Beholding the beauty of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, then men and women of the village feelingly said, ‘What sort of parents, O friend, can they be who have sent such mere children to the forest?’

But some said, ‘The king has done well, for thus God has rewarded our eyes!’ Then the Nishada chief on reflection chose a pleasant resting-place beneath an ashoka tree.

He brought Raghunatha and showed him the spot, and Rama declared it to be most excellent. The citizens then returned to their homes after paying him their respects, while Rama went to perform his evening devotions

Guha made and spread a soft and beautiful bed of kusha grass and tender leaves, and brought him with his own hands so many leaf-platters full of fruit and roots which he knew to be the purest, sweetest and most tender

After he had partaken of the bulbs and roots and fruit with Sita, Sumantra and his brother (Lakshmana), the jewel of the house of Raghu lay down to sleep while his brother kneaded his feet.

When Lakshmana perceived that the Lord had fallen asleep, he rose and kindly bade the minister take rest, while he himself got ready his bow and arrow and sitting at some distance in the posture of a hero, began to keep vigil

Guha summoned trustworthy sentinels and with great devotion stationed them at various points, while he himself went and took his seat by Lakshmana with a quiver fastened to his waist and an arrow fitted to his bow