Dasaratha orders Sumanthara to bring Rama to him. Sumanthara does so and Rama immediately arrives to meet Dasaratha. However, Dasaratha is not able to speak to Rama and falls unconscious. When a concerned Rama asks what has happened to him, Kaikeyi mentions that Dasaratha has given her two boons which she has invoked now. However, since it affects Rama, Dasaratha is unable to convey it.

She reminds Rama that he is bound to help his father. The meaning of the word Putra (son) is “one who lifts his father from hell.”

On hearing this Rama says that he is ready to do anything for the sake of his father, whether it is his life, giving up Lakshmana, giving up Kausalya or the kingdom. He says the right type of son fulfils a father’s wishes even without being asked. A middling son fulfils only spoken wishes and a degenerate son does not fulfil the wish even when asked.

Picture Credit: National Museum, Delhi

Dasaratha told Rama that he is a henpecked husband and is not behaving like a just ruler. He tells Rama that he can arrest Dasaratha, put him in jail and takeover the kingdom. In this way, Dasaratha will not be guilty of not fulfilling the boon.

Rama in turn tells Dasaratha that he is happy to go to the forest as it is a less stressful job compared to ruling a kingdom.

Valmiki Ramayana is also philosophical in dealing with this event. Rama tells Kaikeyi that he does not wish to live in the world selfishly and that he is like Rishis who are devoted to the path of pure duty. Valmiki adds that loss of the kingdom and wealth did not bother Rama just as waning does not bother the moon. Poetic.

Additional Source: Adhyatma Ramayana, Lala Baij Nath

Picture Credit: J Martin and Manoj Publications

After conveying to Dasaratha that he will go for Vanavasa, Rama went to meet Kausalya. She was curious why Rama has come alone and without the royal retinue. Rama conveyed the news to her. Kausalya gets upset and insists that she will also come to the forest. Or else she will give up her life. She questions why Kaikeyi insists that Rama go to the forest. Finally, she says, if your father is your master, your mother is even greater than him and that she orders him not to go to the forest.

Picture Credit. Dr. K.U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom

Lakshmana gets very upset watching the agony of Kausalya. He gets so angry that he may burn up the three worlds. He says their father is senile and easily won over by women. He declares that he will kill Bharata and all his relations. He also claims that a wicked action should be corrected, even if it was taken by guru or father.

Additional Source: Adhyatma Ramayana, Lala Baij Nath

Picture Credit. Dr. K.U. Krishnakumar and Guruvayoor Devaswom

Rama’s response to Lakshmana is a deep discourse on Vedanta and is considered an explanation of Karma Yoga.

Rama tells Lakshmana that the kingdom is a Maya. It induces body-consciousness and is making Lakshmana believe like this. Vidya is the real knowledge that destroys ignorance. Desire, rage, greed, delusion, vanity, and rivalry are the six enemies that stop you from seeing the truth. Among them, rage is the most troublesome. A man who succumbs to anger would kill even his kith and kin. Rage is death in disguise, and one must get rid of it.

Beyond the body and mind, there is Atman which is unaffected by any modifications, and it is the one without a second. We have no option to perform actions, but the fruits of those actions are not within our control. Do your duties without concern about the results thereof. Leave your pride and anger, engage in your duties.

Rama then seeks permission from Kausalya to leave for the vanavasa.

Additional Source: Adhyatma Ramayana, Lala Baij Nath

After meeting Kausalya, Rama goes to meet Sita to inform her of the events. Sita is also curious to see Rama without the royal retinue. Rama tells Sita that Dasaratha has given him the Dandakaranya forest to administer and therefore Rama has to go to the forest. Sita is confused and quizzes him on why his father changed his mind, Rama explains the sequence of events and Kaikeyi’s boons. He informs her that he is going to the forest with Lakshmana.

Picture Credit: J Martin and Manoj Publications

Sita makes all these points to convince Rama in Adhyatma Ramayana. She also reminds Rama that there have been many Ramayanas before and in all of them, Sita had accompanied Rama to the forest. This is not in Valmiki Ramayana. Instead, in Valmiki Ramayana, Sita recalls that while she was in Mithila, fortune tellers had prophesised that she would be spending time in a forest.

Rama agrees to her request and asks her to give away all her wealth and jewelry to scholars, servants and associates.

Picture Credit: Chitra Ramayana (Kannada)

Citizens of Ayodhya gathered as they came to know the new developments. They could not take their eyes off Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. They started wailing aloud.

Sage Vamadeva then told them about the principles behind Rama and Sita. He explained that Rama is Vishnu and Sita is Lakshmi Devi. He tells them Vishnu has taken the Rama avatar to annihilate Rakshasas, especially Ravana. Therefore, the citizens should not blame King Dasaratha, Queen Kaikeyi, or her maid Manthara. Vishnu is playing this drama with him in the main role. Therefore, the citizens should chant Rama’s auspicious name.

This calmed the people of Ayodhya.

Picture Credit: J Martin and Manoj Publications