Sumantra hurrying in found the king shrouded in misery. Devastated at the thought of being separated from his son, Dasaratha's sorrow had robbed him of his brilliance, rendering him like the sun under eclipse. "My Lord", said Sumantra, "Rama is here. He wishes to bid you farewell". Dasaratha rousing himself from the depths of desolation asked Sumantra to bring all his wives so as to receive Rama.Red eyed with weeping, arrived his three hundred and fifty wives with Kausalya in their midst.

When Rama entered with palms held together in reverence followed by Lakshmana and Sita, Dasaratha rushed to embrace his son but fell unconscious even before reaching him. Lakshmana lifted him tenderly and laid him on a couch. To Dasaratha still in a daze Rama said, "I seek your permission to leave for Dandakaranya. May you permit Sita and Lakshmana to accompany me." In a voice full of remorse Dasaratha said, "By granting boons to Kaikeyi I have been deceived. Defy me Rama! Usurp the throne of Ayodhya and be its ruler. But, Rama, the very essence of dharma, convinced his father otherwise "Father for many long years have you been the magnanimous and mighty lord of this earth. I will not render your promises false. At the end of the fourteen year exile I will come back to pay you my obeisance".

Grieving for Rama, bound by his code of honor, constrained by Kaikeyi's demands, Dasaratha resigned himself to what was to happen. "Go in peace my son" he said, my feeble mind cannot fight your fearless resolve. It was I who was deceived by a woman who hid her wickedness, as fire hides in the guise of ashes and it is you, who suffer the consequences of my imprudence. Rama ever protective of his father whom he revered above all said, "Father, I renounce this kingdom, its inhabitants and its wealth. Let it be Bharata's. The promise you made on the battlefield to mother Kaikeyi must be fully honored. It does not befit a mighty Ikshvaku to grieve. A father is divine and in obeying you I obey god. Let Bharata guard the rich frontiers of this land and let your vows be implicitly fulfilled and I shall enjoy the sylvan forest where I will find happiness under the green canopies."

Rama's decision was Dasaratha's final blow. With all his defenses down, he mercifully lost consciousness and his body fell in a heap. Unable to endure his master's suffering any more Sumantra too fell unconscious and witnessing it the entire universe wept. But away from it all stood Kaikeyi silent, unconcerned and uncaring.