After bidding farewell to Sumantra, Guha, and the assembled forces, Rama prepared to cross the river. He stepped into the waiting boat, instructing the boatmen to set off. Responding to their urging, the expert helmsman drove the boat swiftly across the water with strong, skillful strokes of the oar. As they reached the middle of the sacred Bhagirathi, the faultless Sita, with hands joined in reverence, addressed the holy river. She prayed, “O Ganga, this is the son of Dasharatha, the great and wise king. May you protect him and help him fulfill his father’s command. After living in the forest for fourteen full years with his brother and me, he will return again. O blessed and gracious goddess, when I have returned safely, I will joyfully worship you, Ganga, for the fulfillment of all my desires. O goddess Tripathaga, you traverse the world of Brahma and, as consort of the ocean king, are revered in this world. Therefore, I bow to you and praise you, beautiful goddess. When the tiger among men regains his kingdom and returns safely, I will offer you a hundred thousand cows, garments, and fine food to the Brahmins, seeking to please you. With a thousand jars of wine and offerings of meat and rice, I will worship you with devotion when I have returned to the city. All the deities dwelling on your banks, the sacred fords, and shrines—I will worship them all. May I, reunited with my strong-armed husband and his brother, re-enter Ayodhya from the forest, O sinless one.” Having thus prayed, Sita soon reached the southern bank of the Ganga. Upon landing, Rama—the bull among men—left the boat with his brother Lakshmana and the noble Sita. Then Rama, mighty-armed and wise, spoke to Lakshmana, son of Sumitra: “Be ever vigilant for our protection, whether we are among people or in solitude. In the unseen loneliness of the forest, security is all the more important. Go ahead, Saumitri, and let Sita follow you. I will walk behind, guarding you both. Today, Vaidehi will begin to experience the hardships of forest life. No action is accomplished before its time, but today, Sita will indeed come to know the challenges of dwelling in the wilderness. She will enter a forest deserted of people, devoid of fields and gardens, full of difficulties and steep descents.” Hearing Rama’s words, Lakshmana set out ahead. Rama, the delight of the Raghu lineage, followed after Sita. Having crossed to the far shore of the Ganga, Lakshmana gazed intently at Rama, but as the journey lengthened, his gaze turned back, and the noble ascetic, distressed by separation, shed tears. That great-souled one, whose power rivaled the guardians of the world, having crossed the mighty river, gradually approached prosperous villages, rich with beautiful crops and joyful calves. There, the two brothers hunted and killed four great beasts—a boar, an rṣya, a spotted deer, and a mighty stag. Taking the sacred meat, eager and hungry, they quickly proceeded to seek shelter with the lord of the forest. As evening approached, Rama came to a tree and, observing the western twilight, spoke to Lakshmana, “Today is our first night spent outside the city. Though you are separated from Sumitra, do not be anxious. From today onward, we must remain vigilant through the nights, never wearying, for Sita’s safety depends upon us, Lakshmana. Let us somehow pass this night, Saumitri, spreading out bedding on the ground made from what we ourselves have gathered.” Though accustomed to a luxurious bed, Rama lay down upon the earth and spoke auspicious words to Lakshmana. “Surely tonight the great king, our father, sleeps in sorrow, Lakshmana; but Kaikeyi, having fulfilled her desire, must be satisfied. That queen Kaikeyi, for the sake of the kingdom, would not even hesitate to give up her life upon seeing Bharata return. Helpless and aged, deprived of me, what will the self-indulgent king, now under Kaikeyi’s sway, do? Seeing this misfortune and the king’s confused mind, I believe that desire outweighs both wealth and righteousness. For who, even if ignorant, would abandon his son for the sake of a woman, as our father has done to me, Lakshmana, always obeying her? Indeed, Bharata, Kaikeyi’s son, is fortunate with his wife; he alone will enjoy the prosperous Kosala kingdom as sovereign. He will become the sole face of the entire kingdom, with our father aged and me dwelling in the forest. Whoever abandons wealth and righteousness to follow desire quickly falls into misfortune, as King Dasharatha has. I think, gentle one, that Kaikeyi has come for the end of Dasharatha, for my exile, and for the kingdom for Bharata. I hope now Kaikeyi, intoxicated by her good fortune, does not harass Kausalya and Sumitra because of me. Let not Queen Sumitra, because of me, dwell in sorrow; you, Lakshmana, should return to Ayodhya at the proper time.” Thus, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana began their exile, facing the challenges of the forest, guided by duty, and sustained by devotion and hope.