By the time we two brothers reached our hut, disaster had already struck.
Our hut was empty.
Food and vessels lay overturned on the ground amidst dust."Sita!" I called out, but there was no response."Sita!" I called again; again, I received only silence.Frightened, I entered the courtyard of the hut, where a huge banyan tree stood."Sita!" Don't play with me hiding behind the tree.
This is not the time for fun!" Still, I received no reply.Now I began to move forward, following her footprints.
After finding the chariot wheels, I found no other trace.
My patience broke."Gods, Gandharvas!
Did you not see it too?" I roared terribly, facing the sky.
The stunned Wind God slowed his speed.In that tense moment, the gods looked at Guru Brihaspati with a questioning gaze.
He smiled faintly and said, "The Lord is performing a play."Ah!
My heart was pierced by countless arrows.
I wasn't performing a play, but rather, experiencing unbearable in the human form of Rama.I again said to Lakshmana, "These trees, these creepers, these birds, these deer...
must have seen her." Saying this, I asked many trees, including the Kadamba, Arjuna, Kakubha, Tilak, Ashoka, Tal, Jamun, Kaner, Jackfruit, Pomegranate, and others, "Have you seen my wife Sita anywhere?"But they all remained silent.From this book