Yudhishthira said : Your worshipful self has related (to me) separately of the birth of Rama and others, O Brahmana, I am (now) desirous of hearing of the cause of their exile. Tell me, O Brahmana, why the heroic sons of Dasharatha, the brothers Rama and Lakshmana, departed to the forest, together with the renowned Maithili (Sita, daughter of the king of Mithila).
युधिष्ठिर उवाच उक्तं भगवता जन्म रामादीनां पृथक् पृथक्। प्रस्थानकारणं ब्रह्मच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम्॥ कथं दाशरथी वीरौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। सम्प्रस्थितौ वने ब्रह्मन् मैथिली च यशस्विनी॥