When Kausalyā was distressed upon learning about Rāma’s exile, Lakṣmaṇa criticized Daśaratha and expressed His disapproval of Rāma having to go to the forest as demanded by Kaikeyī. Kausalyā said that Kaikeyī’s demands were not in line with dharma and that Rāma should not go to the forest. Rāma then explained that obedience to one’s father’s instructions in line with dharma is dhārmika with suitable examples. He then consoled Kausalyā and Lakṣmaṇa and requested her to permit Him to go to the forest.