Seeing that Rama was very firm in protecting the promise of his father, Kausalya, though happy in a way but was choked with grief, poignancy and sadness and thereby she could not utter any word. She was thinking that "There is absolutely no doubt that Rama is a very righteous person. He always speaks lovingly and kindly to one and all. He has not faced any grief until this moment. How can such a person live in a forest? While his dependents and servants are enjoying pleasant foods all the while, how can he eat roots and fruits in the forest? It is hard to believe that Rama, the beloved and virtuous is being sent to exile by the king."
After a while she composed herself, turned to Rama and said "Oh, Rama! If you are to go to exile, then it can certainly be said that everything is controlled by a strong destiny. After your departure, the sorrow that will encompass me will be greater than the proverbial hellfire. Your absence will flare it up like wind. My lamentation and grief would kindle it like the clarified butter. My raining tears will be the offerings as an oblation to the fire. The choking and anxiety will be a great smoke. The thought that when you would return, will generate more smoke. Such a fire of grief will make me emaciated completely and burn like dry wood by fire in winter. Oh, Son! A cow follows its calf wherever it goes. Like that, I shall come with you wherever you go."
Hearing the words of his mother, Rama consoled his highly distressed mother by saying "Kaikeyi has already deceived the king. He may not live long after I left for the forest. His death will be accelerated when he comes to know that you left him, too. To abandon her husband is entirely a cruel act for a woman. You should not even dream such a gruesomely malapropos thought. Till Dasharatha, my father and the great king is alive, you should serve him. It is the eternal justice."
Kausalya with auspicious appearance, was very much pleased to hear what Rama said and replied with a nod "What you say it very true; but I do not know how I can live without you."
Rama, after hearing the words of his very much distressed mother, held her hands and told her kindly "The words of my father are to be followed by you and me. For all, he is the king, the nourisher, a venerable man, the best among men, the lord and the ruler. After roaming in the great forest for just fourteen years, I shall come back and very gladly stand by your command."
Mother Kahusalya said in a weak weeping tone "Oh, Rama! I can not reside in the middle of these step-wives. If you have made up your mind to go to the forest as per your father's wish, take me, too, like taking a female deer of the forest, to the woods ''
Suppressing his sorrow, Rama pacified his weeping mother by saying "As long as a woman is alive, her husband is the god and master to her. Your husband, the King Dasharatha, has authority over you and me even now. When the king, the lord of the earth and the wise man is there, we are not indeed without a master. Bharata, who is a righteous person and who speaks lovingly to one and all will be treating you as his own mother. He is indeed always devoted to righteousness. In my absence, take care of the king attentively so that he does not get fatigued even a little with grief over me. Act always soothingly for the well-being of the aged king, seeing that his terrible grief does not destroy him. Even if a woman is interested in religious vows and observing fast in addition to being excellent in everything, she will become ill-fated if she does not obey her husband! Even if a woman does not offer salutation to celestials and does not worship the gods, she will attain the highest heaven by service to her husband very dutifully . She has to do service, truly devoted in love and welfare of her husband. This is seen in the world from the beginning, was heard from ancient texts and mentioned as righteousness. Oh, Mother! You always worship gods by sacrificial fire and by flowers for my sake. Look forward for the time of my return in such a manner with restraint, being temperate in food and being devoted in the service of your husband. After my return, your best desire will be fulfilled if our father is still alive till then."
After hearing Rama, Kausalya was somewhat mollified. With the eyes full of tears she responded Rama "Oh, My brave son! I see that it is futile to try to change your determined resolution in the matter of your going to the forest. Time is inscrutable. It is certain. Oh, son! You go undisturbed. Let there be always auspiciousness to you. I shall become refreshed, when you return. You, the illustrious, after accomplishing a purpose, having observed a vow and having attained freedom from debt to your father, after having come again, I shall get the greatest happiness. The path of the destiny, which extinguishes my words and impels you to go to the forest, is ever not imaginable on this earth. Go just now and come back safely, when you will rejoice me with your pleasing and tranquilizing words. How nice it will be, if today is the day of your return from the forest, wearing twisted hair and garment made of bark."
Having resigned to the fact that Rama was determined to go to the forest, Kausalya pushed away her grief, sipped water from the palm of the hand, became purified and performed rites conducive to the welfare of Rama. She then told her son "Oh, Rama! I see that I cannot make you to stay. Depart now, return soon. Abide the footsteps of the virtuous. Let that righteousness, which you are fostering with courage and discipline, protect you. May those to whom you will be bowing in salutation at cross-roads and in temples and the great saints you may be meeting, protect you in the forest. All the arms given by the wise and redoubtable sage Vishwamitra to you, will ever protect you. Protected by your service to father and to mother as well as to the truthfulness, you will live long. May the wooden sticks used for feeding the sacred fire, blades of the sacred Kusa grass and rings of Kusa grass (worn on the fourth finger on sacrificial occasions), sacrificial altars, temples and various sites selected by Brahmanas for worship of gods, mountains, trees, bushes, large and deep pools of water, birds, snakes and lions protect you. May the saadhyas and viswadevas (two different kinds of gods) and the wind-god along with eminent sages ensure your happiness. May the cosmic person and the creator bring happiness to you. May the Pusha, Bhaga and Aryama (three of the twelve sons of Aditi) and the guardians of the spheres with Indra as their head do good to you. May the six seasons, all the fortnights and months, years, nights, days and hours always do good to you. May Veda, the Smriti texts taken as one body, the resolution and the piety protect you, my son! May lord Skanda (the younger son of Lord Siva) and the moon god along with the sage Brihaspati (the preceptor of gods), the well known seven sages as well as the Sage Narada, guard you on all sides. May the four quarters along with the glorious guardians of the four quarters which are eulogized by me may protect you always on all sides in the forest. Let all the mountains, oceans, Varuna, the king of oceans, heaven and earth, the intermediate space between them, rivers, astrological mansions including gods presiding over them, day and night, the morning and evening twilight may protect you while you reside in the forest. The six holy seasons, months, years and the measures of time known as Kala (equivalent to one minute) and Kastha (1/30th of Kala or two seconds) bestow you happiness. Let the heavenly deities and the demons too ever shower happiness on you while you traverse through the large forest, in the guise of a hermit and full of wisdom. Let there not be fear for you of demons the terrible ones performing cruel deeds, of devilish beings called Pisachas and of all carnivorous animals. In that impenetrable forest occupied by you, let there be no monkeys, scorpions, gad flies, mosquitoes, snakes or other insects. Let the great elephants, lions, tigers, bears and the terrible he-buffaloes with horns, not to be hostile to you. Let the other ferocious man-eaters belonging to animal-species, being worshiped by me here, not hurt you. May your path-ways be propitious! Let your valour be powerful! Go well with all accomplishments! Let there be security to you against those of your enemies dwelling in the atmosphere. Oh, Rama! May Venus and the moon as also the sun and Kubera (the god of wealth) and Yama (the god of death) who are being worshiped by me, protect you, while you reside in the forest of Dandaka. May sacred hymns coming forth from fire, air, vapour and from the mouth of singers of sacred hymns, protect you at the time of taking bath. Let Siva, the lord of all the spheres, Brahma, the lord of creation, Vishnu, the nourisher of all beings, the sages and the rest of the celestials may protect you during your dwelling in the forest."
Thus Kausalya blessed her son by worshiping troops of divinities with garlands and sandal paste with befitting hymns of praise. Duly procuring fire, she caused oblation to be poured into it, as per the direction of a high souled brahmana for the purpose of Rama's well- being. Kausalya then procured clarified butter, white garlands, ceremonial sticks and white mustard seeds. She then called the preceptor who performed the ceremony for peace as per the statute as well as without error and carried out propitiatory oblation externally with the remaining sacrificial food left after the main offering. She then got brahmanas to pronounce blessings with honey, curd, unbroken grains of rice and clarified butter by the repetition of certain hymns and to utter prayers for the well-being of Rama in the forest.
She then blessed her son by saying "Which felicity occurred to Devendra the thousand- eyed, adored by all celestials when a demon called Vritra was destroyed, let that felicity occur to you. Which blessing was invoked by Vinata to Garuda who was setting off to bring nectar in the past, may that blessing reach you. Which blessing was bestowed on Devendra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, killing the demons at the time of producing nectar, let that blessing come to you. Which good fortune occurred to Vishnu who was immensely glorious while making his three strides (in order to measure the three worlds), let that good fortune come to you. May the seasons, oceans, Dvipas (principal division of earth girdled by oceans), vedas, various spheres and quarters confer blessings with good luck to you."
Saying so, Kausalya placed some unbroken rice grains on her son's head, smeared varieties of sandal pastes over his body, fastened about his wrist by way of an amulet, a herb called Visalyakarani (so called because it helps in painlessly extracting an arrow stuck into one's body) which is efficacious and auspicious and muttered sacred hymns in order to enhance its virtue. Though filled with grief inside, she appeared to be over-joyed outside and with faltering words, was speaking with only mouth and not with her heart.
She then embraced Rama, smelling his head by bending it and said "Rama, my son! Go with ease with accomplishment of purpose, as you are. Oh, son! With all your purposes fulfilled and with good health, I shall see you returning to Ayodhya happily and taking over the reins of the kingdom. All my thoughts of grief having been expunged and my face shining with joy, I shall behold you returning from the forest like the full moon rising from the horizon. Oh, Rama! I shall behold you returning here from your sojourn in the forest, having fulfilled your father's word and installed on the splendid throne. Having come here from your sojourn in the forest, you will be familiar with auspicious things and will ever be augmenting the desires of my daughter-in-law and of mine. Depart now, Oh, Rama! Worshiped by me, let the hosts of gods headed by Siva, the Supreme Being, the great sages, spirits, the chief of evil spirits, the celestial serpents and the (four)quarters wish well of you, who are setting forth to forest."
Having so said and having completed the rite of invoking blessings befittingly, Kausalya, whose eyes were overflowing with tears, further went clockwise around Rama and having pressed close to him, embraced him again and again.
After circumambulating his dear and pious mother Kausalya, Rama pressed his mother's feet (as a token of reverence) again and again, shining as he was by his own splendour, and then proceeded to Seetha's apartments.
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After a while she composed herself, turned to Rama and said "Oh, Rama! If you are to go to exile, then it can certainly be said that everything is controlled by a strong destiny. After your departure, the sorrow that will encompass me will be greater than the proverbial hellfire. Your absence will flare it up like wind. My lamentation and grief would kindle it like the clarified butter. My raining tears will be the offerings as an oblation to the fire. The choking and anxiety will be a great smoke. The thought that when you would return, will generate more smoke. Such a fire of grief will make me emaciated completely and burn like dry wood by fire in winter. Oh, Son! A cow follows its calf wherever it goes. Like that, I shall come with you wherever you go."
Hearing the words of his mother, Rama consoled his highly distressed mother by saying "Kaikeyi has already deceived the king. He may not live long after I left for the forest. His death will be accelerated when he comes to know that you left him, too. To abandon her husband is entirely a cruel act for a woman. You should not even dream such a gruesomely malapropos thought. Till Dasharatha, my father and the great king is alive, you should serve him. It is the eternal justice."
Kausalya with auspicious appearance, was very much pleased to hear what Rama said and replied with a nod "What you say it very true; but I do not know how I can live without you."
Rama, after hearing the words of his very much distressed mother, held her hands and told her kindly "The words of my father are to be followed by you and me. For all, he is the king, the nourisher, a venerable man, the best among men, the lord and the ruler. After roaming in the great forest for just fourteen years, I shall come back and very gladly stand by your command."
Mother Kahusalya said in a weak weeping tone "Oh, Rama! I can not reside in the middle of these step-wives. If you have made up your mind to go to the forest as per your father's wish, take me, too, like taking a female deer of the forest, to the woods ''
Suppressing his sorrow, Rama pacified his weeping mother by saying "As long as a woman is alive, her husband is the god and master to her. Your husband, the King Dasharatha, has authority over you and me even now. When the king, the lord of the earth and the wise man is there, we are not indeed without a master. Bharata, who is a righteous person and who speaks lovingly to one and all will be treating you as his own mother. He is indeed always devoted to righteousness. In my absence, take care of the king attentively so that he does not get fatigued even a little with grief over me. Act always soothingly for the well-being of the aged king, seeing that his terrible grief does not destroy him. Even if a woman is interested in religious vows and observing fast in addition to being excellent in everything, she will become ill-fated if she does not obey her husband! Even if a woman does not offer salutation to celestials and does not worship the gods, she will attain the highest heaven by service to her husband very dutifully . She has to do service, truly devoted in love and welfare of her husband. This is seen in the world from the beginning, was heard from ancient texts and mentioned as righteousness. Oh, Mother! You always worship gods by sacrificial fire and by flowers for my sake. Look forward for the time of my return in such a manner with restraint, being temperate in food and being devoted in the service of your husband. After my return, your best desire will be fulfilled if our father is still alive till then."
After hearing Rama, Kausalya was somewhat mollified. With the eyes full of tears she responded Rama "Oh, My brave son! I see that it is futile to try to change your determined resolution in the matter of your going to the forest. Time is inscrutable. It is certain. Oh, son! You go undisturbed. Let there be always auspiciousness to you. I shall become refreshed, when you return. You, the illustrious, after accomplishing a purpose, having observed a vow and having attained freedom from debt to your father, after having come again, I shall get the greatest happiness. The path of the destiny, which extinguishes my words and impels you to go to the forest, is ever not imaginable on this earth. Go just now and come back safely, when you will rejoice me with your pleasing and tranquilizing words. How nice it will be, if today is the day of your return from the forest, wearing twisted hair and garment made of bark."
Having resigned to the fact that Rama was determined to go to the forest, Kausalya pushed away her grief, sipped water from the palm of the hand, became purified and performed rites conducive to the welfare of Rama. She then told her son "Oh, Rama! I see that I cannot make you to stay. Depart now, return soon. Abide the footsteps of the virtuous. Let that righteousness, which you are fostering with courage and discipline, protect you. May those to whom you will be bowing in salutation at cross-roads and in temples and the great saints you may be meeting, protect you in the forest. All the arms given by the wise and redoubtable sage Vishwamitra to you, will ever protect you. Protected by your service to father and to mother as well as to the truthfulness, you will live long. May the wooden sticks used for feeding the sacred fire, blades of the sacred Kusa grass and rings of Kusa grass (worn on the fourth finger on sacrificial occasions), sacrificial altars, temples and various sites selected by Brahmanas for worship of gods, mountains, trees, bushes, large and deep pools of water, birds, snakes and lions protect you. May the saadhyas and viswadevas (two different kinds of gods) and the wind-god along with eminent sages ensure your happiness. May the cosmic person and the creator bring happiness to you. May the Pusha, Bhaga and Aryama (three of the twelve sons of Aditi) and the guardians of the spheres with Indra as their head do good to you. May the six seasons, all the fortnights and months, years, nights, days and hours always do good to you. May Veda, the Smriti texts taken as one body, the resolution and the piety protect you, my son! May lord Skanda (the younger son of Lord Siva) and the moon god along with the sage Brihaspati (the preceptor of gods), the well known seven sages as well as the Sage Narada, guard you on all sides. May the four quarters along with the glorious guardians of the four quarters which are eulogized by me may protect you always on all sides in the forest. Let all the mountains, oceans, Varuna, the king of oceans, heaven and earth, the intermediate space between them, rivers, astrological mansions including gods presiding over them, day and night, the morning and evening twilight may protect you while you reside in the forest. The six holy seasons, months, years and the measures of time known as Kala (equivalent to one minute) and Kastha (1/30th of Kala or two seconds) bestow you happiness. Let the heavenly deities and the demons too ever shower happiness on you while you traverse through the large forest, in the guise of a hermit and full of wisdom. Let there not be fear for you of demons the terrible ones performing cruel deeds, of devilish beings called Pisachas and of all carnivorous animals. In that impenetrable forest occupied by you, let there be no monkeys, scorpions, gad flies, mosquitoes, snakes or other insects. Let the great elephants, lions, tigers, bears and the terrible he-buffaloes with horns, not to be hostile to you. Let the other ferocious man-eaters belonging to animal-species, being worshiped by me here, not hurt you. May your path-ways be propitious! Let your valour be powerful! Go well with all accomplishments! Let there be security to you against those of your enemies dwelling in the atmosphere. Oh, Rama! May Venus and the moon as also the sun and Kubera (the god of wealth) and Yama (the god of death) who are being worshiped by me, protect you, while you reside in the forest of Dandaka. May sacred hymns coming forth from fire, air, vapour and from the mouth of singers of sacred hymns, protect you at the time of taking bath. Let Siva, the lord of all the spheres, Brahma, the lord of creation, Vishnu, the nourisher of all beings, the sages and the rest of the celestials may protect you during your dwelling in the forest."
Thus Kausalya blessed her son by worshiping troops of divinities with garlands and sandal paste with befitting hymns of praise. Duly procuring fire, she caused oblation to be poured into it, as per the direction of a high souled brahmana for the purpose of Rama's well- being. Kausalya then procured clarified butter, white garlands, ceremonial sticks and white mustard seeds. She then called the preceptor who performed the ceremony for peace as per the statute as well as without error and carried out propitiatory oblation externally with the remaining sacrificial food left after the main offering. She then got brahmanas to pronounce blessings with honey, curd, unbroken grains of rice and clarified butter by the repetition of certain hymns and to utter prayers for the well-being of Rama in the forest.
She then blessed her son by saying "Which felicity occurred to Devendra the thousand- eyed, adored by all celestials when a demon called Vritra was destroyed, let that felicity occur to you. Which blessing was invoked by Vinata to Garuda who was setting off to bring nectar in the past, may that blessing reach you. Which blessing was bestowed on Devendra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, killing the demons at the time of producing nectar, let that blessing come to you. Which good fortune occurred to Vishnu who was immensely glorious while making his three strides (in order to measure the three worlds), let that good fortune come to you. May the seasons, oceans, Dvipas (principal division of earth girdled by oceans), vedas, various spheres and quarters confer blessings with good luck to you."
Saying so, Kausalya placed some unbroken rice grains on her son's head, smeared varieties of sandal pastes over his body, fastened about his wrist by way of an amulet, a herb called Visalyakarani (so called because it helps in painlessly extracting an arrow stuck into one's body) which is efficacious and auspicious and muttered sacred hymns in order to enhance its virtue. Though filled with grief inside, she appeared to be over-joyed outside and with faltering words, was speaking with only mouth and not with her heart.
She then embraced Rama, smelling his head by bending it and said "Rama, my son! Go with ease with accomplishment of purpose, as you are. Oh, son! With all your purposes fulfilled and with good health, I shall see you returning to Ayodhya happily and taking over the reins of the kingdom. All my thoughts of grief having been expunged and my face shining with joy, I shall behold you returning from the forest like the full moon rising from the horizon. Oh, Rama! I shall behold you returning here from your sojourn in the forest, having fulfilled your father's word and installed on the splendid throne. Having come here from your sojourn in the forest, you will be familiar with auspicious things and will ever be augmenting the desires of my daughter-in-law and of mine. Depart now, Oh, Rama! Worshiped by me, let the hosts of gods headed by Siva, the Supreme Being, the great sages, spirits, the chief of evil spirits, the celestial serpents and the (four)quarters wish well of you, who are setting forth to forest."
Having so said and having completed the rite of invoking blessings befittingly, Kausalya, whose eyes were overflowing with tears, further went clockwise around Rama and having pressed close to him, embraced him again and again.
After circumambulating his dear and pious mother Kausalya, Rama pressed his mother's feet (as a token of reverence) again and again, shining as he was by his own splendour, and then proceeded to Seetha's apartments.
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