me the news of my most beloved sons. Quickly contrive, my friend, some means whereby you may be able to bring before my eyes Rama, Laksmana and Sita" Recovering himself the minister gently replied, "Your Majesty is learned and wise. Nay, you are a leader of the brave and courageous, my lord, and have always attended assemblies of holy men. Birth and death, all painful and pleasurable experiences, loss and gain, union with and separation from friends-all these, my lord, take place under the unalterable laws of time and destiny like the succession of night and day. Fools rejoice in prosperity and mourn in adversityl while the wise account both alike. Therefore, exercising your mature judgment take up courage and cease sorrowing, O friend of all.
Doha -150
"Their first was made by the side of the Tamasa and the next on the bank of the celestial reiver (Ganga) Having bathed and drunk water, Sita and the two brothers remained without food that day.
Chaupala
"The Nisada showed great hopitality and the party spent that night in the village of Sigraura (Sringaverapura) At daybreak they sent for the milk of the banyan tree and the two brothers coiled up their matted hair in the shape of a crown. Then Rama's friend (Guha) callied for a boat and after helping Sita to board it Sri Rama followed suit. Laksmana placed on it in an orderly way the two bows and quivers and himself boarded the boat on receiving the Lord's command Seeing my distress the Hero of Raghu's race summoned up courage and addressed me in sweet accents: `Sire, convey my obeisances to dear father and clasp his lotus feet again and again. Then falling at his feet submit to him thus: `Father, be not worried on my account By your grace and goodwill and as a reward of your meritorious acts my journey to and sojourn in the woods will be happy and full of blessings.
Ch
"By your grace, dear father, I shall have all sorts of comforts on my Journey and having obeyed your commands shall come back safe to behold your lotus feet once more." Nay, consoling all my mothers fall at their feet again and again and with profuse entreaties make every effort--says Tulasidasa--to see that the lord of Ayodhya (my father) passes his days happily.