The chariot stood waiting and it was the hour of Rama's departure. Rama, Sita and Lakshmana reverently took leave of Dasaratha, Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. Sumitra tenderly kissed Lakshmana's forehead saying "Rama is the custodian of this earth, born of Kausalya for its protection. You are born to serve that Rama. Created by the gods to roam the forests, in the service of your divine brother from now on in adversity and in prosperity, he is your refuge and takes the place of Dasaratha. Sita, that virtuous daughter of Janaka, takes my place and the forest shall be your Ayodhya. Go my son and may you fare well!" So Sumitra inspired and encourage Lakshmana on his mission.
The resplendent chariot drawn by the most magnificent horses came driven by Sumantra. Sita a picture of loveliness stepped in, followed by Rama and Lakshmana. Rama departed and Ayodhya fell into despair, dark and seemingly irrevocable as man and beast wept, bereft of their master. Troubled, were the horses and elephants that moped, neighing, trumpeting and giving rise to a great commotion. The people of Ayodhya, the old, the young and the children, milled around the speeding chariot as they beseeched Sumantra to drive slowly, so that they could feast their eyes on Rama longer. Their eyes brimmed with tears, as they wondered at Kausalya's heartbreak. The sorrowing citizens were unwilling to live in a city bereft of Rama. Rama, whose valor defied description and whose might inspired awe in the three worlds, shuddered at the despairing sight of an old king bent with sorrow. Aware that people were trying to follow him, Rama hurried Sumantra to speed away. Caught between his master and the subjects of his master, who wanted Rama to linger Sumantra felt torn .The dust raised by the fleet footed horses mingled with the tears of those thronging the streets of Ayodhya.
Rama looked back helplessly like a foal held back by the cord of dharma while Dasaratha was had held back by the inexorable hand of fate. He stood gazing after his son who rode further and further away. It wrung his heart to see the chariot merge and become one with the horizon. His life started to ebb away at a sight so final and so poignant.
SARGA- 41
The people of Ayodhya continued to accuse their king much after Rama left. They aired their wrath saying that for the destruction of the world had the foolish king driven away Rama. "Where has he gone, the protector of the world? In whom shall we now seek refuge?" The rebuke of his people and the sobbing of his consorts made Dasaratha cower under the burden of so much reprove and sorrow.
In an Ayodhya without Rama life came to a stand still. People fell into a great apathy seeking neither food nor diversion. Cows refused to let their young suckle, elephants threw out the food they held in their trunks, sacred fires no longer burned and no householder cooked any food. The planets assumed a menacing stance while the moon refused to glow and the stars hid their twinkle. The whole universe seemed troubled as all signs of joy were snuffed out. The winds ceased to blow, the sun no longer warmed than the moon cooled. Every one neglected every one else. Fathers forgot children and children paid no attention to parents while women heeded neither husbands nor family. To meditate upon Rama, they even deserted those they loved. A city deprived of its beloved lord, shuddered with fear feeling left open to every peril.
SARGA- 42
Thus came to pass the fateful day of Rama's exile, the dreadful realisation of which left Dasaratha devastated. He stood rooted to the ground as he gazed longingly, in the direction in which Rama had gone. So long as the dust raised by the chariot was visible that long did the king look, and when he could no longer see Rama he fell into a dead faint. Kausalya and Kaikeyi rushed to his side. Regaining his senses Dasaratha grew irate as he burst out, "Kaikeyi! Do not touch me! You are no longer my consort. I disown all relationship with you; protecting your own interests you have brought my authority to naught. The holy pact of matrimony I had entered into I now renounce, in this world and the next. If Bharata is pleased with the crown of Kosala, may his funeral offerings at my obsequies not reach me! I see the hoof marks of those magnificent horses that bore my son away, but I do not see my son". With that Dasaratha fell silent.He was shrouded in a sorrow which haunted him from the day Kaikeyi had shattered his most cherished desire of crowning Rama.
In a voice crippled by myriad emotions Dasaratha managed to feebly ask to be taken to the palace of Kausalya. "The only place where I will find solace," he declared. The day passed and darkness descended upon the earth. To Dasaratha who had flung himself on a couch it seemed like the night of death. Calling Kausalya he said, "My gaze that had followed Rama, far beyond the horizon refuses to return." Kausalya gently took his hand trying to comfort him who agonized so intensely for a son whom he could no longer see.