Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

"Sita will follow Rama into Exileand treesgods and rishis and holysteads and mountainsand deer of the forest and all creatures of the sky toguard him. Then with sacred fire and Brahman ritual sheblessed his going and walked sunwise thrice about him,and he went to Sita.Sita, who knew nothing of what had befallen, rose andgreeted him with trembling limbs, for he could no longerhide his grief.Then Rama told her all that had beendone, and he said: "Now Bharata is king thou shouldstnot praise me, even amongst thy friends so ; mayst thoudwell in peace as one favourable to their party. Do thouthus dwell here in peace;rise betimes, worship the gods,bow to the feet of my father Dasharatha, and honour mymother Kaushalya, and after her my other mothers withequal love and affection. Look on Bharata and Satrughnaas thy sons or brothers, for they are dearer to me than life.Thus live thou here, while Igo forth into the forest."Sita will follow Rama into ExileThen Sita answered : I can only mock at such unmeetwords, notfitting to be heard, much less to be spoken bya great prince such as thou. For, O my lord, a father,mother, son, brother, or daughter-in-law indeed abide bythe result of their own actions ;but a wife, O best of men,shares in her husband s fate. Therefore I have been ordered,no less than thou, to exile in the forest. If thou goestthere I shall go before thee, treading upon thorns andIprickly grass.shall be as happy there as in my father shouse, thinking only of thy service. I shall not cause theetrouble, but will live on roots and fruits. I will precedethee walking and follow thee in eating.pools, with wild geese and other fowl and bright-blown lotus -flowers, where we mayAnd there will bewith fullbathe. There shall I