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## Chapter Forty-Five
249
Then, with the cool sea breeze, his fatigue and sweat subsided. He sighed deeply, filled with sorrow. ||7||
Those others who had gone to search for Sita, having searched with all their might, returned to Rama, their faces devoid of joy. ||72||
Seeing their dejected faces and their eyes fixed on the ground, their hearts empty, Padma, with a long, hot breath, spoke, his eyes weary. ||73||
"You, blessed celestial beings, have not abandoned your strength, but have strived in our cause. Yet, fate is against me." ||74||
"Now, stay as you wish, or go to your homes. What is lost in the great fire, can it be seen again?" ||75||
"Surely, whatever karma I have done, I am destined to receive its fruit. Neither you nor I can change it." ||76||
"I have taken refuge in this harsh, distant forest, bereft of kin. Even here, the enemy of fate has not shown me mercy." ||77||
"It seems this relentless misfortune is clinging to me. What greater sorrow can it bring?" ||78||
As Rama began to lament, Viradhit, skilled in comforting, spoke with great composure, "Oh, Lord, why do you indulge in such unparalleled sorrow? You will see your beloved, the embodiment of purity, in a few days." ||79-80||
"Indeed, this sorrow is a potent poison, destroying the body it clings to. What need is there to speak of other things?" ||81||
"Therefore, embrace the fortitude cherished by great men. You, noble souls, are the fertile ground for the birth of wisdom." ||82||
"A courageous man, even if he lives, sees prosperity after a long time. But a man of weak intellect, even in hardship, cannot see it." ||83||
"This is not the time for sorrow. Focus your mind on action, for apathy brings great harm." ||84||
1. *apariitashramswedasamaswasaduhkhita* (M. 1)
2. *yayaswanveshanam* (M.)
3. *vadavasyaamgatam* (M., B.)
4. *viduram*
5. *grihi* (Kh.)
6. *udasina* (M.)
2-32