Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.127

c9.127

5) In the company of Viśvāmitra. The four sons of Daśaratha grew up in Ayodhyā. Though they were equally friendly to one another, intimacy between Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and also between Bharata and Śatrughna came to be thicker. Once Viśvāmitra decided to conduct a yajña for the happiness and contentment of all people. At the very commencement of the yajña, Rākṣasas, in batches, tried to spoil it, and Mārica and Subāhu, sons of Tāṭakā were the leaders of the obstructions. Viśvāmitra knew that Rāma was the most effective weapon against the Rākṣasas and requested Daśaratha to lend him Rāma's help. Daśaratha felt sad about it and Viśvāmitra was getting excited over the former's attitude when Vasiṣṭha advised Daśaratha to send Rāma along with Viśvāmitra. Accordingly Daśaratha sent Rāma to the forest in the company of Viśvāmitra. Lakṣmaṇa too followed his brother.