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LXI
THE FIRST HALT
Shri Ram, accompanied by Lakshman and Sita entered the kingdom of Avanti which looked fascinating on account of the graces and glories of nature, there. They travelled slowly through the area. Every day, they began their journey at the sunrise; and they spent the nights in some desolate places or outside some villages and hamlets. They travelled thus for some days in the Avanti area. On that day, the sun had risen and was shining in the eastern sky like a ball of fire spreading light and heat everywhere. On account of the heat Sita's face had grown red and weary and she was walking slowly.
Sita said to Ram with a look of solicitation, "Dear Lord, let us take rest in some convenient place."
"Look there! We can take rest in the cool shadow of that banyan tree. Let us go and rest there for a while;" and then the three proceeded towards the banyan tree. They halted in the shadow of that banyan tree. Lakshman spread his uppercloth on the ground. Shri Ram and Sita sat upon it to take rest.
After having reposed for a while Shri Ramachandra looked around and closely observed the sorrroundings. He began to think. "This place seems to have been deserted by people recently. Indeed these cottages and this wood have been deserted by people on account of some fear. The people of this area have gone away from this place. Otherwise, this beautiful place would not have been so desolate and deserted....." He kept thinking thus for a while and then said to Lakshman:
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"Dear brother, just look at those sugarcane fields, wheat fields and the gardens. Don't you think that the people of this
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