Ramayana_VOLUME V with index

393
Sumantra
standing before Rama, with head bent in sorrow, in humility,
tears flowing freely from his eyes.(RKRV Part I p.350)
Rama says that both of them should carry out the Emperor’s
orders:
“Do not grieve,” Rama said, “Accomplishing the orders of the
Emperor is your duty, and mine too. I am very happy that you
carried out the orders he gave you. Thenceforward, I shall carry
out the order that he has given me. I shall follow his directions
with the greatest reverence, and in scrupulous detail. Do not
delay; return to Ayodhya. My parents will be awaiting your
arrival with unbounded anxiety. They are longing to hear from
you the description of your journey so far. So, take the chariot
back and proceed fast,” he urged.
Rama consoles Sumantra:
Sumantra pictured to himself the place he had to go back to. He
pleaded pathetically, “Oh Ramachandra! Let not Ayodhya
become an orphan city. The Emperor will find it difficult to hold
himself together in your absence. Bharatha will find it impossible
to reign.” Sumantra fell at the feet of Rama, unable to bear the
weight of his sorrow. Rama lifted him up, and holding him by
the shoulder, he consoled him. “Sumantra! No principle of
righteousness is higher than Truth. The Vedas, the Puranas, the
Epics, all assert and proclaim this, as you know. Now, I have
been assigned the task of following this supreme principle of
Righteousness! What great good fortune is this! If I miss this
chance and lose this fortune, I and my dynasty will earn eternal
infamy in all the three worlds. Infamy will burn the righteous
more excruciatingly than a million deaths and cremations. Go,