As soon as the lord of men, King Dasharatha, caught sight of Rama, he rushed toward his beloved son with great speed, overwhelmed by grief. The weight of his sorrow proved too much, and upon reaching Rama, the king collapsed to the ground, falling unconscious. Witnessing their father’s distress, Rama and the mighty Lakshmana hastened to his side. They found the king senseless, utterly stricken with sorrow. Meanwhile, a tumult arose within the royal palace: thousands of women, overcome by anguish, suddenly cried out, “Alas, Rama!” Their wails mingled with the sound of ornaments clattering as they grieved. Rama and Lakshmana, joined by Sita, gently embraced the king with their arms. Together, weeping, they lifted him and placed him tenderly upon the couch. After a short while, Rama saw his father regain consciousness. With palms joined, tears streaming down his face, and his heart submerged in grief, Rama addressed the king: “Great King, lord of us all, I take my leave of you as I depart for the Dandaka forest. May you see me return safely. Grant permission also to Lakshmana, and allow Sita to accompany me; though many true reasons urge them to stay, they do not wish to be left behind. Please, O giver of honor, set aside your grief and grant your blessing to all three of us—Lakshmana, Sita, and myself—as the Lord of creatures does for his children.” As Rama awaited his father’s untroubled consent, the king, his heart heavy, spoke regarding Rama’s exile to the forest. “O Raghava, deluded by Kaikeyi’s boon, I find myself bound. You alone should be king in Ayodhya today, restraining me from this folly.” Thus addressed, Rama, ever righteous, bowed respectfully and replied with skill: “O King, may you rule the earth for a thousand years. I desire no kingdom; I will dwell in the forest. After fourteen years, when my vow is fulfilled, I shall once more clasp your feet, O lord of men.” Weeping and distressed, fettered by his commitment to truth and urged on by Kaikeyi, the king spoke to his beloved son, “For your welfare, growth, and safe return, my dear, go without anxiety and may your path be unobstructed. 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 leave tonight under any circumstance; let me spend at least this one day in your presence.” With a heavy heart, the king continued, “What you are doing, beloved Raghava, is truly difficult. For my sake, you have taken up the forest life in this way. Yet this does not please me, my son—by truth I swear, O Raghava. I have been deceived by a woman as destructive as fire hidden beneath ashes. The deception that has befallen me you now wish to overcome, being urged by Kaikeyi, who is firm in her resolve but unrighteous in conduct. Nor is it most astonishing, 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. 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 granted 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 desire neither 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.” He continued, “I do not desire the kingdom, nor happiness, nor the earth, nor any of these pleasures, nor heaven, nor even life itself. You alone I desire in truth, O best of men, not falsehood; by your truth and virtue, I swear this before you. Nor is it possible for me, father, to remain even for a moment; bear this grief, for there will be no change in my resolve. O Raghava, I have indeed been requested by Kaikeyi to go to the forest, and I replied, ‘I will go.’ I am now faithfully upholding that truth. Do not be anxious, O Lord; we shall enjoy ourselves in the forest, peaceful and filled with gentle deer, resounding with the calls of many birds. For my father is regarded as a deity, even among the gods themselves, O dear one. Therefore, as if it were divine command, I shall carry out my father’s word. When fourteen years have passed, O best of kings, you will see me returned; let go of this sorrow.” He gently admonished, “You, O tiger among men, who ought to restrain all these tears, why have you yourself succumbed to distress? The city, the kingdom, and the land itself I relinquish; let them be given to Bharata. I, obeying your command, shall go to the forest to dwell for a long time. Let Bharata rule over this land, with its mountains, cities, and groves, which I have relinquished; let him govern well within its auspicious borders. Whatever you have said, O King, so let it be. My mind is not drawn so much to great pleasures or even to what is dear to myself, as it is to carrying out your command, esteemed by the noble. May your sorrow on my account depart, O faultless one.” Thus, Rama, steadfast in virtue and resolute in his vow, comforted his grieving father and prepared to depart, upholding truth and his father’s word above all else.