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Sarg 40-Raam Leaves Ayodhyaa

Raam, Lakshman and Seetaa, stricken with grief, touched Dashrath's feet, circumambulated him, took his permission and greeted Kaushalyaa. Lakshman greeted Sumitraa. Sumitraa blessed Him and said - "Your dear brother is going to forest. Seeing your love towards Him I permitted you to go with Him, but you must obey Him, because that is your duty to do that. Whether in adversity or in riches He is the only shelter for you. You should regard Raam as your father and Seetaa as your mother and forest as Ayodhyaa and go with Him happily."

Sumantra came and said - "Hey prince, Come and ride the chariot. May all be well with you, wherever you would like to go I will take you there. You have to live in forest for 14 years and they have already commenced." Raam kept their weapons in the chariot and all climbed in it. Sumantra started the chariot. Seeing Raam going to forest all people got unconscious, even the people, who came to see this Raajya Tilak, got unconscious.

People shouted from behind to "drive the chariot slowly so that they could see Raam for some more time." "Raam's mother's heart is made of iron which has not broken seeing her son to forest." "Seetaa has done whatever She had ought to do - going along with Raam like His shadow." "O Lakshman, You achieved the goal of your life [by serving Raam]."

Raajaa Dasharath also came out and started running after the chariot and said - "I will see my Raam." He had some women also who were crying in separation of Raam. Dasharath also heard their cry. Raam was telling Sumantra to drive chariot fast and public was requesting him to drive it slowly. In such situation Sumantra could neither drive it fast nor slowly.

When Dasharath saw everybody crying, he also fell down with sadness. Seeing this everybody cried more. Raam also saw His parents coming after Him so He again instructed Sumantra to drive the chariot fast. He couldn't see at His parents any more as they were not fit to walk on foot on roads. And Kaushalyaa was running after the chariot as cow runs after her calf.

Dasharath ordered Sumantra to stop the chariot but Raam said - "No, drive fast. This sad environment shouldn't last long. If Raajaa asks you "Why didn't you stop the chariot" tell him that you didn't hear the words." Sumantra obeyed Raam and drove the chariot fast. Raajaa fell down on the ground. He was constantly gazing towards the path on which Raam went just now. Ministers said to Dasharath - "We should not follow them for a long distance, whom we wish to see come back.

Sarg 41-All Are Sad For Raam

When Raam, Lakshman and Seetaa had left for forest after greeting their parents, women started crying thus, "Hey Raam, Where are you going? You respected us like your parents. The king has sent the protector of the world to forest." "Raajaa has not done good to you, he exiled you because of his one queen." Raajaa got more depressed hearing such statements of crying women.

Households did not prepare food; that day Ved Paathee Braahman did not do Havan; cows did not feed milk to their calves; and Soorya also went to eclipse; mothers did not rejoice on the birth of their first son; all stars stopped at their places; shine of Nakshatra dimmed; Lohitaang, Trishanku and Brihaspati and Budh (Mercury) stayed with the Moon; all public abused Raajaa; all people were very sad; all were weeping; all stopped working in Aakaash (sky) and on Prithvi (Bhoo Lok),; the entire world was in disorder; all gave up everything and thought of Raam only; and all were remembering Raam only.

Sarg 42-Dashrath's Vilaap

As long as the dust clouds could be seen created by Raam's chariot's wheels, Dasharath gazed the path after that he started crying and fell on the ground. Kaushalyaa and Kaikeyee ran to lift him up from his right and left side respectively, but Raajaa said to Kaikeyee - "You don't touch me, you are not my wife, nor my any relation and whoever are your followers, I have no relation with them too. You have disregarded Dharm because of wealth that is why I leave you. I renounce all that contract which I entered into by those circumambulations which I took around sacred fire altar of marriage. If Bharat is happy to get kingdom then I should not get the water offered by him to me through his Tarpan." In the meantime Kaushalyaa lifted him up and brought him to her palace.

He was calling Raam's name repeatedly, he was also looking towards the path repeatedly on which Raam's chariot went. He said - "Raam's chariot must have gone outside the city, because now I cannot hear the sound of horses' feet. Whoever Raam took rest on a pillow anointed by sandalwood paste, on the most comfortable bed, the same Raam will sleep on the pillow of stone and whoever Raam was fanned by several maidservants [here in palace], leaves of trees will fan Him today [in the forest]. From now on He will have to take refuge under a tree for sleeping. When He will get up, His body will be dusty. Forest creatures will find Him like an orphan.

Whoever Seetaa, the daughter of Janak, was always living here in comfort, the same Seetaa will be walking on uneven stony thorny ground. She will be frightened hearing wild animals' sounds. O sinful Kaikeyee, You have succeeded in your mission. Now you enjoy the kingdom as widow because I cannot live long without Raam." Thus Dasharath entered Ayodhyaa seeing road-junctions and mansions deserted, shops and temples closed, all its people exhausted with grief. He asked his attendants to take him to Kaushalyaa's palace saying "I will not get peace anywhere else." So the attendants took him to Kaushalyaa's palace and there he was gently laid on a couch. He said - "Hey Raam, You have left both of us here. I don't know whether Kaushalyaa and I will be able to live till you come back. Only those people will be lucky who will see Him after He has returned from exile."

The first night became very long without Raam. After midnight Raajaa said to Kaushalyaa - "I can't see you, touch my body with your hands." Kaushalyaa cried hearing this.

Sarg 43-Kaushalyaa's Vilaap

When Kaushalyaa found Raajaa in great sorrow, she said to him - "Wicked Kaikeyee has fulfilled her wishes, now she is free to do anything. Now she will find some way to trouble me. If I had given my son to her as a slave, it would have been because at least He would have stayed in the house. They must have reached the forest also by now. How they will live in the forest eating only roots and fruits?  When will I see them returning from the forest? I can't live long without them."

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