June 23 - Sargas 51 and 52 of Ayodhya Kanda.
Guha and Lakshmana spend the night speaking about Sri Rama and the likely situation in Ayodhya. Then Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana cross the Ganga after instructing Sumantra to return to Ayodhya.
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After Sri Rama and Sita have retired, Guha requests Lakshmana to take rest in the special bed the hunters have made for him. Guha and his people will stand guard for the vigil.
अस्य प्रासादादाशंसे लोकेऽस्मिन् सुमहद् यशः ।
धर्मावाप्तिं च विपुलामार्थकामौ च पुष्कलौ ॥
सोऽहं प्रियसखं रामं शयानं सह सीतया ।
रक्षिष्यामि धनुष्पाणिः सर्वथा ज्ञातिभिः सह ॥
Guha tells Lakshmana, "Please take this as my inner most truth, I am going to receive all grace and glory from Sri Rama's benediction. I shall acquire Dharma, as well as material welfare and all that I desire only owing to Sri Rama's favour. Therefore I consider it my utmost duty to take care of him as he rests here with Sita. I shall stand guard with bow and arrow and my people here know every kind of danger and how to ward it off."
Lakshmana replies that indeed they have absolutely no fear or anxiety resting there under Guha's care.
कथं दाशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया ।
शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धुं जीवितं वा सुखानि वा ॥
However indeed is it possible for Lakshmana to get sleep, and enjoy life's comforts when he sees Sri Rama and Sita sleeping on bare ground thus? The same Sri Rama, whom no gods or demons can encounter in war. The same Sri Rama who is as glorious as his father the great king Dasharatha?
Lakshmana goes into a very sad train of thought about what will come to pass in Ayodhya.
कथं पुत्रं महात्मानं ज्येष्ठपुत्रमपश्यतः ।
शरीरं धारयिष्यन्ति प्राणा राज्ञो महात्मनः ॥
विनष्टे नृपतौ पश्चात् कौसल्या विनशिष्यति ।
अनन्तरं च मातापि मम नाशमुपैष्यति ॥
Lakshmana tells Guha, "How will his life breath survive in my father the great king Dasharatha when he is not able to set eyes on his noble son Rama? Once he dies, Kausalya will follow him. Even my mother Sumitra will die soon after. "
Lakshmana conjectures, without mentioning Bharata, that those who are fortunate to perform the king's last rites will be lucky to enjoy the glories and beauties of the wonderful Ayodhya with its well-laid mansions, gardens, facilities and happy citizenry.
When Lakshmana sighs wondering if there is any chance for them after completing their exile to re-enter Ayodhya and set their eyes on their father alive, Guha is wrenched with sorrow and Valmiki says he was like an elephant silently shedding tears owing to some deep fever.
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At daybreak Sri Rama instructs Lakshmana to request Guha for a suitable boat to cross Ganga. Sri Rama does not miss noticing and telling Lakshmana about the call of cuckoos and peacocks as nature wakes up in joy.
Guha readies an excellent boat. Sri Rama and Lakshmana wear their armour and hold their weapons. Their meagre belongings are loaded into the boat. Then Sumantra comes forward. Sri Rama tells him that he should now return to Ayodhya.
Their conversation is extremely moving. Sri Rama tells Sumantra that he is the most trust-worthy and competent minister to be by the side of Dasharatha in this most difficult time. He should take extremely good care of the king and the three queens. Dasharatha should quickly install Bharata.
नैवाहमनुशोचामि न लक्ष्मणो न च शोचति ।
अयोध्यायाश्च्युताश्चेति वने वत्स्यामहेति वा ॥
चतुर्दशसु वर्षेषु निवृत्तेषु पुनः पुनः ।
लक्ष्मणं मां च सीतां च द्रक्ष्यसे शिघ्रमागतान् ॥
"Please tell the king that neither I nor Lakshmana are distressed that we have left Ayodhya and are going to dwell in the forest. Once we complete the period of fourteen years, we shall return and the king will behold us constantly. These years will pass very quickly. "
On his part Sumantra goes into a big protestation that neither the citizens of Ayodhya will be happy nor the future of Ayodhya will be good once Sri Rama is gone. Even the horses will not like to go back without Sri Rama. On his part Sumantra is most apprehensive about Kaikeyi and cannot muster courage to return to the capital without Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana.
Sri Rama tells Sumantra it is inevitable that Sumantra returns quickly to Ayodhya. In fact that is most essential as it will be final proof and reassurance to Kaikeyi that Rama has indeed gone into exile.
Sri Rama has detailed instructions for Sumantra on how to care for the king and make sure he does not miss Rama. He has words also for Bharata. Bharata should show the same love and respect to all the three queens as also the king.
तातस्य प्रियकामेन यौवराज्यमवेक्षता ।
लोकयोरुभयोः शक्यं नित्यदा सुखमेधितुम् ॥
"Dear Bharata, by the fond desire of the king you are being made Yuvaraja. Please discharge your responsibilities always such that the king will get happiness in this world and in the next world too."
Many more instructions.
Then Sri Rama requests Guha to get the sap of the banyan tree. Rama and Lakshmana anoint their hair into matted locks. Valmiki says the two brothers with their matted locks and medicant clothes looked like two great tapasvis.
Rama has words of statesmanly advice to Guha on how to rule well and protect the people and the treasures under his watch.
Rama tells Lakshmana to board the boat first, steady it for Sita to climb into, and then Rama will board.
The three get into the boat with the oarsman. Rama says appropriate prayers and sips Ganga's holy water reverentially.
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As they cross the Ganga, Sita offers her prayers to the holy river midstream. This is a very eloquent prayer from a lady who hardly speaks. She says:
ततस्त्वां देवि सुभगे क्षमेण पुनरागता ।
यक्ष्ये प्रमुदिता गङ्गे सर्वकामसमृद्धिनी ॥
"Dear Devi Ganga, under your grace, we shall complete fourteen years in the forest safely. Your most auspicious and gracious nature will fulfil all our desires. I make a vow to worship you on our safe return with bountiful offerings and offerings to Brahmins and others."
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After they land on the other bank, Rama instructs Lakshmana how they shall proceed henceforth.
अवश्यं रक्षणं कार्यं मद्विधैर्विजने वने ।
अग्रतो गच्छ सौमित्रे सीता त्वामनुगच्छतु ॥
पृष्ठतोऽनुगमिष्यामि सीतां त्वां चानुपालयन् ।
अन्योन्यस्य हि नो रक्षा कर्तव्या पुरुषर्षभ ॥
न हि तावदतिक्रान्तासुकरा काचन क्रिया ।
अद्य दुःखं तु वैदेही वनवासस्य वेत्स्यति ॥
"Dear Lakshmana, henceforth we have to protect one another in this uninhabited dense forest. So do as I tell you. You shall always travel ahead. Sita shall follow you. And I will come following her. Oh tiger among men, this is the way we shall look out for each other and protect ourselves.
"So far Sita has seen no hardship or danger at all, living in royal luxury. Sita is now going to be exposed to the difficulties and dangers of forest life in plenty."
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Valmiki describes how the three of them were utterly famished after travelling for so long with no food. The brothers hunted down a wild boar and some deer. They managed thus to get some proper food. They rested under a tree for the night.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
