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LIX
THE JOURNEY TO THE FOREST
"Dear Lakshman! Do not go away. You are the apple of my eyes. Do not go away from me,” Kausalya said bathing Lakshman with her tears, while he sat placing his head on her feet. Kausalya was greatly grieved to find that even Lakshman was determined to go and live in the forest like Rama.
"Dear Lakshman! You are my only prop in the absence of your brother, Shri Ram. I do not know how, I can bear with this separation. Do not go away from me. Lakshman! My darling son, do not go away.”
Kausalya's eyes had grown red with weeping, and yet the tears continued to flow from her eyes. Her radiant face had grown dull and dejected. Clouds of sorrow covered her face. Her expensive garments had become crumpled and soiled.
"Mother! You are the mother of Shri Ram. You gave birth to him and you suckled him with the milk of patience and heroism. When that is so how can you be so agitated. It is natural for ordinary women to weep thus but I am not prepared to believe that you are an ordinary woman.”
Lakshman said looking at Kausalya's tearful eyes.
"Mother dear! Bless me at once. My brother will go far away if I delay. I must at once go and join him.”
"No. Lakshman! No!” Kausalya at once stood at the door preventing Lakshman from going out. Her face was clouded with sorrow.
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