________________
THE ABANDONMENT OF SĪTĀ
317 ever she is slandered, that is because the people are loose-mouthed. The people, even when well-off in the government, are devoted to the faults of the king. If they are not punished in that case, they must be disregarded by kings.” Rāma said, “That is true. The people are like that always. But the hostility of the whole people must certainly be avoided by an illustrious man.”
With these words Bala told the general Kftānta vadana, “Sītā, though with child, must be abandoned somewhere in the forest." Falling at Rāma's feet, weeping, Lakşmaņa said, "Abandonment of Sītā, a virtuous wife, is not fitting." "In future you must not say that,” told by Rāma, Saumitri went weeping to his house, his face covered with a veil..
Rāma instructed Křtāntavadana, “Take Sitä into the forest under pretext of a pilgrimage to Sammeta. For that is a pregnancy-whim of hers." The general told Rāma's command for a pilgrimage to Sammeta, seated Sītā in a chariot, and set out quickly. Even amid bad omens and inauspicious signs Sītā, seated in the chariot, went a long way, unterrified because of her simplicity. After crossing the mouth of the Gangā and going into the forest Sinhaninäda, Krtantavadana stopped and reflected a while. Seeing his face dark with tears, Sītā said, "Why do you stand so, low-spirited, as if suffering from sorrow?" Kệtanta spoke with difficulty:
“How can I say a thing cruel to say, after doing a cruel deed, corrupted by being a servant ? Blameless queen, you have been ordered abandoned in this forest by Räma who is terrified by the censure originating among the people because of your living in the Räkşasa's house. When this censure was reported by spies, Lakşmaņa, red-eyed from anger against the people, restrained Rāma eager to abandon you. Restrained by Rāma, whose orders are executed, he left weeping and I was sent on this task. Oh, queen! I am wicked. Abandoned by me in this
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
