Thus Raama spoke to them in kindly tones. But they loved him all the more because
of this and would not be consoled. Some Braahmanas, old in years and excellent in virtue,
looking at the chariot wept and cried: "Why, O horses, do you carry our Raama into
the forest? We have heard it said that horses are sharp of hearing. Listen to us then and
bring back our Raama."
Hearing these words of yearning from old
Braahmanas, Raama stopped the chariot. The three descended from it and went for ward
walking.
The common people, leading citizens and
wise elders, men of penance-why, even the birds on wings-tried to prevent Raama from going
to the forest. The river Tamasa, says the poet, seemed to conspire with them, for now it
flowed across his path. The chariot stopped on the river bank. Sumantra unyoked and
watered the horses and let them loose to graze. |
