The people of the city followed next; having equipped their own carriages, they al set out for Chitrakuta, and all the queens journeyed in palanquins which were inexpressibly elegant.

The two brothers, Bharata and Shatrughna, after entrusting the city to his faithful servants and courteously sending the whole party ahead, set forth last of all, with their thoughts on the feet of Rama and Sita.

Seized with a longing for the sight of Rama, all the people, both men and women, made their way as elephants that run to quench their thirst. Reflecting in their hearts that Sita and Rama were (suffering hardship) in the woods, Bharata and his younger brother went on foot.

When they saw Bharata’s affectionate gesture, the people were overwhelmed with love and, dismounting, walked on foot, leaving their horses, elephants and chariots. But Rama’s mother brought her palanquin to a halt by his side and softly said:

‘Mount your chariot, my son – your mother adjures you – or all our dear people will be put to trouble. If you walk, the whole party will follow suit, and you know they are all wasted with sorrow and hardly fit to walk.’

Obedient to her commands, the two brothers bowed their heads before her feet and mounted their chariots and so journeyed on. They halted the first day on the bank of the Tamasa and the second on the bank of the Gomati.

Some of them lived only on milk, while others made a meal of fruit, and some took food but once in the night; for Rama’s sake they had put off their ornaments and given up all luxuries and were observing strict ascetic rules.