By chains of duty firmly tied, The wretched King perforce complied. Ráma, to please Kaikeyí went Obedient forth, to banishment. Then Lakshman's truth was nobly shown, Then were his love and courage known, When for his brother's sake he dared All perils, and his exile shared. And Sítá, Ráma's darling wife, Loved even as he loved his life, Whom happy marks combined to bless, A miracle of loveliness, Of Janak's royal lineage sprung, Most excellent of women, clung To her dear lord, like Rohiní Rejoicing with the Moon to be. The King and people, sad of mood, The hero's car awhile pursued. But when Prince Ráma lighted down At Śringavera's pleasant town, Where Gangá's holy waters flow, He bade his driver turn and go. Guha, Nishádas' King, he met, And on the farther bank was set. Then on from wood to wood they strayed, O'er many a stream, through constant shade, As Bharadvája bade them, till They came to Chitrakúta's hill. And Ráma there, with Lakshman's aid, A pleasant little cottage made, And spent his days with Sítá, dressed In coat of bark and deerskin vest. And Chitrakúta grew to be As bright with those illustrious three As Meru's sacred peaks that shine With glory, when the Gods recline Beneath them: Śiva's self between The Lord of Gold and Beauty's Queen. The aged King for Ráma pined, And for the skies the earth resigned. Bharat, his son, refused to reign, Though urged by all the twice-born train. Forth to the woods he fared to meet His brother, fell before his feet, And cried "Thy claim all men allow:-- O come, our lord and King be thou." But Ráma nobly chose to be Observant of his sire's decree. He placed his sandals in his hand, A pledge that he would rule the land:-- And bade his brother turn again. Then Bharat, finding prayer was vain, The sandals took and went away; Nor in Ayodhyá would he stay, But turned to Nandigráma, where He ruled the realm with watchful care, Still longing eagerly to learn Tidings of Ráma's safe return.