Sumantra, the trusted charioteer, approached King Dasharatha and spoke with gentle urgency: “May all be well with you! Rama, steadfast in truth, wishes to see you. He has already taken leave of his friends and now desires to meet you.” He added, “He is preparing to go to the great forest. See him, O lord of the earth, for he stands before you adorned with all royal virtues, shining like the sun with its rays.” Hearing these words, the king—truthful in speech, righteous, unfathomable as the ocean and pure as the sky—replied, “Sumantra, bring here all my wives who are present. I wish to see Rama surrounded by them all.” Sumantra passed through the inner chambers, calling out to the royal women, “The noble king summons you. Go to him without delay.” Obedient to the king’s command, the women began making their way to the palace. Among them, three and a half hundred women with coppery eyes, devoted and gentle, gathered around Queen Kausalya and set forth together. When all the wives had assembled, the king looked upon them and instructed Sumantra, “Bring my son to me.” Sumantra quickly went and brought Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita to the king’s presence. As Rama approached with joined palms, King Dasharatha, distressed and surrounded by his wives, rose swiftly from his seat. Overcome by grief, he rushed toward Rama and, unable to bear the sorrow, collapsed to the ground unconscious. Rama and the mighty Lakshmana hurried to the king’s side, seeing him stricken and senseless with sorrow. At that moment, a tumultuous cry arose from thousands of women in the royal palace—“Alas, Rama!”—their voices mingling with the clatter of ornaments. Embracing Rama and Lakshmana with his arms, the women, together with Sita, gently lifted the weeping king and placed him on the couch. After a moment, as the king regained consciousness, Rama, his hands joined and his heart overcome with tears and grief, spoke softly: “I take leave of you, great king, lord of us all. As I depart for the Dandaka forest, may you see me safe. Grant your permission to Lakshmana, and let Sita also follow me to the forest. Though I have tried to persuade them with many true reasons, they do not wish to stay. Grant permission to all of us, O bestower of honor—Lakshmana, myself, and Sita—casting off your grief, just as the Lord of creatures sends forth his children.” As Rama waited for the king’s untroubled consent, Dasharatha spoke regarding Rama’s exile: “O Raghava, deluded by Kaikeyi’s boon, I am bound by my promise. You alone today should be king in Ayodhya, restraining me from this sorrow.” Rama, best of the righteous, bowed with joined palms and replied skillfully to his father, “You, O king, should rule the earth for a thousand years. I desire no kingdom and will dwell in the forest. After spending fourteen years there, I will again clasp your feet, O lord of men, at the end of my vow.” Weeping and distressed, bound by the fetter of truth and urged by Kaikeyi, the king spoke again to his beloved son, “For your welfare, growth, and return, dear father, go without anxiety on a safe and unobstructed path. Indeed, O delight of the Raghus, it is not possible to turn back the resolve of one such as you, whose mind is set on truth and righteousness. But now, my son, do not go tonight under any circumstances; let me spend at least this one day in your presence.” He continued, “What you are doing, beloved Raghava, is truly difficult. For my sake, you have accepted the life of the forest. But this does not please me, my son—by truth I swear, O Raghava. I have been deceived by a woman as destructive as fire covered in ashes. The deception that has befallen me, you seek to overcome—urged by Kaikeyi, who is steadfast in her resolve but unrighteous in conduct. Yet it is no surprise, my son, that you, my eldest, wish to keep your father free from falsehood.” Hearing his father’s anguished words, Rama turned sorrowfully to Lakshmana and said, “What virtues will I gain today, and who will grant them to me tomorrow? Therefore, I choose only to depart, renouncing all desires. This earth, with its provinces, people, wealth, and grain, I relinquish. Let it be given to Bharata.” He declared unwaveringly, “My resolve to dwell in the forest will not waver today. The boon you granted to Kaikeyi in battle, O bestower of boons, must be fulfilled. Let it be given in full—be true to your word, O king. I will carry out your command exactly as spoken. I will dwell in the forest for fourteen years with the forest-dwellers. Do not hesitate—let the earth be given to Bharata. I do not desire the kingdom, nor happiness, nor anything dear to myself, as much as I wish to carry out your command, O delight of the Raghus. Let your sorrow depart; do not be overwhelmed with tears. The mighty ocean, lord of rivers, is never disturbed. I do not desire the kingdom, nor happiness, nor the earth, nor any of these pleasures, nor heaven, nor even life itself.” Thus, Rama, ever steadfast in truth and duty, prepared to fulfill his father’s word, casting aside all personal desires for the sake of righteousness and honor.