As Rama gently tied the bark garment upon Sita, the noble women of the palace watched, their eyes brimming with tears. Overwhelmed by sorrow, they spoke to Rama, whose radiance shone even in this moment of distress: “Child, this noble lady is not meant for the hardships of forest life. You go to the lonely woods by your father’s command; let us be fulfilled in seeing her here, O Lord. Go, dear child, with Lakshmana as your companion, but let this blessed lady remain—she is not fit for the forest, nor for the life of an ascetic. Grant us this request, son: let Sita, radiant as she is, stay here. You, ever devoted to righteousness, do not wish to remain yourself—do not take her.” Despite their pleas, Rama, son of Dasharatha, firmly tied the bark garment on Sita, who matched him in virtue and resolve. As Sita donned the simple dress, the venerable royal priest, his eyes wet with tears, tried to restrain her and turned to Kaikeyi: “You have gone too far, Kaikeyi, evil-minded and a disgrace to your lineage. You deceived the king and forsook righteousness. Sita, who lacks proper conduct for forest life, must not go, O Queen; she should perform her duties for Rama here. For all who are married, their wives are their very selves; Rama will protect the earth, considering her as his own self.” Now, as Vaidehi prepared to depart for the forest with Rama, the priest declared, “If this city is to be abandoned, we will follow them. The guards, the people, the kingdom, the city, and its attendants will go wherever Raghava goes with his wife. Bharata and Shatrughna, clad in bark, will also dwell in the forest, following their elder brother Kakutstha. When the earth is emptied of people and only trees remain, you alone will rule, Kaikeyi, standing against the welfare of the people. For it will not be a kingdom where Rama is not king; the forest will become the kingdom where Rama dwells. Bharata does not wish to rule 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.” He continued, “Thus, by your greed for your own son, you have wronged your son; in this world, none is without devotion to Rama. Today, Kaikeyi, you will see beasts, wild animals, birds, and trees all turning toward Rama as he departs. O queen, remove the bark garment and give the finest ornaments to your daughter-in-law—but Vasistha forbade that garment, saying it should not be given to her. For only Rama’s residence in the forest was chosen by you, daughter of the king of Kekaya; yet Sita, always adorned, will live in the forest with Raghava. Let the princess go, well attended by 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, the people cried out in anguish, “Shame on you, Dasharatha!” The king, distressed by their outcry, lost faith in his own life, virtue, and honor. The Ikshvaku king sighed deeply and addressed Kaikeyi: “Kaikeyi, Sita should not go wearing a garment of kusa grass. She is delicate, young, and always accustomed to comfort; my teacher has rightly said she is not fit for the forest. She does nothing for anyone, this ascetic daughter of the best king; standing among the people, wearing bark, she appears senseless, like a wandering mendicant. Let the daughter of Janaka cast off these garments of bark; I have never before made such a vow. Let the princess go to the forest as she wishes, taking all her ornaments and treasures.” He lamented, “By me, unworthy of life, a cruel vow has been made and strictly kept. But you, out of childishness, have accepted this; do not let it burn you up, like fire consumes a dry reed. If Rama ever did you, O wicked one, any wrongful act, what harm has this lowly Vaidehi shown you here? With eyes wide like a startled deer, gentle and noble, what harm could Janaka’s daughter ever do to you? Surely, sending Rama into exile is enough for you, O wicked one. Why do you commit these further pitiful and sinful acts?” Dasharatha continued, “I have already promised, as you demanded, O queen, in the presence of all, when you spoke about Rama’s consecration. Now, by exceeding that, you wish to go to hell, since you even want to see Maithili dressed in bark-cloth.” As his father spoke thus, Rama, ready to depart for the forest, bowed his head and addressed him: “This is my mother Kausalya—righteous, renowned, aged, and noble. My lord, she does not blame you. O giver of boons, you should honor her—now bereft of me, plunged into an ocean of grief, facing a sorrow she has never known. You, who are to be revered, should care for her so that she does not perish from grief for her son; thinking of me, that devoted woman would live only because of you. You should support my mother, who is like Indra’s consort and now stricken with sorrow, so that while I dwell in the forest, worn down by grief, she does not abandon her life and go to the abode of Yama.” Thus, amidst tears and pleas, the palace was filled with sorrow as Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana prepared to leave, and the hearts of all turned toward them in devotion and grief.