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After their father had returned, Rāma and Lakṣman left the city and went along country paths toward the forest. Even …

Rāma tried hard to make the people turn back, but they would not return. The more Rāma showed His determination …

The chariot began to move forward again and a group of elderly Brahmins, their heads shaking with age, ran behind, …

Rāma looked back, feeling compassion for the distressed Brahmins. He did not want to ride Himself while Brahmins walked, so …

“There lie the desolate woods, My brother, echoing on all sides with the sounds of birds and beasts. The city …

Rāma thought of Bharata. By now He would have been informed of the situation. Thinking of Bharata's nobility, Rāma felt …

Lakṣman had Sumantra prepare a bed of leaves on the ground and Rāma lay upon that with Sītā. He soon …

In the middle of the night Rāma rose and again spoke with His brother. “It seems there is no possibility …

Lakṣman agreed and, as Rāma woke Sītā, he roused Sumantra and had him prepare the chariot. The two princes and …

As dawn approached in the camp, the sound of numerous birds mingled with the lowing of the cows which grazed …

Looking all around they found big logs of dry wood. Some of them suggested they pile up the wood to …

Continuously crying out, the citizens sought out the chariot’s tracks and began to follow them. When they found themselves thrown …

Depressed and despairing, the citizens finally arrived in the city. They were blinded by grief and hardly able to distinguish …

Ayodhya seemed at that time to be like the firmament bereft of the moon. Everywhere its citizens shed tears and …

As the men returned home without Rāma, their wives reproached them. “Without seeing Rāma what is the use of our …

The men, pained by the loss of Rāma, made no reply. Their wives lamented at length. How could they remain …

The ladies could not contain their feelings. Out of despair they remonstrated with their husbands. “Thanks to Kaikeyi, this kingdom …

As the ladies of Ayodhya lamented, the sun gradually set on the city, leaving it dark and cheerless, its lights …

During that night the chariot carrying the princes covered a long distance. As they traveled, Rāma remembered the pain of …

Going more slowly as He passed the people, Rāma heard their comments and He smiled at them without saying anything. …