Ayodhyākānda - Canto 46

Having reached the bank of the Tamasā and thinking of the plight of the people of Ayodhyā, Śrī Rāma lays himself down on a bed of leaves bewailing the lot of his parents and feeling reassured by the thought of Bharata’s noble qualities; while Laksmana opens his dialogue with Sumantra on the divine excellences of Śrī Rāma. Waking up in the meantime, Śrī Rāma urges the charioteer-minister to drive the chariot in such a way as to put the citizens, that had accompanied them, off the scent and lead them to think that the chariot had turned back towards Ayodhyā instead of proceeding towards the forest. He then mounts the chariot alongwith Sītā and Laksmana and presses on to the forest.