Rama returned to Ayodhya with the princes. Walking with their father, looking like two elephant cubs with an elephant, dressed in the clothes of ascetics, were a never-ending source of joy for the citizens. They were constantly occupied and time passed like moments.
Then the memory of their mother made them uneasy, they sought permission to go and see their mother. Rama, while he would miss them, agreed and sent them with a message to Sita. 'If you don't come back to Ayodhya, the tears in my eyes will take away my life.'
The sons reached the hermitage, met their mother. She, who looked emaciated, welcomed them shedding tears at their sight. The boys related in detail about their life in Ayodhya and also gave her the message. But Sita's heart did not melt.
'Tell your father that if it were turn out to be so, I shall come to Ayodhya to have a last look at him. That is my promise.' The boys having spent some time with their mother, returned to Ayodhya and gave their father her message.
Rama, thinking about Sita, could not sleep. He wanted her back and her own words gave him the idea. Believing his ploy would work, he spoke to Hanuman, who was always anxious to help, and asked him to meet Sita and tell her tactfully, 'His heart broken due to pangs of separation, Rama has gone to heaven. I came here to give you the painful news.'
Hanuman immediately flew and reached the cottage of Sita. Meeting her, with his throat choked with tears, gave her the terrible news. The message was like a thunderbolt to Sita and she fainted! Her heart which had turned to steel on account of series of misfortunes melted by this news. A woman may bear any number of unwanted hardships but she cannot bear the agony of widowhood.
Highly distressed she started her journey with Hanuman, reached the palace, and began to lament, crying why had he not taken her along. They were separated for long, at least in death they could have been together. 'The creator has laid the code in the world that women have to follow the path of their husbands. No woman is more unfortunate than the one who outlives her husband. O my lord, I shall somehow spend the rest of my life with great difficulty.'
While Sita was absorbed in her laments, Rama appeared from behind a curtain. Confused Sita could not believe her eyes. Then she realised that Rama had played a trick on her. 'Oh how mean is his thinking and meaner his action.' Rama had used her message that she would come to Ayodhya only to have a last look at him and had cheated her!
'I would never again put faith in the words of the worst of the rogues.' And she got up to leave. Rama spoke to her in a conciliatory tone, asking her not to be angry as he had no other way of making her come to Ayodhya. He pleaded with her to show compassion for a miserable person. That it was natural for men without their wives to act like he did.
Sita, very clear in her mind spoke, 'I have nothing to do here with a cheat. You of mean disposition, are the killer of your wife. You have fallen on the wrong path.' She got up to go and return to the hermitage. The only place she could have peace.
As she was about to leave, Rama told her, 'You can't go from here at all. All the doors are shut. People like you cannot be controlled by pleadings.' Sita was aghast and prayed to her deity with her eyes closed and hand folded.
Then something very surprising happened. The earth split open and Sita, adorable by all, went to the nether region and to the palace of the king Nagavirun, the righteous king of the nether region. Rama seeing this wonderful and highly thrilling scene, wrenched by the separation of Sita, fell down unconscious.
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