Ramayana. Lakshman also Follows.
Now Lakshman, too, with tears in his eyes, held Rama's feet and spoke to him: "If thou wilt go thus to the forest full of elephants and deer, I shall also follow, and together we shall dwell where the songs of birds and the humming of bees delight the ear. I shall go before thee on the way, finding the path, carrying bows and hoe and basket; daily I shall fetch the roots and fruits thou needest, and thou shalt sport with Sita on the hill-sides, while I do every work for thee." Nor could Rama by any argument dissuade him. "Take leave, then, of all thy relatives," said Rama, "and bring away from my guru's house the two suits of mail and burnished weapons given to me as bridal gifts by Janaka. Distribute my wealth amongst the Brahmans." Then Rama, Sita, and Lakshman went to farewell their father and the mothers of Rama. Then a noble Brahman named Sumantra, seeing Dasharatha broken by grief, and moved to pity at the going forth of Rama, prayed Kaikeyi to relent, clasping his hands and using smooth but cutting speech; but that noble lady's heart was hardened, and she might not in any wise be moved. But when Dasharatha wished to send Ayodhya's wealth and men with Rama to the forest she paled and choked with anger, for she required that Rama should go destitute and that the wealth should belong to Bharata.
But Rama said: "What have I to do with a following in the forest? What avails it to keep back the trappings of a goodly elephant when the elephant itself is renounced? Let them bring me dresses of bark, a hoe and basket." Then Kaikeyi brought a dress of bark, one each for Rama and Lakshman and Sita. But Sita, clad in robes of silk, seeing the robe of a nun, trembled like a doe before the snare and wept. Then would they persuade Rama to leave Sita to dwell at home, abiding his return; and Vashishtha rebuked Kaikeyi. "This was not in the bond," said he, "that Sita should go forth to the forest. Rather let her sit in Rama's seat; for of all those that wed, the wife is a second self. Let Sita rule the earth in Rama's stead, being Rama's self, for be sure that Bharata will refuse to take the throne that should be Rama's. Behold, Kaikeyi, there is not a person in the world who is not a friend to Rama: even today thou mayst see the beasts and birds and serpents follow him, and the trees incline their heads toward him. Therefore let Sita be well adorned and have with her cars and goods and servants when she follows Rama."
Then Dasharatha gave her robes and jewels, and laying aside the dress of bark, Sita shone resplendent, while the people muttered against Kaikeyi, and Sumantra yoked the horses to Rama's car. Rama's mother bade farewell to Sita, counselling her in the duties of women, to regard her lord as God, though exiled and deprived of wealth; to whom Sita answered: "The moon may sooner lose its brightness than I depart from this. The lute without strings is silent, the car lacking wheels is motionless, so a woman parted from her lord can know no happiness. How should I disregard my lord, who have been taught the greater and the lesser duties by those above me?"
Then Rama, taking leave of Dasharatha and of his mothers, said with praying hands: "If I have ever spoken discourteously, by lack of thought, or inadvertently done any wrong, do ye pardon it. I salure all ye, my father and mothers, and depart." Then Sita, Rama, and Lakshman walked sunwiuse thrice about the king and turned away.
Then Rama and Lakshman, and Sita third, ascended the flaming car of gold, taking their weapons and coats of mail, the hoe and basket, and Sita's goods bestowed by Dasharatha; and Sumantra urged on the goodly horses, swift as the very wind. Me and beasts within the city were stricken dumb with grief, and, bereft of wit, rushed headlong after Rama, like thirsty travellers seeing water; even Rama's mother ran behind the car. then Rama said to the charioteer, "Go thou swiftly," for, like a goaded elephant, he might not bear to look behind. Soon Rama was far away, beyond the sight of men gazing at the car's track. Then Dasharatha turned to Kaikeyi and cursed her with divorce from bed and home, and seeing the city with empty streets and closed stalls, "Take me speedily to Rama's mother, Kaushalya's chamber; only there may I find any rest."
Now Lakshman, too, with tears in his eyes, held Rama's feet and spoke to him: "If thou wilt go thus to the forest full of elephants and deer, I shall also follow, and together we shall dwell where the songs of birds and the humming of bees delight the ear. I shall go before thee on the way, finding the path, carrying bows and hoe and basket; daily I shall fetch the roots and fruits thou needest, and thou shalt sport with Sita on the hill-sides, while I do every work for thee." Nor could Rama by any argument dissuade him. "Take leave, then, of all thy relatives," said Rama, "and bring away from my guru's house the two suits of mail and burnished weapons given to me as bridal gifts by Janaka. Distribute my wealth amongst the Brahmans." Then Rama, Sita, and Lakshman went to farewell their father and the mothers of Rama. Then a noble Brahman named Sumantra, seeing Dasharatha broken by grief, and moved to pity at the going forth of Rama, prayed Kaikeyi to relent, clasping his hands and using smooth but cutting speech; but that noble lady's heart was hardened, and she might not in any wise be moved. But when Dasharatha wished to send Ayodhya's wealth and men with Rama to the forest she paled and choked with anger, for she required that Rama should go destitute and that the wealth should belong to Bharata.
But Rama said: "What have I to do with a following in the forest? What avails it to keep back the trappings of a goodly elephant when the elephant itself is renounced? Let them bring me dresses of bark, a hoe and basket." Then Kaikeyi brought a dress of bark, one each for Rama and Lakshman and Sita. But Sita, clad in robes of silk, seeing the robe of a nun, trembled like a doe before the snare and wept. Then would they persuade Rama to leave Sita to dwell at home, abiding his return; and Vashishtha rebuked Kaikeyi. "This was not in the bond," said he, "that Sita should go forth to the forest. Rather let her sit in Rama's seat; for of all those that wed, the wife is a second self. Let Sita rule the earth in Rama's stead, being Rama's self, for be sure that Bharata will refuse to take the throne that should be Rama's. Behold, Kaikeyi, there is not a person in the world who is not a friend to Rama: even today thou mayst see the beasts and birds and serpents follow him, and the trees incline their heads toward him. Therefore let Sita be well adorned and have with her cars and goods and servants when she follows Rama."
Then Dasharatha gave her robes and jewels, and laying aside the dress of bark, Sita shone resplendent, while the people muttered against Kaikeyi, and Sumantra yoked the horses to Rama's car. Rama's mother bade farewell to Sita, counselling her in the duties of women, to regard her lord as God, though exiled and deprived of wealth; to whom Sita answered: "The moon may sooner lose its brightness than I depart from this. The lute without strings is silent, the car lacking wheels is motionless, so a woman parted from her lord can know no happiness. How should I disregard my lord, who have been taught the greater and the lesser duties by those above me?"
Then Rama, taking leave of Dasharatha and of his mothers, said with praying hands: "If I have ever spoken discourteously, by lack of thought, or inadvertently done any wrong, do ye pardon it. I salure all ye, my father and mothers, and depart." Then Sita, Rama, and Lakshman walked sunwiuse thrice about the king and turned away.
Then Rama and Lakshman, and Sita third, ascended the flaming car of gold, taking their weapons and coats of mail, the hoe and basket, and Sita's goods bestowed by Dasharatha; and Sumantra urged on the goodly horses, swift as the very wind. Me and beasts within the city were stricken dumb with grief, and, bereft of wit, rushed headlong after Rama, like thirsty travellers seeing water; even Rama's mother ran behind the car. then Rama said to the charioteer, "Go thou swiftly," for, like a goaded elephant, he might not bear to look behind. Soon Rama was far away, beyond the sight of men gazing at the car's track. Then Dasharatha turned to Kaikeyi and cursed her with divorce from bed and home, and seeing the city with empty streets and closed stalls, "Take me speedily to Rama's mother, Kaushalya's chamber; only there may I find any rest."
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Now Lakshman, too, with tears in his eyes, held Rama's feet and spoke to him: "If thou wilt go thus to the forest full of elephants and deer, I shall also follow, and together we shall dwell where the songs of birds and the humming of bees delight the ear. I shall go before thee on the way, finding the path, carrying bows and hoe and basket; daily I shall fetch the roots and fruits thou needest, and thou shalt sport with Sita on the hill-sides, while I do every work for thee." Nor could Rama by any argument dissuade him. "Take leave, then, of all thy relatives," said Rama, "and bring away from my guru's house the two suits of mail and burnished weapons given to me as bridal gifts by Janaka. Distribute my wealth amongst the Brahmans." Then Rama, Sita, and Lakshman went to farewell their father and the mothers of Rama. Then a noble Brahman named Sumantra, seeing Dasharatha broken by grief, and moved to pity at the going forth of Rama, prayed Kaikeyi to relent, clasping his hands and using smooth but cutting speech; but that noble lady's heart was hardened, and she might not in any wise be moved. But when Dasharatha wished to send Ayodhya's wealth and men with Rama to the forest she paled and choked with anger, for she required that Rama should go destitute and that the wealth should belong to Bharata.
But Rama said: "What have I to do with a following in the forest? What avails it to keep back the trappings of a goodly elephant when the elephant itself is renounced? Let them bring me dresses of bark, a hoe and basket." Then Kaikeyi brought a dress of bark, one each for Rama and Lakshman and Sita. But Sita, clad in robes of silk, seeing the robe of a nun, trembled like a doe before the snare and wept. Then would they persuade Rama to leave Sita to dwell at home, abiding his return; and Vashishtha rebuked Kaikeyi. "This was not in the bond," said he, "that Sita should go forth to the forest. Rather let her sit in Rama's seat; for of all those that wed, the wife is a second self. Let Sita rule the earth in Rama's stead, being Rama's self, for be sure that Bharata will refuse to take the throne that should be Rama's. Behold, Kaikeyi, there is not a person in the world who is not a friend to Rama: even today thou mayst see the beasts and birds and serpents follow him, and the trees incline their heads toward him. Therefore let Sita be well adorned and have with her cars and goods and servants when she follows Rama."
Then Dasharatha gave her robes and jewels, and laying aside the dress of bark, Sita shone resplendent, while the people muttered against Kaikeyi, and Sumantra yoked the horses to Rama's car. Rama's mother bade farewell to Sita, counselling her in the duties of women, to regard her lord as God, though exiled and deprived of wealth; to whom Sita answered: "The moon may sooner lose its brightness than I depart from this. The lute without strings is silent, the car lacking wheels is motionless, so a woman parted from her lord can know no happiness. How should I disregard my lord, who have been taught the greater and the lesser duties by those above me?"
Then Rama, taking leave of Dasharatha and of his mothers, said with praying hands: "If I have ever spoken discourteously, by lack of thought, or inadvertently done any wrong, do ye pardon it. I salure all ye, my father and mothers, and depart." Then Sita, Rama, and Lakshman walked sunwiuse thrice about the king and turned away.
Then Rama and Lakshman, and Sita third, ascended the flaming car of gold, taking their weapons and coats of mail, the hoe and basket, and Sita's goods bestowed by Dasharatha; and Sumantra urged on the goodly horses, swift as the very wind. Me and beasts within the city were stricken dumb with grief, and, bereft of wit, rushed headlong after Rama, like thirsty travellers seeing water; even Rama's mother ran behind the car. then Rama said to the charioteer, "Go thou swiftly," for, like a goaded elephant, he might not bear to look behind. Soon Rama was far away, beyond the sight of men gazing at the car's track. Then Dasharatha turned to Kaikeyi and cursed her with divorce from bed and home, and seeing the city with empty streets and closed stalls, "Take me speedily to Rama's mother, Kaushalya's chamber; only there may I find any rest."
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