Rama, reflecting on the futility of worldly attachments, spoke with clarity: “Just as a man who gives away a noble elephant has no use for the rope that once bound it, so too, O best of the virtuous, what use have I for an army, O lord of the world? Let all return home; bring me only garments of bark.” He instructed that the spade and basket be brought, for he must dwell in the forest for fourteen years. Then Kaikeyi herself, undaunted before the gathered crowd, brought the bark garments to Rama and said, “Put these on.” That tiger among men, Rama, accepted the ascetic attire from Kaikeyi, set aside his fine clothing, and donned the bark garments. Lakshmana, too, in the presence of his father, laid aside his splendid garments and took up the ascetic’s covering. Sita, clad in silk, gazed at the bark garment with fear, like a frightened doe confronted by a snare. The daughter of Janaka, marked by auspicious signs, took the kusa-grass garment from Kaikeyi with downcast eyes, deeply troubled and ashamed. Tears filled her eyes as she, devoted to righteousness, spoke to her husband, who shone like a king among Gandharvas: “How do the sages dwelling in the forest wear such bark garments?” Unskilled in such matters, Sita repeatedly fainted. Holding a piece of bark in her hand, Sita placed it around her neck and stood, unpracticed and embarrassed. Rama, foremost among the righteous, quickly came to her and himself tied the bark garment over her silk attire. Witnessing Rama tie the bark garment on Sita, the women of the inner apartments wept, their eyes overflowing. Dependent on Rama, they said to him, radiant with splendor: “Child, this noble lady is not meant for such a forest dwelling. By your father’s command you must go to the lonely forest; let our seeing her be fulfilled, O Lord. Go with Lakshmana as your companion; this blessed lady is not fit to dwell in the forest as 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 their words, Rama, son of Dasharatha, tied the bark garment on Sita, who was equal to him in character. When she had taken the bark garment, the king’s venerable priest, his eyes brimming with tears, restrained Sita and spoke to Kaikeyi: “You have gone too far, evil-minded Kaikeyi, 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; she will perform her proper duties for Rama here. For all who are married, their wives are their very selves; considering her as his own self, Rama will protect the earth.” He continued, “Now, as Vaidehi departs for the forest with Rama, we will follow them from here, if this city is to be abandoned. The guards, too, will go wherever Raghava 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 Rama is not king; that forest will become the kingdom where Rama dwells.” He declared, “Bharata does not wish to rule the land not given by his father, nor to live with you as a son, if he is truly born of the king. Even if you rise from earth to sky, he who knows the conduct of his ancestors will not act otherwise. Thus, by you, greedy for your son, a wrong has been done to your son; in this world, there is none who is not devoted to Rama. Today, Kaikeyi, you will see beasts, wild animals, birds, and trees all turning toward Rama as he departs.” He then urged, “O queen, give the finest ornaments to your daughter-in-law, removing the bark garment; but Vasistha forbade that garment, saying it should not be given to her. For the residence of Rama alone in the forest has been chosen by you, yet she, always adorned, will live in the forest with Raghava. 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.” As Sita, protected yet as if unprotected, put on the bark garment, all the people cried out, “Shame on you, Dasharatha!” Distressed by their outcry, the king lost faith in life, virtue, and his own honor. The Ikshvaku king sighed deeply and spoke to his wife: “Kaikeyi, Sita should not go wearing a garment of kusa grass. She is delicate, young, and always accustomed to comfort; my teacher has truly said she is not fit for the forest. She does nothing for anyone, this ascetic daughter of the best king; standing in the midst of the people, wearing bark, she appears senseless, like some wandering mendicant.