The First Night of Exile

The chariot halted at the bank of the river Tamsa, where they took a break for the night. Sumantra unhitched the horses from the chariot and bathed them. Rama performed the evening prayer on the riverbank.

"Lakshmana, on this first night of our exile, we must fast," said Rama. "By being with you, all my worries have gone away." 

Lakshmana made a grass bedding for Rama and Sita to rest on. He stayed awake at night, guarding them, and talked to Prime Minister Sumantra. Rama woke up before sunrise. 

"The citizens of Ayodhya who followed us are in a deep slumber," said Rama to Sumantra. "If they wake up, they will not let us proceed. Prepare the chariot, and let us cross the river before they wake up." 

Sumantra followed Rama's command. When the citizens of Ayodhya woke up at dawn, they were distraught at not finding Rama and his chariot. Disappointed, they returned home. Throughout the remaining night and the following day, Sumantra rode the chariot with Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita into the forest. The chariot reached the southern border of the Kosala kingdom. Here, Rama asked Sumantra to stop the chariot. He then got off the chariot and respectfully saluted his motherland.

"I would like to stay with you. I don't want to return home," Sumantra pleaded with Rama, folding his hands.

"Dear Sumantra," said Rama, "kindly return to Ayodhya and spend time with my father. You now have to look after him. My family does not have a greater friend than you. You alone can console my father. Grief has battered his heart. Try to make him happy in every way. Stop worrying about us. Tell my bereaved father that we are blissful and happily spending our time in the forest."

Sumantra was unhappy and kept crying. When he tried to leave and saw the empty chariot, he started sobbing again. Rama consoled him and asked him to fulfill his duty. Finally, the Prime Minister took the chariot and returned to Ayodhya.