Ayodhya Kanda

Dasharatha is old and wants to crown Rama as his heir. The council and the citizens agree and the rites are announced for the next day.

Manthara persuades Kaikeyi to claim two boons Dasharatha once promised her: that Bharata be crowned, and that Rama go to live in the forest for fourteen years.

Dasharatha is shattered but is bound by his word. Rama, told of the order, accepts it calmly as his father's wish and sets out. Sita insists on going with him, and Lakshmana joins them. The citizens follow the chariot, and in the night Rama slips away from them.

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana cross the Ganga with the help of Guha, the king of the Nishadas, and settle at Chitrakuta. Back in Ayodhya, Dasharatha dies grieving for his son.

Bharata, who was away at his uncle's house, returns and learns what has happened. He refuses the crown and blames his mother. He goes into the forest with an army and a crowd of citizens to bring Rama back.

Rama will not break his father's word, and Bharata cannot rule in Rama's place. They agree on a compromise: Bharata takes Rama's sandals and rules in Rama's name until the fourteen years end. Bharata returns to Ayodhya and lives outside the city, with the sandals on the throne.