Rama Lakshman Janaki in Exile no-watermark
As Rama, Sita and Lakshmana entered Dasharatha’s chamber to offer their final farewell to him. Dasahratha just could not control his anguish. ‘Rama, my dearest son, I wish I was robbed of my eye sight than witness such a cruel scene. Will you ever forgive me, my son?” said Dasharatha. Rama wiped his father’s tears softly, “Father, I am duty bound to fulfil your wish, Please, bless us.” Dasahratha realized that he could not make Kaikeyi change her mind nor could he make Rama go back on what he had said. In a trembling voice, he asked Sumantra, the minister, to send the troops and servants along with Rama to the forest. This made Kaikeyi all angrier. King! Is it fair on your part to send the troops away? Do you want my son to rule over an empty Ayodhya? No, no one should go with Rama” she said in a final tone. Utterly defeated, Dashratha ordered that Rama, Sita and Lakshmana be taken by chariot at least till outskirts of Ayodhya. “I cannot bear to see them walking through the streets of Ayodhya.” Since Kaikeyi did not object this, Sumanthara got a chariot readied. Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana touched the feet of all their elders to seek their blessings.
As Rama, Sita and Lakshmana got into the chariot, the entire population of Ayodhya wept. “How could the king behave so foolishly” ridiculed some, “Will the old parents bear the separation from their dear son” was the anxiety upon many faces. The chariot started moving. The king Dasharatha, wanted to have a last look at Rama, seeing this Rama wanted the chariot to move faster but the old king ran behind it crying out Rama’s name. Kaushalya also tried to follow the chariot. People averted their eyes, as they could not withstand such a pitiable scene. Rama’s eyes were filled with tears. As chariot moved faster, Dasharatha collapsed on the street. When Kaikeyi tried to help him, he cried “Don’t ever touch me. I don’t want to see you again. Just go away.” Even when the chariot began to move faster, people followed it.
Rama again appealed to them “I know of our enormous love and affection towards me. From now on, Bharatha will be your king. Please show him the same love and affection that you have towards me”. The citizens insisted that they would follow him to the forest. By that time, the chariot had reached the Tamasa river bank. Since they had run behind the chariot for a long distance, they were all tired and soon fell asleep under the trees. Taking advantage of this, Rama ordered Sumanthara to take him to the borders of Kosala country and before dawn, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana had reached the banks of the river Ganga. When the citizens woke up in the morning, they realized that Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were nowhere in the vicinity. They had no other option than to return to Ayodhya. Rama decided to cross the river Ganga and continue their journey. In the nearby forest lived Guha, the king of hunters. He was a friend of Rama and so, he was very happy to see him.
Welcoming Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, Guha offered them many delicacies to eat. But Rama refused these saying that since his exile had begun, I would only eat simple food. He stayed there for overnight and slept on the hard floor. He was very worried about his father. So, the next morning, he requested Sumanthara to return to Ayodhya and take care of his parents Sumanthara reluctantly agreed to return to Ayodhya on crossing the river. The three travellers bid good bye to Guha and walked through the dense jungle. Lakshmana walked in front, clearing the jungle path, Sita walked in-between and Rama walked behind her. It was not easy, for them to walk bare-foot on the thorny paths. But they walked on cheerfully, admiring the way huge trees grew, how the insects collected the food. In the night, they slept on the grassy slopes of a tree and at dawn, started their journey again. On the way, they halted at hermitage of Bharadwaj. Sage Bharadwaj was delighted with his guests and extended a warm hospitality to them. He then suggested that they live in Chitrakut region, which was full of enchanting scenery.