Guha the Friend, Kevat the Boatman, and Chitrakoot

At the border of Kosala Ram had the chariot stopped, turned towards Ayodhya, folded his hands and said, "City, I will see you again after fourteen years." The chariot went on, and by evening it reached Shringaverapura on the bank of the Ganga.

Guha

Guha, king of the Nishad people, lived there, and Ram counted him a friend. As soon as he heard, Guha came running with his men, bringing food of every kind and bedding. "This whole country is yours," he said. "Stay here and be its king."

Ram embraced him. "You came on foot to meet me, and that is welcome enough. I am an ascetic now and do not take what others give. Only feed my horses; they are dear to my father."

That night Ram and Sita slept on grass under an ingudi tree. Lakshmana stood a little way off with his bow. Guha said, "Prince, you sleep too. I will keep watch." Lakshmana answered, "Those whom even the gods cannot conquer are lying on grass on the bare ground. How can I sleep, seeing that?" The two stayed awake all night, talking of Ram.

In the morning Ram sent for the milky sap of a banyan and with it matted his own hair and Lakshmana's. Sumantra began to weep. Ram comforted him: "Go back and take care of my father. Tell him the three of us are content."

Kevat

Here the Ramcharitmanas has the episode that people sing with the greatest affection. Ram asked for a boat to cross the river, but the boatman, Kevat, did not bring one.

Maagi naav na Kevatu aana, kahai tumhaar maramu main jaana.

"I know your secret," he said. "People say that the dust of your feet holds some herb that turns even stone into a woman. My boat is only wood, far softer than stone. If it too becomes a woman and flies away, what will my family eat? It is my only living. If you wish to cross, first let me wash your feet."

Ram looked at Sita and Lakshmana and laughed. "Brother, do whatever will keep your boat safe." Kevat brought water in a wooden bowl, washed Ram's feet, and gave that water to his whole family to drink. Then he ferried the three across.

On the far bank Ram was troubled that he had nothing to give. Sita, reading his mind, took off her ring. Kevat folded his hands. "What have I not received today? Besides, you and I are in the same trade, and a barber takes no fee from a barber. I take people across the Ganga; you take them across the ocean of this world. When I come to your landing place, carry me over."

Chitrakoot

When the boat reached midstream, Sita prayed to the Ganga that the three of them might return safely. From the far bank they went on foot: Lakshmana in front, Sita in the middle, Ram behind.

At Prayag, where the Ganga and the Yamuna meet, they came to the ashram of the great sage Bharadwaja. He said, "Ten kos from here is the hill of Chitrakoot. The forest there is beautiful and the river Mandakini flows by. Live there." The brothers lashed logs into a raft and crossed the Yamuna.

Sita was as delighted as a child by Chitrakoot. Ram walked beside her pointing out flowering trees, waterfalls and herds of deer. Lakshmana built a sturdy hut of wood and leaves. Ram performed the rites for a new dwelling, and the three entered it as gods enter their hall. "Lakshmana," Ram said, "with you beside me and Sita beside me, I do not miss Ayodhya."