Dasaratha's heart was pierced with agony at these words, but Rama heard them unmoved; they fell upon his ears like to sparks falling into the sea. Calmly he spake and said: “I will depart this day in fulfilment of my father's vow. Cheerfully will I obey his command. Let Bharata be summoned quickly from Girivrajah, and I will hasten to the jungle of Dandaka.”
Said Kaikeyi: “So be it.... But tarry not, for thy sire will neither wash nor eat until thou hast departed hence.”
Rama bowed before his sire who was prostrated with sorrow; he bowed before Kaikeyi also.... All the royal attendants wept, but Rama was unmoved as is the ocean when a pot of water is drawn from it or poured in.
He went towards Kausalya, his mother, who was engaged making offerings to Vishnu on his behalf, and informed her what had taken place.
Kausalya wept and cried: “O dearly beloved, if thou hadst never been born I would not have to suffer this calamity.... My son, I am the chief queen, but Kaikeyi hath supplanted me, and I am disliked and neglected by my husband.... I am old and unable to endure the loss of thee, my son.... Hath my heart grown hard as rock that it will not break now? Is Yama's mansions so full that I am not called away? I have no desire to live any longer.... Can a son obey a sire in his dotage?... Rama, Rama, the people will rise in revolt; seize thou the throne, and if thy father remaineth hostile slay him, because he hath become contemptible before all men, being but a woman's slave.”
Lakshmana said: “Mother, thy words are just. Who will dare oppose Rama so long as I serve him?”
Said Kausalya: “Hear the words of thy brother, Rama. If thy sire's command must be obeyed so must mine, and I command thee now not to depart to the jungle. If thou wilt not obey me, I will eat no more food and thou wilt be guilty of my death.”
Rama said: “I must obey my sire's command. Permit me, therefore, O mother, to depart now.... O Lakshmana, I have promised my sire to obey. Do not ask me to break my plighted word.”
Still Kausalya pleaded with Rama to remain, and he sought to comfort her, but her grief was too heavy to be removed, for she loved her son dearly and hated her rival Kaikeyi.
With darkened brow and saddened eyes, Rama then went unto Sita and told her all, and said: “My mother is heartbroken, O Sita; she hath need of thee to soothe her grief. O dearly beloved, I must now depart and leave thee. Be ever obedient unto Bharata, nor laud me ever, for a rajah cares not to hear another praised in his presence.”