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THE ABANDONMENT OF SĪTĀ
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Kumbhakarņa went to emancipation at the river Narmadā and the tīrtha named Přstharakṣita arose.
Return to Ayodhyā (61–97) Now in Sāketapura the mothers of Rāma and Laksmaņa were much grieved because they had not had any news of them. At that time Nārada came there from Dhātakikhanda and asked them who were bowed with devotion, "Why are you depressed ?" Then Aparājitā said: “My sons, Rāma and Lakşmaņa, went to the forest with my daughter-in-law, Sītā, at their father's command. Both of them, long-armed, went to Lankā because of Sītā's kidnaping and Lakşmaņa was struck with a spear in a battle with Rävaņa, it was said. Visalyā was taken there to remove the spear-point. We do not know anything that happened and whether or not the boy lives."
After making this reply, she cried pathetically, "Oh, son! son!” and made Sumitrā cry hard. Then Nārada said to them, “Be comforted. I shall go to your sons and bring them here.” With this promise to them Nārada went through the air to Rāma in Lankā, obtaining news from the talk of the people. Rāma himself welcomed him and asked, "Why have you come here?” and Nārada told him the whole story of their mothers' grief. At once Padma said with longing to Bibhīşaņa: "Forgetting our mothers' grief, I have stayed here too long from devotion to you. That our mothers may not die from grief over us, we shall go there today. Give your consent, sir."
Bibhīşaņa bowed and said, "Remain here for sixteen days until I have Ayodhyā beautified by my own artists." “Very well,” said Rāma, and in sixteen days he had Ayodhyā made to resemble a city in heaven by Vidyādhara artists. Then Nārada, honored and dismissed by Rāma, went and told Rāma's mothers of the festival of their sons' arrival. On the sixteenth day the two Raghūdvahas together got into Puşpaka with their retinues, like Sakra
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