Kaikeyī, seeing King Daśaratha collapsed on the ground, overwhelmed by grief for his son Rāma and unable to move, spoke to him with resolve. She questioned why, after making his solemn promise to her, he now lay helpless, urging him to stand firm in his decision. Reminding him that truth is the highest dharma, as declared by those who understand righteousness, she insisted that her demand was rooted in truth and dharma. Kaikeyī cited examples of legendary kings: Śibi, who gave his own body to a hawk to keep his word, and Alarka, who surrendered his eyes to a brāhmaṇa, though unwilling, yet steadfast in his promise. Even the lord of rivers, she said, never crosses his boundaries, bound by truth. Truth, she declared, is eternal and the foundation of dharma; the Vedas endure through truth, and by truth the highest goal is attained. If Daśaratha’s mind was set on righteousness, Kaikeyī pressed him to fulfill her boon, for he was known as a bestower of boons. She demanded that, for the sake of dharma and her insistence, Rāma should be sent into exile. She repeated her request three times, warning that if he failed to fulfill his promise, she would forsake her own life before his eyes. Urged by Kaikeyī’s unwavering insistence, Daśaratha found himself unable to escape her demands, just as Bali could not free himself from Indra’s snare. His heart was troubled, his face pale, trembling like a yoked horse between the wheels of a chariot. With impaired vision and great effort, he summoned his courage and spoke to Kaikeyī. He told her that the night had ended and the sun was about to rise; soon, the people would come to hasten him for Rāma’s consecration. All the materials for Rāma’s coronation were prepared, and he wished that Rāma would perform the water-rites for him as if he were dead. He declared that Kaikeyī and her son should not perform these rites if they obstructed Rāma’s consecration, calling her a woman of evil conduct. He lamented that he could not face the people, whose joyful faces he once saw, but who would now turn away in sorrow with their happiness destroyed. As Daśaratha spoke these words, the auspicious night adorned with the moon and stars came to an end. Kaikeyī, her conduct harsh and wicked, addressed the king again with biting words, skillful in speech but overcome by anger. She questioned why he spoke as if his words were poisoned arrows, urging him to summon Rāma without delay. She demanded that her son be installed on the throne, Rāma sent to the forest, and herself freed from rivals, so that Daśaratha’s duty would be fulfilled. Like a noble horse repeatedly prodded by a sharp goad, Daśaratha, compelled by Kaikeyī, declared that, bound by the ties of righteousness, his mind was lost. He wished only to see his beloved eldest son Rāma, who was devoted to dharma. When the auspicious night had passed and the sun had risen, with stars in favorable conjunction and the proper moment arrived, the sage Vasiṣṭha, virtuous and surrounded by his disciples, quickly gathered the necessary items and entered the foremost city. He passed through streets that had been sprinkled and swept, adorned with splendid banners, filled with joyful attendants, prosperous shops, and markets. The city was alive with festival preparations for Rāma, perfumed everywhere with sandalwood, aloe, and incense. Moving through the city, which rivaled Indra’s own, Vasiṣṭha saw the inner palace decorated with many banners. The palace was crowded with townspeople and countryfolk, graced by Brahmins with staffs, filled with fine horses, and highly honored. Reaching the palace, Vasiṣṭha, greatly pleased and accompanied by eminent sages, passed through the assembled people. There he saw Sumantra, the renowned charioteer, coming out at the door of the lion among men—a minister pleasing to behold. Vasiṣṭha addressed him, instructing Sumantra to quickly inform the king of his arrival. He described the items brought for the consecration: pitchers of Ganges water, golden vessels from the seas, a sacred wooden seat of udumbara, all kinds of seeds, fragrant substances, jewels, honey, curds, ghee, parched grains, darbha grass, flowers, milk, eight lovely maidens, a noble intoxicated elephant, a splendid chariot with four horses, a sword, and an excellent bow. There were also a vehicle attended by men, a parasol resembling the moon, white fly-whisks, a golden vessel for sprinkling, a pale-hued bull with a hump adorned with golden chains, a lion with four fangs, the foremost among monkeys with great strength, a throne, a tiger skin, sacrificial firewood, the fire for offerings, musical instruments, and women adorned with ornaments. Teachers, Brahmins, sacred cows, auspicious beasts and birds, leading citizens of town and country, and merchants with their groups were all present, ready for the grand ceremony. Thus ended the fourteenth sarga of the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.