Following the guidance of the great sage, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana prepared to continue their journey. The sage instructed them, “There, after you have constructed a raft, you should cross the shining river. Once you have reached the opposite bank, you will come upon a great banyan tree, lush with green foliage. This tree stands tall, surrounded by many others, casting a deep shade and often visited by perfected beings. When you reach it, Sita should offer her salutations with joined palms and utter auspicious blessings.” He continued, “After reaching that sacred tree, you may rest or proceed onward. If you travel about a krosha further, you will see the blue-hued forest. This forest is beautiful, filled with palāśa and jujube trees, and bamboo that grows along the Yamuna. I have walked this very path to Chitrakuta many times—it is pleasant and gentle, free from forest fires.” Having thus described the way, the venerable sage took his leave. Rama, with deep respect, replied, “So be it.” After dismissing the sage, Rama turned to Lakshmana and spoke warmly, “O Saumitri, we are truly blessed that the sage has shown us such compassion.” The two brothers, wise and strong, conferred together about the journey ahead. Placing Sita at the front, they made their way to the river Kalindi. Upon reaching its swiftly flowing waters, they set about constructing a raft from a bundle of wood. They covered it with dry bamboo and tied it together with sturdy roots. Lakshmana, ever resourceful, gathered branches of cane and jambu trees and fashioned a comfortable seat for Sita. Rama, son of Dasaratha, seated his beloved Sita upon it, as if placing her on a throne of fortune. They loaded their bows and arrows onto the raft, placing Sita’s garments and warm coverings at her side. Rama carefully arranged the quivers and weapons, and after seating Sita first, he and Lakshmana took hold of the raft and began to cross. As the two heroic sons of Dasaratha reached the middle of the Kalindi, Sita, with joined palms, offered her salutations to the river. “Farewell, O goddess! May I cross you safely and may my vow of fidelity be preserved. I promise to worship you with a thousand cows and a hundred jars of liquor. Farewell again—when Rama returns to the city of the Ikshvakus, I shall fulfill my vow.” Thus, Sita prayed sincerely to the river Kalindi. Having safely reached the southern bank, the beautiful Sita disembarked, and the three left the raft behind. They set out from the Yamuna forest, which was lined with many trees, and soon found themselves beneath a vast, cool banyan tree, its leaves lush and green. Approaching this sacred tree, Sita spoke reverently, “Salutations to you, great tree! May my vow of fidelity be fulfilled, and may I see Kausalya and the illustrious Sumitra again.” With joined palms, Sita circled the tree, and Rama, seeing her pure devotion, spoke to Lakshmana, “Take Sita and go ahead, O Bharata’s younger brother. I will follow behind, armed and watchful. Whatever fruit or flower Vaidehi desires, offer it to her wherever her heart delights.” As they walked, Sita moved between the two brothers, lovely as an elephant-cow between two mighty tuskers, her eyes taking in every tree, bush, and flowering vine. Seeing many beautiful and unfamiliar blossoms, Sita gently asked Rama about them. Eager to fulfill her wishes, Lakshmana led her to a river adorned with sands of many colors and alive with the calls of swans and cranes. There, Sita, daughter of King Janaka, delighted in gazing at the river’s beauty. After traveling about a krosha further, Rama and Lakshmana hunted and brought down many noble deer. They wandered through the lovely Yamuna forest, filled with the cries of peacocks and the presence of elephants. Eventually, they reached a pleasing riverside grove and settled there, free from sorrow. When night had passed and Lakshmana was still asleep, Rama, the scion of Raghu, gently awakened his brother. “Saumitri, listen to the sweet sounds of the forest creatures; it is time for us to set out, O great ascetic.” Thus awakened at the proper time, Lakshmana shook off sleep, drowsiness, and all the fatigue of their journey. All three rose, touched the auspicious waters of the river, and set out along the path the sages had indicated toward Chitrakuta. As they journeyed, Rama spoke to Sita, whose eyes were like lotus petals, “Vaidehi, see how the trees all around are blooming as if aflame, the silk-cotton trees heavy with flowers at the end of winter. Look at the bhallātaka trees, untouched by people, bowed down with fruit and leaves. Surely, I could live here in peace.” He called to his brother, “Look, Lakshmana! Honeycombs the size of baskets hang from every mountain, filled with honey by the bees. Here the natyūha bird cries out, and the peacock answers, in this delightful forest thick with beds of flowers. See this mountain, its peaks towering, followed by herds of elephants and echoing with the calls of many birds, its slopes varied and beautiful.” Thus, guided by the sage’s words, blessed by the river, and inspired by the beauty of the forest, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana pressed onward, their hearts uplifted by the wonders of the path to Chitrakuta.