Rama Lakshman Janaki in Exile no-watermark
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, followed his advice and reached Chitrakut by crossing the river Yamuna. Rama liked the area very much. So, he decided to live there and asked Lakshmana to set up Parnakuti, a thatched hut. Rama performed rituals and offered prayers to his elders and entered his home. Malyavati River followed nearby. Flowering trees, fruit trees were found to be in plenty. There were so much beautiful butterflies around. The sweet singing of the birds lent an enchantment to the area. Sita loved the place. In the meantime, Sumanthara had returned to Ayodhya. By then, he had received news about Rama, Sita and Lakshmana having reached Chitrkut. Without Rama’s presence, the entire Ayodhya looked like a ghost city. People seemed Disinterested in everything. And when they saw Sumanthara return in an empty chariot, they wept.
Sumanthara return to Ayodhya kindled a small hope in Dasharatha. “May be Rama was persuaded to give up his word and return to the kingdom” he thought. “I do not want to live without my Rama’s birth, his childhood and his marriage to Sita.” I have lost such a wonderful son. I do not know what sin I committed.” Then, he suddenly remembered an incident which occurred when he was young. Dasharatha had once gone hunting and had reached Sarayu River. It was a dark night and he heard a sound of splashing in water. He thought that a wild beast had come to drink water and aimed his arrow in the direction from which the sound emanated. When Dasahratha tried to trace his victim, he found that his arrow had hit a young lad by name Sravanakumar. This boy was fetching water for his blind parents. Dasahratha at once picked him in his arms, but by the time he took him to the blind parents, the boy was already dead. The grief-stricken father of Sravanakumar cursed Dasahratha “O King! You have killed my son and thus separated me from him. This grief will be the cause of my death. You shall also die, pining for your son. Dasahratha told Kaushalya about this incident and holding her hands, said “The sage’s curse had come true now. Please forgive me for all my sins”.
The king recalled each and every feature of the handsome Rama and with tears blurring his eyes cried out “I wanted my son to be near me when I die. Kaikeyi has destroyed even this. She is my true enemy. Kaushalya! Sumitra! I do not want to live longer. My eyes are falling. Rama, my son! Rama, my son!” The king died. Ayodhya which was still grieving over Rama’s exile was plunged into sorrow as the news of the king’s death spread. “But what a tragedy? The king who had four mighty sons died when none of them were near him. Who will perform his funeral rites debated the people? Sage Vashishta therefore decided for the body to be preserved for a long time.
Dasharatha’s ministers hurriedly called a meeting and on Vashistha’s advice, sent word to Bharatha who was visiting his maternal relatives. But the messengers were instructed not to disclose to Bharatha about Rama’s exile and king’s death. On reaching the message, Bharatha immediately hurried to Ayodhya. Just the previous night, he had some evil omens and he was anxious to return home at the earliest.