Though it is too early to go more fully into Sri Rama now, we will see how he handles the situation with Lakshmana when the latter wants to join him in exile. His approach is not different in any manner. He speaks to Lakshmana in the same way he spoke to Janaki. We know that between the two of them - Lakshmana and Sita - Rama's love for his brother ran a little deeper. He could have lived without Janaki and in fact he spent most part of his later years without her. But he is not to be seen without Lakshmana in any scene throughout the epic. In fact, he could survive the separation from Sita, towards the end of the epic, but could not do so even for a day when he had to be separated from
Lakshmana.
Even so, we see Rama advising Lakshmana to stay back, in the same way he did with Janaki. "Full of affection (for me), devoted to virtue, resolute, constantly firm on the right path (as shown by Vedas) dear to me as life, amenable to my control and obedient, you are my boon companion too (and therefore worthy in every way of accompanying me)," he tells Lakshmana. (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Canto XXXI, Sloka 10)
'I agree Lakshmana. You are affectionate and you are a blessing to me. You have always been with me. You are worthy of being taken along with me. But.' That ominous word falls from him once again. 'You have a duty to perform here. Sita is coming with me. If you also choose to come with me, who is there to take care of our mothers Kausalya and Sumitra? Who will take care of the king?' Then Rama says something that makes his personality a little complex. "Obtaining this kingdom Kaikeyi, the daughter of King Aswapati, will certainly not accord good treatment to her afflicted co-wives. Having attained sovereignty Bharata (too) will not maintain the extremely miserable Kausalya and Sumitra devoted as he will (naturally) be to Kaikeyi (his own mother)." (Ibid, Sloka 13 and 14) The reference to Kaikeyi is understandable; but certainly not the words that he utters about Bharata, especially in the light of what he is going to say about this very same Bharata later, to an enraged Lakshmana who misunderstands his intention when he comes to the Citrakuta to take Rama back to Ayodhya, though it cannot be denied that Sri Rama emerges as an excellent observer of human nature.
That is a detailed study for later. What we are concerned with now is that Rama adopted the same strategy that he employed in respect of Sita, in the case of Lakshmana as well and not before knowing his heart - in explicit terms, through his own words - that he consented to Lakshmana accompanying him on exile.
That makes it abundantly clear that it was not against his will - left with no option - that he agreed to take Janaki with him, just because she persisted. It was his decision too. He did it with love, affection, approval and even pride at the decision of Sita to follow him. As mentioned earlier, no decision could be forced on him, even if it was Lakshmana who tried to argue against his decision.
Though it is too early to go more fully into Sri Rama now, we will see how he handles the situation with Lakshmana when the latter wants to join him in exile. His approach is not different in any manner. He speaks to Lakshmana in the same way he spoke to Janaki. We know that between the two of them - Lakshmana and Sita - Rama's love for his brother ran a little deeper. He could have lived without Janaki and in fact he spent most part of his later years without her. But he is not to be seen without Lakshmana in any scene throughout the epic. In fact, he could survive the separation from Sita, towards the end of the epic, but could not do so even for a day when he had to be separated from
Lakshmana.
'I agree Lakshmana. You are affectionate and you are a blessing to me. You have always been with me. You are worthy of being taken along with me. But.' That ominous word falls from him once again. 'You have a duty to perform here. Sita is coming with me. If you also choose to come with me, who is there to take care of our mothers Kausalya and Sumitra? Who will take care of the king?' Then Rama says something that makes his personality a little complex. "Obtaining this kingdom Kaikeyi, the daughter of King Aswapati, will certainly not accord good treatment to her afflicted co-wives. Having attained sovereignty Bharata (too) will not maintain the extremely miserable Kausalya and Sumitra devoted as he will (naturally) be to Kaikeyi (his own mother)." (Ibid, Sloka 13 and 14) The reference to Kaikeyi is understandable; but certainly not the words that he utters about Bharata, especially in the light of what he is going to say about this very same Bharata later, to an enraged Lakshmana who misunderstands his intention when he comes to the Citrakuta to take Rama back to Ayodhya, though it cannot be denied that Sri Rama emerges as an excellent observer of human nature. 
That is a detailed study for later. What we are concerned with now is that Rama adopted the same strategy that he employed in respect of Sita, in the case of Lakshmana as well and not before knowing his heart - in explicit terms, through his own words - that he consented to Lakshmana accompanying him on exile. 
