THE EXILE BEGINS

The exile begins

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana sat on the chariot driven by Sumantra, the chief minister of the kingdom of Ayodhya, and drove away.

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were sad for having left their near and dear ones in Ayodhya.

Thinking of his people who had been following him, Rama decided to encamp near the Tamsa River for the night. While the people were still asleep, Rama asked Sumantra to drive away the chariot in such a way that the people would think that they were returning to Ayodhya. After eluding the people of Ayodhya in this way, Rama, Sita and Laskhmana moved towards the forest.

Sumantra drove the chariot to the banks of the River Ganga. There they stopped and decide to rest for awhile.

Rama and Sita lay down on the bare ground, but Lakshmana remained awake, guarding them the whole night.

When Rama told Sumantra to go back to Ayodhya, Sumantra asked him to take him along as a servant. But Rama told him that his father and mothers needed him in Ayodhya. So Sumantra went back to Ayodhya.

When Sumantra reached Ayodhya, the king and the two queens asked about the welfare of their beloved children.

Sumantra told them, "Rama has sent salutations to you all and has asked you not to worry about them as they are fine."

On the fifth day of Rama's exile, Dashratha died of grief. He could not bear th separation from Rama Lamenting Rama's exile, he breathed his last. He told Kaushalya that he had to undergo this grief of separation from his son because of a sin committed by him when he killed Shravan and became the cause of his parents' death.

Now the problem was who would perform his funeral rites. No one knew where Rama and Lakshmana were. Bharata and Shatrughana were still away at the palace of Bharata's grandfather. Finally, Bharata and Shatrughana were called to perform their father's last rites.

When Bharata came to know of his father's death and Rama's exile, he was bitterly angry at his mother, Kekai.

Bharata angrily said to Kekai, "You are the cause of my brothers' exile and my father's death. Why did you send Brother Rama on exile? Didn't know about my devotion towards him? I would never sit on the throne that rightfully belongs to my elder brother."
When Bharata met Kaushalya, she greeted him and said, "Bharata, you are now to rule the kingdom of Ayodhya."

With tears in his eyes, Bharata said, "The almighty has been the witness of my devotion towards Brother Rama. I will never rob my elder brother's throne. I will go the forest and ask him to take back his throne."

Kaushalya said, "Bharata, I am lucky to have a son like you. Rama is away, but I have a son like you here. God bless you!"

Bharata performed the last rites of his father, and then he set off in search of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.

Various warriors, Brahmins, merchants and Sudras got ready for the journey to the forest along with Bharata and Shatrughana. Everyone wanted Rama to return to Ayodhya.