Beholding the great ascetic Vālmiki thus conducting Sitā into his own hermitage Lakshmana’s heart was bewildered with grief. Thereupon he said to the expert charioteer Sumantra. “Do thou perceive Rāma’s grief consequent upon the separation from Sitā. His spouse—the daughter of Janaka, is perfectly pure; what can be more painful than that Rāma is living alone having renounced her? It is clear unto me, O Sumantra, that this separation of Rāma, hath been brought about by the influence of destiny—for it is hard to get over accident. Even that Rāma, who, when enraged, is capable of slaying the celestials, Gandharvas, Asuras and Rākshasas, hath been engaged in the worship of destiny. Formerly did Rāma go through miseries, residing in the forest of Dandaka, at the command of his sire for fourteen years. But this banishment of Sitā appears to me as exceedingly painful and most ruthless. O charioteer, the opinion of the citizens is by no means just; consequently what shall we gain by performing such a bad action for fame as the exile of Sitā?” Hearing those words of Lakshmana, the wise Sumantra reverentially replied: — “Be not aggrieved for Sitā, O Saumitri. Formerly in the presence of thy sire the Brahmananas related this account of Sitā’s exile. Rāma shall be deprived of all happiness and be separated from his dear wife; what more, the virtuous-souled Rāma, having long arms, shall, under the influence of time, renounce thee, Sitā, Shatrughna and Bharata. O Lakshmana, when Durbasa was addressed by the king Dasharatha as to thy future he replied in the above way. I have told thee the same. Do thou not communicate this unto Shatrughna, Bharata or any body. O foremost of men, Durbasa said this unto Dasharatha before me, Vasishtha and other great men. Hearing the words of Rishi, Dasharatha, the foremost of men, said unto me, ‘O charioteer, do not reveal this secret to any body.’ O gentle one, it is not proper by any means to falsify the words of the king Dasharatha. I shall always, very carefully, carry out his orders. It is not proper to reveal this mystery before thee. Still I do so for thy curiosity hath been greatly excited. Though this mystery was communicated formerly by the king Dasharatha and though it is not proper to reveal it to any body, still I express it before thee that thou mayst not, on hearing it, be worked up with sorrow; for destiny is hard to be got over. And it is by the influence of that destiny that thou hast met with such a sorrow and grief. However, do thou not reveal this secret unto Shatrughna and Bharata.” Hearing these grave and important words of Sumantra, Lakshmana ordered him to relate.