Rāma, his heart gladdened by Lakṣmaṇa’s devoted words, turned to his brother and said warmly, “Go, O Saumitri, and take leave of all your friends.” As preparations for their exile continued, Rāma remembered the two divine bows—fierce and resplendent—that Varuṇa himself had given to King Daśaratha during King Janaka’s great sacrifice. Alongside these, there was impenetrable, heavenly armor, two inexhaustible quivers, and two swords radiant as the sun, all adorned with gold. Lakṣmaṇa, having bid farewell to his friends and resolute in his vow to accompany Rāma into the forest, approached the venerable family preceptor of the Ikṣvāku dynasty. There, he gathered up those excellent weapons. He brought them before Rāma, displaying each one—divine, garlanded, and honored—before the prince, who stood as a tiger among kings. Rāma, ever self-controlled and loving, spoke gently to Lakṣmaṇa as he arrived: “You have come at just the right moment, dear Lakṣmaṇa, exactly as I wished.” With a mind turned toward charity, Rāma continued, “I wish to give away all my wealth, O subduer of foes, to the Brāhmaṇas and ascetics, with you by my side. Here dwell the foremost Brāhmaṇas, steadfast in their devotion to their teachers, as well as all my dependents. But now, bring here Suyajña, the noble son of Vasiṣṭha, the foremost among the twice-born. Before I depart for the forest, I wish to honor all the distinguished Brāhmaṇas and others.” So begins the thirty-second chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa. Understanding his brother’s dear and beneficial command, Lakṣmaṇa quickly made his way to the residence of Suyajña. Bowing respectfully to the Brāhmaṇa, who was engaged in the sacred fire-chamber, Lakṣmaṇa said, “Friend, come with me and see the house of one who performs difficult deeds.” After completing the evening worship, Suyajña accompanied Saumitri and entered the splendid, prosperous house of Rāma. There, Rāma honored Suyajña with golden armlets, beautiful earrings, necklaces threaded with gold, gems, bracelets, bangles, and many other precious jewels. At Sītā’s gentle urging, Rāma spoke further to Suyajña: “Kind one, please have a necklace and a golden chain taken to your wife. Sītā, my companion, also wishes to give her a girdle. And for your wife, who will accompany you to the forest, my companion gives splendid anklets and beautiful armlets. Vaidehī asks that you set up a couch, excellently spread and adorned with various jewels. And this elephant named Śatruṃjaya, which my maternal uncle gave me, I now give to you, best of Brāhmaṇas, along with a thousand gold coins.” Suyajña accepted these generous gifts and, with a heart full of gratitude, bestowed auspicious blessings upon Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā. Rāma then addressed his dear brother Saumitri with kindness, his words as gracious as Brahmā’s to the lord of gods: “Saumitri, honor Agastya and Kauśika, those two foremost Brāhmaṇas, inviting them with jewels as crops are with water. O mighty-armed Rāghava, satisfy them with a thousand cows, with gold and silver, with gems and great wealth. And the teacher of the Taittirīyas, learned and devoted, who attends upon Kausalyā with blessings—give him a vehicle, attendants, and silk garments, as much as he desires. And Citraratha, the charioteer and honored counselor who has long served—satisfy him as well with costly jewels, garments, and wealth. “With all the herds and a thousand cows, and for the many Kaṭhaka reciters and staff-bearing youths who are always devoted to their daily recitation—though they do nothing else, being fond of comfort, yet respected by the great—have eighty vehicles filled with jewels given, two hundred fine oxen, and a thousand measures of rice. For their maintenance, provide a thousand cows. And a great assembly of girdled women has come to Kausalyā—give each of them a thousand, Saumitri. Let my mother Kausalyā rejoice in her offering; honor all those twice-born ones completely, Lakṣmaṇa.” Lakṣmaṇa, best among men, carried out Rāma’s instructions faithfully, distributing the wealth to the foremost Brāhmaṇas like the god of wealth himself. Then, his voice choked with emotion and tears, he addressed the dependents after giving them much wealth and ensuring each was provided for: “Let the house of Lakṣmaṇa and this house of mine not be empty for anyone until my return.” Having reassured the dependents, who were overcome with distress, he instructed the treasurer to bring forth Rāma’s wealth. The dependents brought it in—a great, impressive heap. Then, that tiger among men, together with Lakṣmaṇa, distributed that wealth among Brāhmaṇas, the young and the old, and to the needy. Among those present was a tawny-haired Brāhmaṇa of the Garga lineage named Trijaṭa, who lived by tilling the forest, always working with plough and spade. His young wife, gathering their children, spoke to her husband with reverence, “Set aside the plough and spade, do as I say; go and present yourself to righteous Rāma—perhaps you will receive something.