Hari Om.
Let us begin the forty sixth sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The citizens of ayOdhyA followed rAma behind the speeding chariot. There old brAhmins engaged in vEdic pursuits among them. They found it hard to cope with the speeding chariot. rAma found it hard to cope up with their surging devotion. As he exhorted them to return to ayOdhyA and support the virtuous bharata in his rule, their desire to have rAma as their king only strengthened! Seeing that rAma was not heeding to them, they pleaded with the horses to turn around and carry him to ayOdhyA instead of the forest. rAma was touched by their devotion and could no longer ride the chariot. He alighted the chariot along with sumantra and lakshmaNa and started walking along with them. They offered him the shade of their umbrellas! They tried various arguments to coax and cajole rAma to return. He would keep walking while listening to them. As the voice requesting rAma to return was unanimous, the river tamasa flowing across their way was sighted and it appeared as if even that was requesting rAghava to stay back. Does he oblige? Onwards…
Having reched the sylvan surroundings on the banks of river tamasa, rAma decide to halt for the day. He said – “O lakshmaNa, this happens to be our first night of the exile, let there be no desires or anxiety in thy mind. Wish you well. Look at the frightening forests! The beasts and birds have returned to their homes and filling the air with their cries. On the other hand, the women and children of ayOdhyA must be bewailing our exile. Due to the virtues of the king, the denizens of ayOdhyA are loyal to him and also to the four of us. But what troubles me most is that my parents may go blind shedding constant and copious tears over us. However I have confidence that bharata is virtuous and will surely console my parents with convincing arguments of dharma (righteousness), artha (means) and kAma (longing for life). The good nature of bharata lessens my worry about my parents. I think you have done well to accompany me. Otherwise I would have had to seek help for protection of sItA. O lakshmaNa, although many forest produces are available, I shall subsist this night only on water.
O sumantra, please do tend the horses gently and with care. Attend to their needs”.
The charioteer sumantra fed the horses with fodder and tended to them with care. Then he performed his evening ablutions. Seeing the night approaching, he made bed of leaves for rAma, sItA and laksmaNa. The trio rested on those for the night. After a while as rAma and sItA had slept off, lakshmaNa could not sleep and seeing his brother so resting on the ground started talking to sumantra about the virtues of rAma. That night lakshmaNa didn’t sleep and kept narrating the great qualities of rAma all through to sumantra till the sun rose.
rAma rested that night on the banks of river tamasa along with his subjects. At the stroke of dawn, the radiant rAms rose, looked at the tired citizens sleeping under the tree and said to the lakshmaNa of noble qualities – “O lakshmaNa look at these citizens sleeping under the trees. Out of of love for us they have abandoned the comfort of their homes. Looking at the resoluteness of them they might even give up their life but not their decision to follow us! Therefore, before they wake up we should board our chariot and proceed to the forest leaving them behind! They shall not sleep under the trees thus. As a prince I want to relieve them of this suffering they are undergoing on my account. Hence let us make good our way while they are asleep”.
lakshmaNa approved of the idea put forth by the righteous rAma. Then rAma immediately ordered sumantra to set the chariot in order for them to leave right away which he readily complied with. having made the horses and the chariot ready in no time, he asked them to board. The trio boarded the chariot and swiftly crossed the swirling tamasa. Then rAma asked sumantra in order to not to leave the trail of their journey to drive the chariot in the northern direction briefly and then return such that the citizens don’t exactly know which way they have gone.
Here we conclude the forty sixth sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 2.47. Nowhere to go, they returned home
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
