Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.206

c9.206

Rāma, who had already been suffering mental agony on account of Sītā’s departure, lost all peace of mind as Lakṣmaṇa’s banishment followed Sītā’s departure. He decided to put an end to his life for which purpose he went to the river Sarayū. All the dependants followed him. While the great mass of people who thronged both the banks of the river burst out into weeping Śrī Rāma and his followers drowned themselves in the waters of the Sarayū, and their spirits attained Vaikuṇṭha. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kamba Rāmāyaṇa and Tulasidāsa Rāmāyaṇa).