Rama told his brothers that Sita wanted to spend time in the ashramas. He asked them to ensure Sita was taken to Valmiki’s ashrama, which was like heaven. He asked them not to try to change his mind and follow his words.

The next day, Lakshmana, who was deeply pained, took Rama’s chariot driven by Sumantra and went to Sita. He told her that Rama had commanded him to take her to Valmiki’s ashrama. Sita was delighted that Rama was fulfilling her wish. She planned to gift ornaments to the wives of the sages.

When Sita observed Lakshmana, she felt something was wrong. She questioned if everything was fine. Lakshmana assured Sita everything was fine but with a heavy heart. Sita then climbed the chariot driven by Sumantra. As they proceeded, Lakshmana wept bitterly. Sita thought he was crying because he would be separated from Rama for a few days.

When they reached the Bhagirathi River, they crossed to the other side in a boat. Lakshmana then prostrated before Sita and wept, requesting her not to be angry with him. Lakshmana then told Sita that because of the words spoken by citizens, Rama had ordered him to leave Sita at the ashrama of sage Valmiki.

Sita was distraught hearing Lakshmana’s words and collapsed on the ground. Weeping profusely, she lamented why Rama was abandoning her even though she was pure. She said she wanted to kill herself by drowning in the river but would not do so because the royals of Ayodhya would laugh at her.

Sita then asked Lakshmana to do his duty and leave her. Weeping loudly, Lakshmana circumambulated before Sita. He prostrated on the ground before her and left. Sita wept loudly, unable to control her grief. Hearing her weep, the sons of Valmiki went to their father and informed him. Valmiki realised who she was and went to meet her.

Valmiki then offered her arghya water and told her she was pure. He asked her to stay in his hermitage, where the sages would care for her like their own daughter. Sita bowed to Valmiki and followed him to his hermitage. The sage then introduced her as Rama’s wife, who had been abandoned even though she was innocent. He asked his disciples to take care of her.

From his boat, Lakshmana observed Sita entering Valmiki’s hermitage. Even as he lamented, Sumantra consoled him by telling him the sage Durvasa had told Dasharatha that this would happen and Rama would suffer in misery. Once King Dasharatha had gone to meet his guru sage Vasishta. Durvasa, the son of Atri, was staying at his ashrama.

After bowing to the two sages, Dasharatha had enquired about his son’s future from the sages. Durvasa had then told him that while Rama would rule for long, he would be forced to abandon his wife. Durvasa had predicted that Rama would rule for 11,000 years before leaving for the world of Brahma. Sumantra had heard this story and now narrated it to Lakshmana.

Lakshmana then returned to Ayodhya and went to meet Rama. Weeping in grief, Lakshmana told Rama that he had left Sita at Valmiki’s hermitage. Lakshmana then consoled his brother, asking him not to grieve, as he had done this because of public censure. Meanwhile, Sumantra arrived there and informed Rama that the sage Bhargava Chyavana had come to meet him with other sages.

Rama welcomed the sages and asked them how he could help them. The sages then told him the story of the demon Madhu, who had obtained a trident after pleasing Rudra. As per Rudra’s blessings, the asura’s son would have his trident after him. The son could not be killed by anyone as long as he had the trident.