Consoling Kausalyā in her grief over the impending exile of Śrī Rāma, Prince Laksmana opposes the idea of Śrī Rāma’s leaving for the forest and, censuring Daśaratha, makes up his mind to accompany his eldest brother. Kausalyā too deters Śrī Rāma from going into exile, branding Kaikeyī’s command as unjust. Śrī Rāma, however, justifies the command on the ground of its being countenanced by the Emperor and requests his mother to grant him leave and perform auspicious rites connected with his departure.