The wedding of Rama and Sita was honored by the presence of both kings, and Rama’s three brothers were made as happy as he by receiving the hands of three of Sita’s sisters, the father telling each bridegroom: 

  “A faithful wife, most blest is she,
  And as thy shade will follow thee.”

When the four bridal couples returned to Oude, Rama’s father decided to name his eldest son assistant king, and therefore gave orders to prepare for the ceremony.  The mere rumor that Rama was about to be crowned aroused the jealousy of the king’s youngest wife (Kaikeyi), who, instigated by an evil-minded, hunch-backed maid, sent for her aged spouse and reminded him how once, when he was ill, he had promised in return for her care to grant any two boons she asked.  The infatuated monarch, seeing her grief, rashly renewed this promise, swearing to keep it by Rama’s head.

  As some wild elephant who tries
  To soothe his consort as she lies
  Struck by the hunter’s venomed dart,
  So the great king, disturbed in heart,
  Strove with soft hand and fond caress
  To soothe his darling queen’s distress,
  And in his love addressed with sighs
  The lady of the lotus eyes.

Hearing him confirm his former oath, the favorite wife bade him banish his heir to the forest for fourteen years and appoint her son as viceroy in his brother’s stead.  In vain the old king pleaded; the favorite wife insisted so vehemently that when morning dawned the bewildered old rajah sent for Rama to ask his advice.  Although this prince fully expected to be crowned that day, he was far too virtuous not to perceive that a promise must be kept at any cost, so without a murmur he prepared to go to the forest of Dandaka and dwell there in hermit garb fourteen years.

  “The orders of my sire,” he cried,
  “My will shall ne’er oppose: 
  I follow still, whate’er betide,
  The path which duty shows.”

His first duty, however, was to return to his palace to inform his wife that they must part; but, on hearing what had occurred, Sita piteously begged to share his fate, although he eloquently described the hardships to which she would be exposed should she venture to accompany him.  Her wifely devotion was, however, proof against all he could urge, for she declared with tears there was no happiness for her save at his side.

  “With thee is heaven, where’er the spot;
  Each place is hell where thou are not.”

Hearing this declaration, Rama finally consented to take her with him, and, bidding farewell to father and mother, left the city, accompanied by his wife and favorite brother (Lakshman) and escorted by his mourning subjects.

His father, broken-hearted at parting with his favorite son, took to his bed, which he was never to leave again confiding to Rama’s mother that he was being sorely punished for a sin of his youth.  It seems that, while out hunting one night, hearing a gurgle by a stream, and fancying some wild beast was there drinking, he let fly a shaft, which only too surely reached its goal.  Startled by a human cry, the rajah rushed down to the river, only to discover that he had mortally wounded a youth who had come down to draw water for his blind parents.