Ayodhya Kaanda
73 - Sri Rama, Sita and Laksmana proceed to the woods and slip past the citizens buried in slumber
Chaupais
Description
Issuing out of the palace the party halted at Vasistha's door and found the people scorched with the fire of impending separation. The Hero of Raghu's race comforted all with soothing words and then summoned hosts of Brahmanas. He requested His preceptor to give them subsistence for a year and captivated their hearts through courtesy, gift and humility. He gratified mendicants with gifts and attentions and sated His friends with pure love. He then called His men-servants and maid-servants and entrusting them to the care of His Guru spoke to him with joined palms, "My lord, pray look after them and tend them as their own father and mother." Again and again, with joined palms, Sri Rama addressed each one present there in soft accents, "He alone is friendly to me in every way, through whose good offices the king derives solace."