Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 87: Further Conversation Between Bharata and Guha
Text 2.87.21
तस्मिन्समाविशद्रामः स्वास्तरे सह सीतया।
प्रक्षाल्य च तयोः पादावपचक्राम लक्ष्मणः॥
tasmin samāviśad rāmaḥ svāstare saha sītayā
prakṣālya ca tayoḥ pādāv apacakrāma lakṣmaṇaḥ
tasmin = on that; samāviśat = sat; rāmaḥ = Rāma; svāstare = nice bed; saha sītayā = with Sītā-devī; prakṣālya = washed; ca = and; tayoḥ pādau = their feet; apacakrāma = departed; lakṣmaṇaḥ = Lakṣmaṇa.
Rāma then sat on that nice bed with Sītā-devī. Lakṣmaṇa washed their feet and departed.
Lakṣmaṇa washed their feet to remove the mud [that had stuck to their feet] when they had gone to the bank of Gaṅgā. It should be understood that Lakṣmaṇa washed Rāma’s feet [by touching them] with His hands and that He washed Sītā-devī’s feet by giving her water [to wash her feet]. Lakṣmaṇa then departed, that is, He went to a distant place because it was inappropriate [for Him] to stay close by [Sītā-Rāma] at the time of their sleep.