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1. Preparation of Raam'a Raaj Tilak and Mantharaa's Mischief
2. Kaikeyee's Var, Dasharath-Kaikeyee's Dialog and Exile to Raam
3. Bharat and Kaikeyee

He sat down on the floor, caressed her and asked "Why are you lying like this my dear? What has happened? Has somebody said anything to you? Tell me what do you want?" But Kaikeyee wouldn't speak anything. Raajaa again said - "Do you want to get raise for somebody? or punish somebody? or what else do you want?" Kaikeyee said - "You always say, "I will give, I will give" but you don't give."

Dasharath said - "You know that there is nothing in this world which I cannot give to you, ask for it, I will surely give it to you." Kaikeyee said - "Take vow on Raam then." Dasharath said - "What is that you are asking for that I will have to take vow on Raam, but if you are happy with it, then I take vow on our Raam also. Now ask." Kaikeyee got very happy to hear this, she said - "Do you remember, once you asked me to ask for two Var, and I said, "I will ask some other time". I wish to ask those Var today."

Dasharath said - "I remember all but why do you had to lie down like this just to ask for those Var? Ask them." Kaikeyee said - "In one Var I ask Raaj Tilak for Bharat and for the second Var I ask exile for Raam in Dandak Van for 14 years. He should live there in Tapaswee's attire and eat Tapaswee's food." Dasharath couldn't believe all this and sat stunned.

Dasharath-Kaikeyee Dialog
When Dasharath came into senses, he said - "Dear, Why do you think like this? You know very well that I love Raam very much, you love Raam more than you love Bharat, all public loves Him, then why do you want to exile Him? I have no objection in Raaj Tilak of Bharat, but you should have thought twice before saying "exile to Raam for 14 years". He is my eldest son, He is light of my eyes, He is the helper in my old age, I love Him very much, I will die without Him. Why do you want to take my life. Please take your words back about Raam for my life sake." He further said - "Listen, What bad He has done to you that you are exiling Him? And if you are thinking that Bharat will be happy with your this action, you are wrong. Bharat also loves Him very much and he will also not be able to live without Raam."

Kaikeyee said - "I asked you before that whether you are going to give me my Var or not. You vowed on Ram and said "Yes". Now why don't you want to give me what I am asking for? If you will not fulfill your promise now, you will be a sinner. You said "This is Raghu Kul's tradition that one may lose his life but not the words." Now where are your words? You should be careful about your glory and grace, fame and generosity. Lying like this or crying like this doesn't suit a Raajaa like you. Say it smilingly, happily, "Be it so"."

Dasharath said - "Since when you have become so ruthless, illogical and cruel to your own people. Through your Var you are creating trouble for all. Everybody is going to abuse you for this action. Nobody will be happy, not even you. So please, just listen to me and take your words back."

But Kaikeyee was firm in her intentions. She did not move a bit from here to there. She wanted to send Raam out of her sight because she wanted Bharat to rule without any problem. And to settle down in a kingdom for which, she thought, 14 years were enough, so she asked 14 years of exile to Raam.

Dasharath beat his head again and said to himself - "Oh, I never knew that to whom I love so much, she will bite me like this. Somebody has said rightly that a Raajaa should not love a woman so much that she destroys him at a crucial time. But Kaikeyee, it is not your mistake, it is my mistake that I honored you so much that you became my controller. I will have to bear the results of this."

Talking thus, the whole night passed.

Exile to Raam
The morning broke. Everybody was waiting for Raajaa to wake up but he got late. In the royal court everybody was waiting for him. Vashishth Jee, Sumantra and other coming kings for this purpose were waiting for Raajaa, but he was nowhere to be seen. Then the coming kings whispered each other as who was going to call Raajaa. Then Sumantra offered that he would go and see what was happening.

Sumantra went to Raajaa's palace, but he didn't find him there , so he went to Kaikeyee's palace. He asked Kaikeyee about Raajaa. Kaikeyee said - "Yes, Raajaa is here, but he has been very upset the whole night, so he is taking rest." Sumantra said - "But his coming to royal court is necessary and urgent. Everybody is waiting for him." Kaikeyee said - "Raajaa wants to see Raam, so you go and call Raam." Sumantra doubted something, so he said - "I just want to see Raajaa once myself and take the order from him." Raajaa overheard their conversation and said from there only - "Sumantra, Go and call Raam." Sumantra went away to call Raam, he heard something unexpected.

He went to Raam, who was getting ready to come to His father, and said - "Raajaa wants to see you." Raam went to His father and saw Raajaa lying on the floor. His eyes were red, his hair was dry and undone, his face was graceless, on the whole he looked extremely sad. Raam greeted His father and asked - "I greet you father. What are the orders for me?" Raajaa remained silent, then Raam said - "You did not bless me for my greetings, you are not talking to me, what has happened to you, tell me?"

Kaikeyee spoke harshly - "He will not tell you any thing. I tell you. Raajaa has promised to me that he will give throne to Bharat and 14 years of exile to you. Since he loves you very much that is why he is not able to tell you this." Raam spoke politely - "Is that all Father? Were you hesitating to say only this to me? Father and Mother, I have always obeyed you and still feel fortunate to obey you. How many children get such a good opportunity to obey their parents? Father, you be happy, you follow our Kul's traditions and Dharm. Get up and make preparations of coronation of dear Bharat, and I will go to Van. Do not be sad at all. As my period of exile will be over, I will come and have the Darshan of your feet. And Mother, you also don't worry at all, I am going to Van, just take care of my father until Bharat comes. He seems very weak and sick." Raam again greeted His Father and Mother and left the place to tell this news to other people.

Raam Gives This News to Kaushalyaa and Seetaa
Raam immediately went to His mother Kaushalyaa's palace to bid farewell. He greeted her and she offered Him gold Aasan to sit up on and some tasty sweets for breakfast. Raam refused that Aasan and sweets and said - "Maa, Father has given me the kingdom of Van (forest) so from now on I cannot sit on this Aasan and eat these sweets. I will live there like a Tapaswee and eat whatever they eat. Please permit me to obey my parents and to go to Van. As soon as my exile period will be over I will come back and have your Darshan. Till then you take care of my father and Seetaa."

Kaushalyaa almost fainted hearing this, later she said crying - "Hey Bhagavaan, It seems, today my all Punya (good work) are exhausted, that is why I am alive to see this day. Oh Kaikeyee, Which life's revenge you are taking from me now?" She requested Raam not to leave her there in Ayodhyaa and take her along with Him, but Raam consoled her and said - "Maa, When I am not at home, your responsibilities towards your family are more than ever. First you have to take care of your husband. You cannot leave your husband for me. You must take care of Raajaa properly, because I have seen his condition, it is not very good, he is very upset. Besides, there is Seetaa, you have to console Her also. Take care of all until I complete the exile period and come back to see you." In spite of many requests Raam did not take her to Van. He consoled her, took her permission, and came to His own palace.

Seetaa was waiting for Him to go to royal court. But Raam told Her something else. She smilingly said - "Hey Naath, I will also go with you, because after you have left I don't have anything here. Shaastra say that a wife's place is only at her husband's feet, wherever he lives. Her association with her husband is not only in comforts times and kingdom, she is his complete companion in all sad and happy moments. That is why I will go with you."

Raam asked Her - "You didn't get surprised hearing this?" Seetaa said - "No, I knew it before that I will have to live in Van, so my mind was set for it." Raam tried to explain many difficulties and problems of Van to Her, but She was firm in Her decision. She said - "I know only this that my place is with you only, so if you are living n Van, how can I live in palaces? No other home is for me except my husband's home." When Raam heard all this, He said - "Then get ready soon. Donate your all good clothes and jewelry, because we will not need all that in Van, and come with me."

Lakshman was listening all this, so he also rushed to His mother's palace to take permission from her to go to Van, because he thought that when Seetaa was also going, then Raam certainly would need his services. He greeted his mother and told everything to her. She happily permitted him saying - "Dear Son, You are fortunate that you are in the service of Raam. He is your father and Seetaa is your mother. Serve them sincerely in Van. Sacrifice your sleep for their comfort and take care of them more than your life."

Lakshman greeted her and came back immediately to Raam and said - "I am also going with you and Seetaa. You will need a helper, I will be there, you will need a caretaker, I will be with you, I will work as a guide to you on forest's paths. Please don't say "No" to me." Raam understood that he wouldn't listen to Him so he permitted him.

Raam and Seetaa donated their all things and wealth, took their weapons and all three, Raam, Lakshman and Seetaa came to Kaushalyaa's palace again to bid farewell. Seeing Seetaa with them Kaushalyaa fainted again. She tried her best to stop Her going with Raam but Seetaa said - "Maa, This is my Dharm, please, let me follow it." Then they came to their father. They were walking on Ayodhyaa's roads to go there. All people were crying, weeping, abusing Kaikeyee and Raajaa and even Vidhaataa (Bhagavaan) for this moment, but couldn't do anything.

They came to their father to bid farewell. Seeing Seetaa with Raam Dasharath got fainted. Later he woke up and said - "Dear Seetaa, You are not exiled, why do you go to Van. You have two homes - Ayodhyaa and Janak Puree, live wherever you love to live. You need not to go to Van. You are not supposed to go. Oh Kaikeyee, Why your tongue was not cut while asking such Var?"

Raam asked for Tapaswee's clothes, Kaikeyee was ready with them so she immediately handed over them to Him. Raam and Lakshman changed their clothes. She gave those clothes for Seetaa also. She couldn't change it because She didn't know how to wear them, then Raam helped Her to wear them. Seeing this Dasharath again abused Kaikeyee and said - "You have not asked the Var to exile Seetaa, then why are you giving these clothes to Her?"

Raam said to Seetaa - "You wear your own royal clothes and jewelry." So Seetaa wore Her own clothes and jewelry. Seeing all this Dasharath's all queens, (he had 350 wives) who were already present there, were weeping and abusing Kaikeyee, but Kaikeyee was unaffected.

At last Raam got ready to go to Van. Dasharath asked Sumantra to take them to Van in chariot at least up to the border of the kingdom. Sumantra did so.

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