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Sarg 52-Raam's Messages to His family 

Raam got up in the morning and said to Lakshman - "It is morning now. Let us cross Gangaa Jee." Lakshman asked Guh to bring a boat and He himself came to Raam. Guh ordered his ministers to bring a beautiful, strong and decorated boat. They brought a fast flowing boat and docked it. Guh said to Raam - "Hey Naath, the boat has come and now what else I can do for you?" Raam said to Guh - "You fulfilled our wish, let us embark the boat."

Raam took His bow and arrow and came to the place from where all people crossed Gangaa with Lakshman and Seetaa. Sumantra asked - "What are the orders for me?" Raam touched him with His right hand and said - "Now you may go to Ayodhyaa soon and be attentive in serving the king. Now we will walk through this forest, because your services to me end up here." Sumantra got very distressed hearing this, he said - "Hey Raam, There is no use of leading a lufe of being religious student, or in studying religious scriptures,  or in cultivating the good habits of tenderness and straight forwardness when adversity has not spared even you.

You will get the fruit of winning Trilok for wandering in the forest with your brother and wife, but our life will be destroyed after you have left. Now we have to live under wicked Kaikeyee." Saying this Sumantra broke into tears and wept for a long time moved to a bit distance. After he gathered himself, he did Aachman from Gangaa water. Raam also consoled in many ways.

Raam said - "I don't see anybody else who is a friend of Ikshwaaku Vansh as you are, so do something that my father is not too sad in my separation, because he is old. Take care of him. I am saying this to you considering you as my own. Obey Raajaa's orders even if they are according to Kaikeyee's wish. Never do anything which displeases Raajaa or harms public. Only after extend my greetings to father you tell him this on my behalf, "Neither I am worried, nor Lakshman or Seetaa are worried about the exile; therefore he should not worry at all about us too, because as the exile period is over, after 14 years he will see us in Ayodhyaa.

Sumantra, this is what you should you say to king, my mother, all other queen and Kaikeyee, that we are keeping good health here. They should call Bharat soon and perform his Raajya Tilak (crowning ceremony) soon. Tell Bharat after installing him as Crown Prince, to respect all his mothers as he would treat king. As he respected his mother Kaikeyee, in the same way he would treat Sumitraa because of Shatrughn, and in the same way he should treat my mother Maa Kaushalyaa."

After giving this message Raam asked Sumantra to go back. Sumantra said sadly - "If I say something without any courtesy, you must pardon me for my mode of expression considering me your Bhakt. The Ayodhyaa which is so sad in your separation, how will I enter there? Because on that day when they saw this chariot with Raam then also they were lamenting so much, but now they will see it empty, then how all people of Ayodhyaa will survive to see it?

This is true that you are far from Ayodhyaa, but you are not far from their hearts. Seeing the empty chariot, their grief might increase hundred-fold. What should I say to Maa Kaushalyaa? Should I tell her that "I have left your dear sons at your brother's house, therefore you should not worry about them?" I cannot tell such a lie. Should I say that "I have abandoned your sons in the forest." These words are true but are so unkind.

How will these horses who are now obedient to me, will draw the chariot without you? So Hey Raam, I cannot go back to Ayodhyaa without you, therefore please permit me to go to forest with you. If you will not take me, then I will burn myself here only along with this chariot. Hey Raam, With this chariot I will ward off the animals which will create obstacles in your life.

Hey Raam, Only you have made me fortunate by appointing me your Saarathee (charioteer). If you will take me to forest, you will make me more fortunate. I want to be your close associate. I will serve you in the forest, but I cannot enter Ayodhyaa without you. By all means I am leaving for good, Ayodhyaa or even Swarg. I will only serve you in the forest with my head bent.

This is my desire that I should take you back to Ayodhyaa in the same chariot in which I brought you here. If I will be with you then my time will also pass soon, but if you will not take me then this time period will be hundred-fold long, like ages for me, therefore Hey Raam, please don't leave me here, take me with you" Thus Sumantra got silent after saying all this under Raam's love.

Raam said to Sumantra - "I understand your faithfulness that is why listen to me as why do I want to send you to Ayodhyaa. If you will show up there then Maa Kaikeyee will get convinced that Raam indeed has gone to forest and she will be pacified. Besides, all doubts on Raajaa will also be clear that he did not tell lies. This is my first priority that Kaikeyee should get the whole kingdom ruled by her own son Bharat. Then also you should go to Ayodhyaa for my happiness and for king's happiness; and should tell whatever you have been asked to tell each in the way you have been asked to tell." Thus Raam convinced Sumantra in various ways to go to Ayodhyaa.

[Raam Crosses Gangaa River]

Thus after explaining to Sumantra, Raam said to Guh - "Hey Friend, Now I should live in the wild forest instead of living in inhabited forests because we have come in Tapaswee guise, by the order of our father. So bring the latex (milk like secretion) of banyan tree, I will prepare my Jataa from that.

Guh soon brought the banyan latex and Raam prepared Jataa (matted hair) of Lakshman's and his own. Then he advised Guh - "Remain vigilant in defense, finance, internal security and public relations for a kingdom with most difficult to protect." Then they went to the place where the boat was [waiting for them]. Raam asked Lakshman to help Seetaa to board the boat and then He himself. Lakshman did the same. So after Seetaa and Lakshman boarded, Raam boarded the boat. Guh ordered to row the boat. Raam did Jaap of some sacred text good for Himself and did Aachman too. Bidding farewell to Guh and his people and Sumantra Raam asked the boatman to row the boat.

When the boat was in the middle of Gangaa Jee, Seetaa Jee prayed her - "Raam is going to forest by the order of His father, please protect Him. May He return after 14 years with Lakshman and me then I will worship you with great joy. You flow through three Lok (Swarg, Prithvi and Paataal). include in your basin the realm of Brahmaa (the outermost six spheres enveloping Prithvi) and are clearly seen in the terrestrial region.  I greet you and pray you that when Raam will get His kingdom back, I will donate 100,000 (1 Lac) cows, soft clothing, and food to Braahman to please you. When I will be back in Ayodhyaa I will worship you with 1,000 pitchers of liquor and jellied meat with cooked rice. Bless me that Raam comes back to Ayodhyaa with Lakshman and me safely."

The boat arrived at the Southern bank of Gangaa. Raam got down from the boat and said to Lakshman - "Security is the foremost need in an uninhibited forest, so now you go in front to protect Seetaa. So Lakshman took his bow and arrow and started walking in front, then went Seetaa, and Raam was walking in the last. He said - "Seetaa will experience the troubles of forest only from today, because from today we will go through the wild forest."

Sad Sumantra continued to look at Raam for a long time. When they got disappeared, he broke into tears. After crossing Gangaa, Raam arrived in the country of Vatsa which had rows of beautiful crops. having hunted there four kinds of deer - Varaah, Rishya, Prishat, and Mahaaruru (the four principal species of deer) and taking their pure portions quickly, as they were hungry, came to a tree for rest in the evening.

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