HEARING the words of that worthy, Rama conversant with modesty, humbly
addressed Dacaratha, saying,--"What O king, have I, that am renouncing
everything and am going to dwell in the forest subsisting on what the
forest yields, to do with a following? Of what avail is a person's
attachment for the tether of a goodly elephant, when the elephant itself
is renounced by him? Thus it is with me, O foremost of righteous ones.
What shall I do with the army, O lord of men? I will confer everything
on Bharata. Let them bring me a vesture of bark, and for me who will go
to the forest and reside there for fourteen years, bring a hoe and a
basket." Thereupon Kaikeyi herself brought a bark dress and that
shameless one said unto Raghnva in the presence of all,--"Do you wear
this." On this, that foremost of men taking those two pieces of bark
from Kaikeyi, left his fine attire and put on the ascetic garb. And
Lakshmana also, renouncing his choice raiment, put on the dress of an
anchoret before his father. Then Sita clad in silk apparel, eying the
ascetic covering meant for her, became agitated, like a doe at sight of
a noose. And afflicted with shame, that one graced with auspicious
marks, Janaki, sorrowfully took from Kaikeyi the Kuca and bark; and with
tears flooding her eyes, that one cognizant of virtue and having her
gaze ever fixed upon it, thus addressed her lord resembling the king of
the Gandharbas,--"How do the ascetics dwelling in the woods put on their
dress?" Saying this, Sita, ill at ease became embrassed. And putting on
one piece on her neck and holding the other in her hand, the daughter of
Janaka, feeling uneasy, stood overpowered with shame. Thereupon that
best of righteous persons, Rama, speedily coming up to her, fastened the
monastic garb over Sita's silk attire. Beholding Rama fastening that
goodly garb on Sita, the females of the inner apartment began to shed
tears. And waxing exceedingly aggrieved, they spoke unto Rama flaming in
effulgence:--"Child, do not take this virtuous one to the forest. So
long as you will reside in the forest in accordance with the wishes of
your father, we shall behold her; and by this means let our lives attain
their object, O lord. O son taking Lakshmana for your help, go you to
the forest. This auspuious one does not deserve to live in the woods
like an ascetic. O son, grant our prayer. Let the fair Sita remain. Ever
steady in virtue, you do not yourself intend to stay here." Hearing
these words, Dacaratha's son tied the dress on Sita having a similar
character with himself. When she had put on the upper and under
garments, the preceptor of the king, Vasistha, his voice choked with the
vapour of sorrow, dissuading Sita, said unto Kaikeyi,--"O thou whose
desires outrun thy sense of honor, O thou of perverted understanding O
befouler of thy line, deceiving the monarch, thou stayest not within the
pale of the promise. O thou bereft of good behavior, that noble lady,
Sita, should not go to the forest. Sita will occupy Rama's seat. Of all
those that marry, the wife is the (other) soul. Sita will govern the
earth, as she is Rama's self. But if Vaidehi goes to the forest with
Rama, we will follow him, and the inhabitants of the city will also
repair thither. And the warders of the inner apartment, and the people
of the kingdom and the city taking with them their neccessaries and
servants will accompany Raghava and his wife. And Bharata and Satrughna
wearing ascetic clothes and ranging the forest will live like their
elder brother resident in the woods. Then alone thou of vile ways and
intent upon harming the people wilt govern this empty earth deserted by
the inhabitants, along with the trees. That can never be a kingdom where
Rama is not the monarch, and that forest where Rama will reside will
flourish into a monarchy. Bharata never wishes to govern a kingdom that
has not been conferred upon him by his father; nor, if he has really
been begotten by the monarch, wilt he any further act by you as a son.
Even if you leaving the earth fly unto the air, that one cognizant of
the character of his ancestry, will never act otherwise. Therefore
although intent on advancing your son, you have really brought about his
injury. There exists not a person in the world that is not partial to
Rama. O Kaikeyi, do you to-day behold beasts and snakes and birds
journeying in the wake of Rama, and even the trees stand with their
heads turned towards him. Do you, O noble lady, removing the ascetic
guise, confer elegant ornaments on your daughter-in-law, for such a
dress suits not this one." Saying this Vasistha prevented Kaikeyi. "O
daughter of kmg Kekaya, you have asked for the abode of Rama in the
woods; and decked out in ornaments let Sita daily engaged in adorning
herself, reside in the forest with Raghava. And let the daughter of the
King go to the forest, surrounded by excellent cars and servants, and
taking with her attires and other necessary things. When you demanded
the (fulfilment of the) promise, you had not your eye on Sita." When
that foremost of* Brahmanas, that preceptor of the king possessed of
unparalelled potency, had said this, Sita, desirous of serving her
beloved lord, did not turn away from the ascetic dress (presented by
Kaikeyi.)