Ayodhya Kaanda
73 - Sri Rama, Sita and Laksmana proceed to the woods and slip past the citizens buried in slumber
Chaupais
Description
When the Lord of Raghus saw His people overwhelmed with love, His tender heart was much afflicted. Lord Sri Rama, who is all compassion, is readily touched by others, pain. Addressing them in affectionate, soft and agreeable tones, He comforted all in ways more than one. He also gave them varied instructions in their moral duty; but overmastered by love they would not turn back even though urged to return. Sri Rama could not afford to take leave of His amiable disposition and loving nature; the Lord of Raghus thus found Himself in a fix. Overpowered by grief and toil the people fell asleep and the deluding potency of gods further helped to benumb their mind. When two watches of the night had passed, Sri Rama addressed the minister in endearing terms, "Father, drive the chariot in such a way as to mix up the tracks; by no other means can our object be accomplished."