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## Chapter 102 of the Padma Purana
102
Padma Purana
The aged ascetics, again and again, consoled them with soothing words. "Even if you do not stay in our ashram, please listen to us." ||13||
Though these forests are filled with all kinds of hospitality, do not trust them, just like you wouldn't trust women or rivers. You are wise. ||14||
Seeing Rama and Lakshmana, with their lotus-like eyes, the wives of the ascetics abandoned all their tasks. Their entire bodies became void. ||15||
Some women, filled with anxiety, their eyes fixed on their path, wandered far away under the pretext of some other task, their minds bewildered. ||16||
Some women, with sweet words, said, "Why don't you stay in our ashram? We will do everything for you as needed." ||17||
Beyond three kos, lies a great forest, devoid of human presence, filled with huge trees and teeming with lions, tigers, and other beasts. ||18||
It is extremely terrifying, filled with sharp blades of grass. Even ascetics do not go there to gather fuel or flowers. ||19||
Ahead lies the very difficult to reach, massive mountain called Chitrakoot. Do you not know that it is filled with anger? ||20||
Rama and Lakshmana replied, "O ascetics! We must go there." Thus urged, they reluctantly turned back, and even while returning, they continued to speak of their journey for a long time. ||21||
Then they entered a great forest, rough and rugged with the cliffs of the earth and mountains, filled with a tangle of vines climbing up huge trees. ||22||
Where tigers, enraged by hunger, were tearing at the trees with their claws. Where the ground was stained with the blood and pearls from the tusks of elephants slain by lions. ||23||
Where wild elephants had stripped the bark from the trunks of huge trees with their shoulders. Where deer, terrified by the roar of lions, were running in all directions. ||24||
Where caves were filled with the breath of sleeping pythons. Where small ponds were being churned up by the impact of the snouts of herds of boars. ||25||
Where the ground was covered with mounds of earth, ignited by the tips of the horns of large buffaloes. Where the earth was trembling with the movement of huge, terrifying snakes. ||26||
Their minds were disturbed, and they lost their composure. ||12||