Rama, Sita and Lakshmana Leave the Palace

This is a painting of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, after bidding farewell to king Dasharatha, mothers Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kekeyi and other courtiers in the midst of heart-breaking scenes, leave Ayodhya in a chariot. Rama takes with him all his divine weapons. As they come out of the royal compound, innumerable residents of the capital follow the chariot praying Rama not to leave them and Ayodhya. Rama tries his best to pacify them explaining it will not be possible for him to go back as he has to fulfill his father's wish. He even praises Bharata saying that he will make a better raja than him and asks people to extend Bharata all cooperation on his installation as the crown prince, and to return. In this Provincial Mughal style painting Rama, Sita and Lakshmana move out of the golden palace of Ayodhya. Rama and Sita are sitting on the chariot while Lakshmana is seen as the charioteer. The artist shows Sita's face calm and peaceful while leaving Ayodhya. Destiny has changed Sita's life. There was a time when her mind was filled with the happy thoughts that her husband Rama would be the crown prince of Ayodhya but all of a sudden there is anxiety in her mind about the life in the forest. But at the depth of her heart, she knows that it is her duty to follow her husband. The courtiers sitting on horses and elephants also follow the chariot of Rama. The expressions on their faces show that they also do not want Rama to leave Ayodhya. They seem to be asking each other how all this has happened, and how they would pass their days without Rama. They seem to discuss how a delicate young lady like Sita would live a harsh life in the forest who has lived with all the royal comforts in the palace. The artist of this painting is successful in rendering the anxiety and simultaneously feeling of sadness on the faces of the people of Ayodhya.