Rāma, the scion of the illustrious Kakutstha line, spoke with firm resolve, “Rule this kingdom as I command; disregard not my words.” Having thus declared his will, he turned to Hanuman, the foremost among monkeys, and addressed him with affection and gravity: “As long as my story is remembered among people, O noble Hanuman, let Mainda and Dvivida—those valiant ones who have tasted the nectar of immortality—remain here. Let all the monkeys protect our sons and grandsons as we depart together.” Thus did Rāghava instruct them at that solemn moment. When the night had passed, the broad-chested, mighty-armed Rāma rose. First, he approached the blazing sacrificial fires, which burned brightly, their flames licking the sky. The radiant sage Vasiṣṭha, having pondered all matters deeply, stood clad in pure linen, steadfast in his vow of celibacy and discipline. The lord of men uttered no auspicious or inauspicious words, maintaining a serene silence. At Rāma’s left, Śrī herself, holding her lotus, sought refuge, her presence resplendent. Various weapons, bows, and bowstrings were arrayed nearby, signifying readiness and valor. At his right stood the Veda, taking the form of a Brāhmaṇa, and Sāvitrī, the sacred utterance, was at his left. Great sages and all the mighty mountains had gathered there, their presence sanctifying the occasion. The noble women of the inner palace followed after Kakutstha, their hearts full of devotion. Bharata, together with Śatrughna and the ladies of the palace, set forth as well. The honored Brāhmaṇas, bearing their sacrificial fires, circled around them in reverent procession. The ministers, surrounded by their attendants, sons, and relatives, also joined the gathering. All the people, surrounded by joyful and prosperous citizens, assembled in great numbers. The subjects, along with their sons and relatives, came together, each having bathed and donned spotless white garments, their minds pure and intent on the sacred event. In that assembly, no one was dejected, fearful, or overcome by sorrow. The people of the kingdom, eager to witness their king’s liberation, gathered in anticipation. Bears, monkeys, demons, and the city’s inhabitants mingled together. Even those beings who had become invisible within the city were present, drawn by the moment’s gravity. All creatures, moving and unmoving, who beheld Kakutstha, came forth. There was not a single living being, not even the subtlest, left in Ayodhya. Having journeyed half a yojana, Rāma proceeded westward to the sacred river. At that very moment, Brahma, the grandsire of all worlds, arrived at the place where Kakutstha stood—at the very gate of heaven. Brahma was surrounded on all sides by hundreds of millions of divine aerial chariots, radiant with their own brilliance, shining with the splendor earned by virtuous deeds. A shower of blessed flowers, swift and driven by the wind, cascaded from above. Rāma then touched the holy waters of the Sarayu river with his feet. The gods extolled him: “You are the lord of the worlds, O god, yet none truly knows you. You are inconceivable, a great and imperishable wonder, upholding all the worlds.” By the word of Brahma, the grandsire, Rāma himself entered the celestial realm. The gods, rejoicing in the presence of Viṣṇu, worshipped the best among the gods. The Sādhyas, the hosts of Maruts, Indra and those led by Agni, Suparṇas, Nāgas, Yakṣas, as well as Daityas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas—all these divine and cosmic beings—were present, their hearts full of joy, their desires fulfilled. Then, the mighty and radiant Viṣṇu spoke to Brahma, the grandsire: “All these people have come here out of affection for me.” Thus, in the presence of gods and mortals, the great passage of Rāma was fulfilled, sanctifying all who witnessed it.