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In the Forest of Simhaninad
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ment. Kritantavadan took Sita and the chariot across the river to the other bank of the Ganga. The forest of Simhaninad was situated close to the Ganga. It was a wild and dreadful forest, pathless and boundless. It seemed to extend to the horizons. They entered the forest of Simhaninad. Kritantavadan stopped the chariot in the forest and he alighted from it. His eyes were streaming with tears and his face was bleak and blighted. He was shuddering with fear and he was unable to say anything. His voice was choked with grief.
Sita wondered why he had stopped the chariot there, glanced at him doubtfully and said in a serious voice. “Kritantavadan ! Why have you stopped the chariot here, in the middle of the forest ? Are you waiting for the other chariots to arrive ? Where are the other chariots carrying my lord and the others ?”
But poor Kritantavadan was unable to say anything. He had no answer to these questions. So, he remained speechless and tears streamed down his eyes. He sobbed and wept like a helpless child.
Noticing the tears streaming down his eyes, Sita said anxiously, “Ah! Kritantavadan! Why are you shedding tears ? What is the matter? Why have you suddenly started weeping? Have you committed any mistake or have you lost your way in the jungle ? Dear brother! Speak out.” Sita asked him these questions without pausing for breath. What could Kritantavadan do ? He was grief-stricken but he had to say something in reply to her questions. He could not conceal the truth any more. So, he said in a grief-stricken voice. "Revered Queen ! What shall I say. If I had died before answering these questions, I would have lived a blessed time. Oh! I have to say what should not be said. I have done what I ought not to have done but I am a poor servant of the king. The painful responsibility of telling you what cannot be uttered has fallen to my lot ? I am a servant to the throne and I have to carry out the commands of the king even against my will. Sometimes, a servant has to commit even an enormity to carry out the commands of the king.”
“Dear commander ! I cannot understand anything. Speak out clearly what you want to say. You need not conceal any
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