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Beuotnine the great ascetic Valmiki thus conducting Sita into his own ‘hermitage Lakshmana’s heart was bewildered with grief. Thereupon he said to the expert Charioteer Sumantra. “Do thou perceive Rama's grief consequent upon the separation from Sita His spouse— the daughter of Janaka, is perfectly pure; what can be more painful than that Rama is living alone having renounced her? It is clear unto me, O Sumantra, that this separation of Rama, hath been brought about by the influence of cestiny—for it is hard to get over accident. Even that Rama, who, when enraged, is capable of slaying the celestials, Gandharbas, Asuras and Rakshasas, hath been engaged in the worship of destiny. Formerly did Rama go through miseries, residing in the forest of Dandaka, at the command of his sire for fourteen years. But this banishment of Sita appears to me as exceedingly painful and most ruthless. O charioteer, the opinion of the citizens is by no means just; consequently what shall we gain by performing such a bad action for fame as the exile of Sita?” Hearing those words of Lakshmana, the wise Sumantra reverentially replied :— Be not aggrieved for Sita, O Saumitri Formerly in the presence of thy sire the Brahmananas related this account of Sita’s exile. Rama shall be deprived of all happiness and be separated from his dear wife; what more, the virtuous-souled. Rama, having long arms, shall, under the influence of time, renounce thee, Sita, Satrughna and Bharata. O Lakshmana, when Durbisa was addressed by the king Dagaratha as to thy future he replied in the above way. I have told th¢e:the same. Do thou

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not communicate this unto Satrughna, Bharata or any body. O foremost of men, Durbisa said this unto Dagaratha before me, Vasishtha and other great men. Hearing the words of ‘Rishi, Dagaratha, the foremost of men, said unto me, “O charioteer, do not reveal this secret to any body.” O gentle one, itis not proper by any means to falsify the words of the king Dagaratha. I shall always, very carefully, carry out his orders. It is not proper to reveal this mystery before thee. Still I do so for thy curiosity hath been greatly excited. Though this mystery was communicated formerly by the king Dagaratha and though it is not proper to reveal it to any body, still I express it before thee that thou mayst not, on hearing it, be worked up with sorrow ; for destiny is hard to be got over. Andit is by the influence of that desiiny that thou hast met with such a sorrow and grief. However, do thou not reveal this secret unto Satrughna and Bharata.” Hearing these grave and important words of Sumantra, Lakshmana ordered him to relate.