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Hearing the stone-like harsh words of Kaikeyee, Raam didn't get sad at all. He rather said - "Maa, I will surely go to forest wearing Jataa on my head and deer skin [on my body] obeying my father's wish. You need not to worry about that, but I don't know why father did not talk to me about Bharat's Raajya Tilak before? Even without being asked, I can sacrifice everything for Bharat, even my life, loved ones, and wealth. Therefore if father had ordered me himself, I would have surely obeyed his orders happily. Please convince father about me. Why he is shedding tears slowly looking at the floor, and you make the arrangements to get Bharat soon from his Naanaa's (maternal grandfather) house and I will go to forest only today."

Kaikeyee got very happy to hear this and said to Raam - "Send the fastest horse riders to bring Bharat and you need not to wait for his coming, you may go to forest soon. Raajaa is not saying anything to you being shy, so you shouldn't wait for him. He will not take bath or food until you go to forest." Raajaa abused Kaikeyee at this and fell on the bed.

Raam lifted him up and soon got ready to leave for the forest as he was again instigated by Kaikeyee as a horse is whipped to move. After hearing that wicked Kaikeyee, Raam said to her - "Maa, I am not greedy of wealth, but I wish to protect people, because I follow Dharm. Serving father and obeying him is my Dharm, even if my life is lost. And even without father's saying and by your order, I will surely live in forest for 14 years. If you had told me directly about the coronation of Bharat instead through father, then also I would have obeyed you, because you are my mother, you have every right to order me. This shows that you didn't see any merit in me. Today itself I will go to forest bidding farewell to Maa Kaushalyaa and consoling Seetaa. Please make arrangements thus that Bharat manages the kingdom and serves father well. That is our age old tradition."

Raajaa Dasharath couldn't speak anything, just wept bitterly. Raam touched the feet of father and mother, circumambulated them and left the palace. Behind Him were sad Sumantra and Lakshman. Raam looked at His friends and admirers waiting for His Raajya Tilak and went away. Lakshman was very angry with his eyes filled with tears. 

Raam circumambulated His Raajya Tilak materials and moved away slowly from there. Raam was not perturbed at all. He was like an ascetic who is beyond sorrows and pleasures. He refused fans and umbrella, sent back His friends, chariot and citizens and entered His mother's palace to tell this unpleasant news. Lakshman also hid His feelings, kept the grief within Himself and went in along with Raam. Kaushalyaa's palace was filled with great joy, so He didn't think proper to break the sad news.

Sarg 20-Raam Tells Kaushalyaa About His Exile

On His way to Kaushalyaa's palace, He heard women weeping and saying - "Raam used to manage all jobs of all queens without even being told by His father and guarded their palaces. The same Raam is going to forest today by His parents' orders. He used to love everybody, if somebody had been unhappy, He used to make him happy. Today our stupid Raajaa has abandoned the same gem-like son. He has lost his mind." Hearing the loud cry of women Dasharath clung to his seat.

Raam saw an old gatekeeper sitting at the gate along with others. Seeing Raam coming all of them stood and  pronounced "Jaya Ho" (victory be yours). Raam crossed first section and entered second section where Ved Paathee (who read Ved) Braahman blessed Him. Then He entered the third section where women and girls were guarding the gate. The women greeted Raam and informed Kaushalyaa who was sitting at Vedee (worshipping place), about coming of Raam.

When Raam arrived there, she, a lean and thin bodied, was worshipping Vishnu for the welfare of her son. Raam hugged His mother. There He saw many articles of worship: clarified butter, flower garlands, Kheer (rice boiled in milk), rice and peas cooked together, etc. Raam touched her feet. She hugged Him and said - "Your father is a man of true promise. He will install you the King today itself.: Mother asked Him to sit down to have some food. Raam touched the Aasan and said - "Oh Maa, You don't know that a great dismay is approaching now which will leave you, Seetaa and Lakshman in a great grief. I am going to Dandak Van so now I don't need this Aasan, I will be using Kush Aasan, because I have to live in forest for 14 years. I will eat fruits and roots instead of meat and other royal foods. Mahaaraaj will crown Bharat and he has ordered me to go to forest. [So from now on] I will live like a Tapaswee in Dandak Van."

Hearing these words Kaushalyaa fell down on the floor. Raam lifted her up. She got up and said - "Raam, If you had not born to me then I could have thought that I was barren. You have born only to give me sorrow. I have not seen any prosperity or happiness before your birth when my husband was in power, so after your birth I thought I would see them when my son will come in power. I will have to tolerate my co-wife's misbehavior although I am more virtuous than them. Even when you are here I am being rejected what to say after you leave for exile.

My husband has always treated me lower than even the maidservants of Kaikeyee. O Raam, I have been waiting for 17 years after your second birth (threading ceremony or Yagyopaveet) - see Sanskaar, that my troubles will be over after some time. I cannot tolerate all this in this old age. How can I tolerate such miseries without seeing you? You were brought up by me by observing fasts, meditation, various difficulties and painful vows. There is no death for me too that is why Yam Raaj is also not calling me to his realm. I feel bad that all my charities, religious vows, meditation etc have gone waste. My life is useless here. I will also follow you as a weak cow follows her calf.

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