Having completed his full equipment for the woods, the Lord set forth with his wife and brother, after reverencing the feet of the Brahmans and his guru, and leaving them all in bewilderment.
He came out and stood at Vasishtha's gate; the beholders were consumed as with fire by the anguish of parting. With kindly words Raghu-bir consoled them all and, summoning the Brahmans, begged his guru to give them a year's maintenance. Many gifts he bestowed with respectful courtesy, satisfying the mendicants with largesse and civilities, and his personal friends with demonstrations of affection. Next he called up his men-servants and maid-servants and made them over to his guru, saying with clasped hands: “O sir, be to them as their own father and mother, and cherish them all.” Again and again did Rama with clasped hands and in gentle tones address each one of them: “He is my best friend in whom the king finds comfort.
He came out and stood at Vasishtha's gate; the beholders were consumed as with fire by the anguish of parting. With kindly words Raghu-bir consoled them all and, summoning the Brahmans, begged his guru to give them a year's maintenance. Many gifts he bestowed with respectful courtesy, satisfying the mendicants with largesse and civilities, and his personal friends with demonstrations of affection. Next he called up his men-servants and maid-servants and made them over to his guru, saying with clasped hands: “O sir, be to them as their own father and mother, and cherish them all.” Again and again did Rama with clasped hands and in gentle tones address each one of them: “He is my best friend in whom the king finds comfort.