Sitting at Rama's feet and touching his head to them Lakshmana's words fell softly in the still desolation that surrounded them; "By going through the most rigorous penance and performing the holiest of rites known to man Dasaratha begot you like the immortals obtaining Amrita. The grief of your separation broke his heart and Dasaratha no longer lives. If you, born of such an indomitable race cannot bear this misfortune, how can the lesser mortals? How can they face hardships and where can they find solace, if you in your sorrow propose to destroy those very men? Tell me Rama, is there a living being that is not subject to adversity? That disaster come to pass, is natural and part of existence. It is the way of the world. Did not Yayathi son of Nahusha leave the heaven that he had gained? Was it not his destiny that caused the loss? Consider Vasishta the greatest of sages and king Dasarhatha's priest. He begot one hundred sons in one day and also lost them all in one day. Is it not his fate? Even the earth, mother of all creatures and consort of Lord Visnu experiences her share of woes and is sometimes shaken. The Sun and the Moon too are not spared for they too suffer eclipses. Whether Sita has been stolen or not, it does not befit you to grieve like a commoner! Valiant men like you do not quail at calamities that befall them. The merit or demerit of past Karmas cannot ever be measured with accuracy. The fruit of action alone can determine the quality of our Karma sown in our past lives and I have heard this from you many a time. Grief has robbed you of your power of discrimination. Behold the devatas and the gandharvas in the land of the celestials and the multitude men on earth. Seek out the enemy among them and destroy him. Of what use is universal annihilation? Slay the sinner who deserves death"!