It was decided that all three, Shri Ram, Devi Sita and Lakshman would go to the forest. They had wrapped up all the pending work. They would be gone for 14 years but they also had empathy and accountability for worked for them and were under their patronage.

They didn't want them to be rendered helpless while they were gone. Hence the three collected all their ornaments, items of use including vessels, mattresses, clothes and so on, which were not going to be of any use to them for the next fourteen years and distributed them among the people who worked for them.

They gave huge donations comprising foodgrains and animals such as cows and bulls to brahmins, officiating priests and students. under their patronage, and also to those who were under the patronage of Kaushalya. Shri Ram wanted to ensure that the people of Ayodhya took care of his mother even if Kaikeyi and Bharat did not.

To his charioteer and handyman Chitrarath, Shri Ram gave one thousand cows and other animals. In addition, to all their employees, he paid fourteen years' salary in advance so that they wouldn't have to suffer in their absence and could continue to work in the palace.

Shri Ram didn't want to leave them dependent on Bharat for their subsistence. He asked the servant to maintain his and Lakshaman's homes while they were gone. The employees were overwhelmed by their master's generosity.

And whatever wealth that was left, Shri Ram donated it to the citizens. By now the news of his exile had spread like wildfire. No one wanted him to go.

The three of them came to bid farewell to Dashrath in Kaikeyi's chambers where Kaushalya, Sumitra, Vasisth and royal ministers were also present.

Dashrath was torn apart and shackles by the need to abide by the 'truth' and give in to the selfish desires of Kaikeyi.

"Ram... Ram... Tum dosh kyu nahi dete mujhe ? Tum mujhe bandhi bana ke Rajya chheen kyu nahi lete ?" Dashrath asked.

"Pitashree, mujhe na iss Rajya ka koi moh hai aur na hi Raaj-paath ka. Mai toh 14 varsh baad laut aapke charan punah sparsh karne hetu utsuk hu. Maine Ayodhya par se apne adhikaaro ka tyaag kiya hai, ab woh adhikaar aap Bharat ko Dede." Shri Ram said.

"Sumantra... Siddharth.... Ram ke saath jaane ke liye sena aur dhan ka prabandh kare." Dashrath told two of his trusty ministers.

But Kaikeyi was opposed to that, the woman was already getting impatient for Shri Ram to leave. Not only did she want it her way, she wanted it to happen immediately.

"Yadi sena aur dhan Ram ke saath jaayenge toh Bharat ko kya milega ? Nirdhan rajya aur mutthibhar senik ? Woh Raaj kaise karega ? Aap aise kyu vyavahar kar rahe hai ki Ikshvaku vansh ke aap pehle Raja hai jisne apne putra ko Nirvasit kiya hai ? Aapke poorvaj Raja Sagar ne bhi toh apne putra Asmanj ko rajya se nishkaasit kiya tha." Kaikeyi said slyly.

The comparison outraged the people assembled in her chamber. They were already shattered by the news of exile and now her comparing a noble man like Shri Ram to brat like Asamanj.

"Rani Kaikeyi, kya aapki buddhi itni bhrasht ho gayi hai ki aapko Mariyada Purushottam Shri Ram aur Asamanj mei bhed nahi dikh raha ?" Minister Siddharth rebuked.

Kaikeyi didn't care, she ordered the servants to bring Valkal, dresses made of tree barks usually worn by tapasvis living in the forest.

Shri Ram and Lakshman accepted the Valkals but Devi Sita was shocked as she had never worn it before. She tried to wear it but couldn't and hence stood embarassed, tears welling up in her eyes.

Shri Ram was quick to come to her rescue and helped her tie the Valkal over her silk garment. Everybody was heartbroken seeing this, they were stunned at the audacity of Kaikeyi. Especially Vasisth who had remained quite till now.

"Tumne sabhi Seema laangh di hai Rani Kaikeyi ! Kya Maharaj ko pratadit kar tum santusht nahi huyi !? Sita kahi nahi jayegi ! Patni pati ki aatma hoti hai, Sita Ram ki aatma hai. Woh yahi reh kar Ayodhya par raaj karegi, vishwa par raaj karegi jab tak Ram vanvas se laut na aaye." Vasisth said.

"Ha Sita, tum mat jaao. Tum yahi raho. Yadi tum humare saath rahogi toh hume Ram ka virah itna nahi satayega." Dashrath said.

"Brahmarishi, Pita-maharaj, mujhe Raaj-paath se moh nahi hai. Mera sukh waha hai jaha mere pati hai. Mai swa-iccha se vanvaas jaa rahi hu." Sita said.

And now it was time to leave. Before leaving Shri Ram made one last request to his father.

"Pitashree, kripiya meri Maa ka dhyaan rakhiyega. Woh ab Vridh aur durbal ho gayi hai, aur mera jana unhe andar se tod dega. Maa ne sadev aapke kalyaan ki kaamna ki hai, meri anupsthiti mei unko swasth rakhiyega." He said.

Then the three of them bid their final goodbyes and left on the chariot driven by Sumantra, leaving behind the weeping and mourning Ayodhya.

Some people did follow them till the banks of Tamsa river, where they halted in the first night. But not wanting to subject them to the harsh life of forest, Shri Ram, Devi Sita, Lakshman and Sumantra left the next morning before the break of dawn.

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A/N

Chinta mat kijiye Mata Kaikeyi woh dhan nahi apetu swayam Mata Lakshmi le ke jaa rahe hai 🙂

Aur unko koi Raajsi thaat ki bhi zarurat nahi kyuki prakriti swayam unki behen hai 🙂

And to those who don't know the story of Asamanj -

Nihaayati ghatiya comparison ki aap Mata Kaikeyi 🙂

Bharat bhaiya maaf nahi karenge 🙂