Having been told of Śrī Rāma’s departure for Citrakūta by the spies of Guha and taking leave of the latter, Sumantra drives back to Ayodhyā. Entering the royal gynaeceum, he submits to the Emperor what he reported earlier to the citizens who followed his chariot. Daśaratha and Kausalyā fall into a swoon to hear about Śrī Rāma’s departure for Citrakūta and all the inmates of the gynaeceum burst into a wail from agony.