At the time of his departure for the forest, Rāma gathered the sacred weapons and treasures that had been bestowed upon his family. Among these were the two divine bows, fierce in appearance, which the great-souled Varuṇa himself had given to King Janaka at his grand sacrifice. Alongside these bows were impenetrable, celestial armor, two inexhaustible quivers, and two swords that shone with the brilliance of the sun, all beautifully adorned with gold. Having resolved to dwell in the forest, Rāma took leave of his friends and approached the venerable family preceptor of the Ikṣvāku lineage to take up these excellent weapons. Lakṣmaṇa, ever attentive, displayed all these divine weapons to Rāma, each one honored and adorned with garlands, as befitted their sacred power. Seeing Lakṣmaṇa arrive, Rāma, composed and affectionate, spoke warmly: “You have come at the perfect moment, dear Lakṣmaṇa, just as I wished.” Rāma then expressed his wish to give away all his wealth to the Brāhmaṇas and ascetics, with Lakṣmaṇa by his side. He pointed out the foremost Brāhmaṇas who dwelled there, steadfast in their devotion to their teachers, along with all his dependents. Rāma instructed Lakṣmaṇa, “Bring here Suyajña, the noble son of Vasiṣṭha, the foremost among the twice-born. I will soon depart for the forest, but first, I wish to honor all the distinguished Brāhmaṇas and others.” 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 his sacred fire rituals, Lakṣmaṇa said, “Friend, come with me and see the house of one who performs great and difficult deeds.” After Suyajña completed his twilight worship, he accompanied Lakṣmaṇa to Rāma’s splendid and prosperous house. There, Rāma honored Suyajña with ornaments of gold—armlets, beautiful earrings, necklaces threaded with gold, gems, bracelets, and bangles. At Sītā’s urging, Rāma addressed Suyajña further: “Gentle one, please accept a necklace and a golden chain for your wife. Sītā, my companion, wishes to give her a girdle as well. For your wife, who is to accompany you to the forest, Sītā also gives splendid anklets and beautiful armlets. Moreover, Vaidehī asks you to have a couch prepared for her, excellently spread and adorned with various jewels. And this elephant, Śatruṃjaya, which my maternal uncle gifted me, I now give to you, best of Brāhmaṇas, along with a thousand gold coins.” Suyajña graciously accepted these gifts and, in return, bestowed auspicious blessings upon Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā. Turning to Lakṣmaṇa with kind words, as Brahmā might address the lord of the gods, Rāma said, “Saumitri, honor Agastya and Kauśika, those two foremost Brāhmaṇas, inviting them with jewels as crops are with water. Satisfy them with a thousand cows, with gold and silver, with gems and great wealth. And the teacher of the Taittirīyas, learned in the Vedas and devoted, who attends upon Kausalyā with blessings—give him a vehicle, attendants, and silk garments, as much as he desires. Also, the charioteer Citraratha, my honored counselor who has long served us—reward him with costly jewels, garments, and wealth.” Rāma continued, “With all the herds and a thousand cows, honor the many Kaṭhaka reciters and staff-bearing youths who reside here. Though they are fond of comfort and not industrious, their devotion to daily recitation is unwavering, and they are respected by the great. For them, provide eighty vehicles filled with jewels, two hundred fine oxen, and a thousand measures of rice. For their maintenance, give a thousand cows. There is also a great assembly of girdled women who have come to Kausalyā—give each of them a thousand, Saumitri, so that my mother Kausalyā may rejoice in her offerings. Honor all the twice-born ones completely, Lakṣmaṇa.” Lakṣmaṇa, best among men, carried out Rāma’s instructions faithfully, distributing the wealth to the foremost Brāhmaṇas as if he were the god of wealth himself. Then, his throat choked with emotion, he addressed the dependents, ensuring each received enough for their livelihood: “Let my house and Lakṣmaṇa’s house not be empty for any of you until my return.” Having said this to all the distressed dependents, he instructed the treasurer to bring forth his wealth. The dependents brought out a great heap of riches, impressive to behold. Together, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa gave generously to Brāhmaṇas, to the young and old, and to the needy. Among those who came was a tawny-haired Brāhmaṇa of the Garga lineage named Trijaṭa, who lived by tilling the forest with his plough and spade. His young wife, gathering their children, spoke to him with reverence, for a husband is as a goddess to a woman: “Set aside the plough and spade, do as I say—go and present yourself to righteous Rāma. Perhaps you will obtain something.” Radiant as Bhrigu or Angiras, Trijaṭa was not hindered by anyone as he made his way through the five enclosures of the assembly, seeking an audience with Rāma.