Citizens Lament
When they got up, the people on the shores of Thamasa river unable to find Rama were extremely anguished and searched for him with tears rolling down, they could not see the Chariot track or it’s dust. Then they lost hope of seeing him “Why did this grief come to us? The grief has deceived us from seeing the Great Noble Rama who has Long Arms and wide Chest,Why did Rama do like this? We have extreme affection for him, he has brushed us aside and is going to the Gory Forest! Like Father protects the Son, so does Rama takes care of us , when he is not around why should we live ?so we will fast ourseves unto Death here itself. Or we Will walk towards North till Death comes to us; or light fire with the dry wood and leaves and we will jumpt into it and give our Life. If we return to Ayodhya what will we answer those who ask us? Can we say that we took Rama who is never jealous and the great Valorous person who speaks endearingly and allowed him to go to Forest? When we go to Ayodhya the children, Ladies and the Elders without Rama , their craving will go up further for him .We sarted with that Mahathms who had control over his senses from the city; how can we enter the city without him now? Thus they lamented rising their hands , like the Cows who have lost their calf. Then for some time , they followed the path he had gone,there in the Grassy terrain the Chariot wheel marks vanished. Seeing this their grief enhanced further. “what will we do now? When God itself is against us” and returned back without any hope. They became tired in their body and their heart given up, they proceeded in the path they came , entered the already bereaving city.
There the houses were not cleaned nor decorated with Kolam(drawings in front of the house with rice powder ).Seeing this their tears welled up further ike streams The city bereft of Rama looked like the mound where the Serpents were taken away by the Garuda (God of Eagle), the River which has lost it’s lusture, the sky without Moon, the sea whose Water is dried to those who where sunk in deep sorrow. They went to their houses which had all the wealth but they stood their gaping as though they were mentally challenged people. They were so dazed that they could not identify their relations or their neighbours or other people from other cities.(Slokas 19).
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