Kaikeyī’s words, though spoken for the welfare of her family, were received with pain and sorrow. She was told, “You do not heed these words meant for your own good, though they sound harsh. You do not understand what is truly beneficial for me, or for yourself. Having chosen a cruel path, your conduct has strayed from the way of the virtuous.” Determined, Kaikeyī declared, “Today I will follow Rāma, renouncing the kingdom, comfort, and wealth. You and Bharata, along with all the king’s people, may enjoy the kingdom as you wish, for as long as you desire.” As the assembly listened, the narrative continued with the thirty-seventh sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa. After hearing the chief minister’s words, Rāma addressed his father, King Daśaratha, with humility and respect. “O King,” he said, “since I have renounced pleasures and will live in the forest on forest fare, what need is there for an escort, when I have abandoned all attachments?” He explained further, “For one who, after giving away an excellent elephant, sets his mind on the enclosure, what use is the bond of a rope to him, when he has already let go of the noble elephant? So, O best of the virtuous, what use have I for an army, O lord of the world? I permit all to return; let them bring me only garments of bark.” Rāma requested, “And bring both the spade and basket as I go, for I must dwell in the forest for fourteen years.” Then, Kaikeyī herself, unashamed before the assembled crowd, brought the garments of bark to Rāma and said, “Put these on.” That tiger among men, Rāma, accepted the garments of bark from Kaikeyī. He set aside his fine cloth and donned the ascetic’s attire. Lakshmana too, in the presence of his father, left aside his splendid garments and took up the ascetic’s covering. Sita, clad in silk, looked upon the bark garment with fear, like a frightened doe seeing a snare. The daughter of Janaka, possessing auspicious marks, took the kusa-grass garment from Kaikeyī with downcast eyes, deeply troubled and ashamed. Her eyes filled with tears; knowing and devoted to righteousness, Sita spoke to her husband, who was like a king among Gandharvas. “How do the sages dwelling in the forest wear such bark garments?” she asked, unskilled in such matters, and repeatedly fainted. Taking one piece of bark in her hand, Sita placed it around her neck and stood there, unpracticed and embarrassed. Rāma, foremost among the righteous, quickly came to her and himself tied the bark garment over Sita’s silk attire. Seeing Rāma tie the bark garment on Sita, the women of the inner apartments shed tears from their eyes. Completely dependent, they said to Rāma, blazing with splendor, “Child, this noble lady is not meant for such a forest dwelling. By the command of your father you go to the lonely forest; let our seeing her be fulfilled, O Lord. Go to the forest, dear child, with Lakshmana as your companion; this blessed lady is not fit to dwell in the forest like an ascetic. Grant us this request, son: let Sita, the radiant one, remain here; you, ever devoted to righteousness, do not wish to stay now yourself.” Hearing such words from them, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, tied the bark garment on Sita, who was equal to him in character. When Sita had taken the bark garment, the king’s venerable priest, his eyes filled with tears, restrained Sita and spoke to Kaikeyī. “You have gone too far, evil-minded Kaikeyī, disgrace of your lineage; having deceived the king, you do not abide by what is right. Sita, lacking in proper conduct, must not go to the forest, O Queen; Sita will perform her proper duties for Rāma here. For all who are married, their wives are their very selves; considering her as his own self, Rāma will protect the earth.” He continued, “Now, as Vaidehī departs for the forest together with Rāma, we will follow them from here, if this city is to be abandoned. The guards too will go, wherever Rāghava goes with his wife, along with the people who live by him, the kingdom, the city, and its attendants. Bharata, together with Shatrughna, clad in bark, will dwell in the forest, following Kakutstha, their elder brother, as he lives there. Then, with the earth emptied of people and only trees remaining, you alone will rule, wicked one, standing against the welfare of the people. For that will not be a kingdom where Rāma is not king; that forest will become the kingdom where Rāma dwells. Bharata does not wish to rule the land not given by his father, nor to live with you as a son, if he is born of the king. Even if you rise from the earth to the sky, he who knows the conduct of his ancestors will not act otherwise.” He added, “Thus, by you, greedy for your son, a wrong has been done to your son; in this world, there is no one who is not devoted to Rāma. Today, Kaikeyī, you will see beasts, wild animals, birds, and trees all turning toward Rāma as he departs.” Then he said, “O queen, give the finest ornaments to your daughter-in-law, removing the bark garment; but Vasiṣṭha forbade that garment, saying it should not be given to her. For the residence of Rāma alone in the forest has been chosen by you, daughter of the king of Kekaya; yet she, always adorned, will live in the forest with Rāghava. Let the princess go, well attended by the finest vehicles and servants, with all kinds of garments and arrangements; she is not bound by your grant of the boon.” Thus concludes the thirty-seventh chapter. The assembly is called to listen to the thirty-eighth.