When Bharata and Śatrughna departed for Their maternal uncle’s kingdom, Daśaratha noticed the abundance of auspicious qualities in Rāma and desired to appoint Rāma as his heir apparent. He had kings from various lands brought to finalize his decision. Daśaratha entered his assembly hall with those kings.

Daśaratha submitted to the assembly that because he was getting old and could succumb to death soon, he wanted to hand over the responsibility of ruling the kingdom to Rāma and retire. The members of the assembly accepted his proposal. Then, to understand their intentions, Daśaratha asked them why Rāma should be installed as the heir apparent now. Then, they delineated Śrī Rāma’s auspicious characteristics and entreated him to coronate Śrī Rāma as his heir apparent.

Daśaratha requested Vasiṣṭha to arrange for the ingredients to conduct the ceremony to anoint Rāma as his heir apparent, and Vasiṣṭha instructed Sumantra and others to do the needful in this regard. Then Daśaratha ordered Sumantra to bring Rāma. He then informed Rāma that he has decided to coronate Him as the crown prince and gave Him some good instructions. Rāma’s well-wishers informed Kausalyā of the pleasing news. After Rāma heard His father’s instructions, He offered His respectful obeisances unto Daśaratha and went to His home.

Because of his bad dreams at night, Daśaratha became worried about obstacles to the coronation of Rāmacandra as his heir apparent. He again called for Rāma and informed Him that the time for the coronation would be even before Bharata arrives at Ayodhyā. He instructed Rāma to fast with Sītā-devī that night and carry out the required vows. With Daśaratha’s permission, Rāma entered Kausalyā’s inner quarters and accepted her blessings and returned to His home with Sītā who had arrived at Kausalyā’s quarters before Him.

On Daśaratha’s request, Vasiṣṭha went to Rāma’s house, recited the appropriate saṅkalpa-mantras to inaugurate the performance of vows required for the coronation and requested Śrī Rāma to observe them carefully, and returned. Then, permitted by Vasiṣṭha, King Daśaratha honored him and entered his inner quarters.

As requested by Vasiṣṭha, Śrī Rāma took bath and so on, and as per scriptural regulations, along with Sītā, engaged in the worship of Śrī Nārāyaṇa and then went to sleep on kuśa grass. When the night ended, He woke up and engaged in His early morning worship and so on. The brāhmaṇas then engaged in the ritual of puṇyāha-vācana. The residents of Ayodhyā decorated the city and praised Daśaratha. The city was completely filled with many people from the countryside who had arrived to see the coronation ceremony of Rāmacandra.

In the late afternoon of the previous day, Mantharā, Kaikeyī’s hunchbacked maid was strolling on the roof of her palace. She noticed the great festivity taking place in Ayodhyā and Kausalyā’s happy charity of wealth to brāhmaṇas. Wanting to know what this was all about, she asked Rāma’s foster mother (dhātrī) who informed her that it was because of Rāma’s coronation. Mantharā immediately rushed to Kaikeyī, criticized Daśaratha, informed her of Rāma’s coronation and instructed her to stop it. Kaikeyī told her that Rāma’s coronation was to her liking and gifted her an ornament.

When Mantharā asserted that coronating Rāma will bring about a calamity for Bharata, Kaikeyī praised Rāma’s qualities and pointed out that she was desirous that He be coronated. Mantharā then replied at length, arguing that coronating Rāma will result in a disaster and therefore Kaikeyī should prevent the coronation from taking place.

When Kaikeyī’s mind became perverted by Mantharā’s evil counsel, Kaikeyī declared that she would have Rāma exiled and Bharata coronated, and asked Mantharā what can be done to accomplish these. Mantharā reminded her of an incident that took place during a war between the devas and asuras, and that Daśaratha had then granted her two boons. She requested Kaikeyī to ask for Rāma’s exile and Bharata’s coronation as those two boons. Kaikeyī then praised Mantharā, removed her ornaments and lay on the ground in the apartment of anger.

After engaging Sumantra and others in preparing the ingredients required for coronating Rāma, Daśaratha reached Kaikeyī’s house to tell her the pleasant news of His coronation. Distressed because of not seeing her there, he asked about her whereabouts to the doorwoman. She informed him that Kaikeyī was lying on the house of anger. Then he caressed Kaikeyī there and spoke pleasing words to console her.

When Daśaratha promised to do as Kaikeyī wanted, she asked him to reaffirm his promise. After he did so, she made the devas and other celestials a witness to this event and reminded Daśaratha that during the war of the devas and asuras, he had given her two boons, and asked for those two boons now. She asked for the two boons as (1) Rāma should be exiled and (2) Bharata should be coronated as the crown prince.

Daśaratha glorified Rāma’s auspicious qualities and established that He lacked any defect that would be a just cause to be exiled to the forest. He then humbly beseeched her to abandon her request for those two boons. Kaikeyī presented the examples of Śaibya and others and reaffirmed that he should grant her those two boons. Then Daśaratha criticized her with harsh words and again tried to placate her by falling at her feet.

When Kaikeyī again expressed her obstinacy about her two boons, Daśaratha pitiously lamented about himself and criticized Kaikeyī in many ways. From sunset till sunrise, he lamented sorrowfully and humbly begged Kaikeyī to give the kingdom to Rāma. Kaikeyī forcefully rejected Daśaratha’s prayers, and Daśaratha fainted and fell on the floor. When the vaitālika bards woke him up early in the morning with their auspicious music, he restrained them from their efforts.

In the early morning, Kaikeyī praised the glories of adherence to one’s promises and gave some examples of such adherence to Daśaratha. She also declared that she would kill herself if he did not do as she wanted, and directed him to banish Rāma immediately. Then Daśaratha criticized her while indicating that he had granted her the two boons, and expressed his desire to see Rāma.

In the meanwhile, Vasiṣṭha bathed, performed his other early morning duties and then arrived at Kaikeyī’s inner quarters to see Daśaratha. Sumantra had already arrived at the inner quarters and on the order of Vasiṣṭha, came into Daśaratha’s presence, praised him and requested him to coronate Rāma. The king’s sorrow increased by Sumantra’s praise. Upon hearing the king’s piteous words, Sumantra stepped back in shock. Then, on Kaikeyī’s order, he left the inner quarters to fetch Rāma.

Sumantra had departed from the inner quarters to bring Rāma. But when he saw kings, brāhmaṇas and others waiting for King Daśaratha’s arrival by the gate with items ready for the coronation, he re-entered the inner quarters, praised Daśaratha and informed him of the same. Again, Daśaratha instructed him to bring Rāma and so Sumantra then went to Rāma’s residence to bring Him.

Sumantra approached Rāma and informed Him that Daśaratha ordered him to bring Him. Śrī Rāma then climbed on His golden chariot. Lakṣmaṇa fanned Him with a cāmara fan. Rāma was surrounded by an elephant, horses and so on. After hearing the glorification of the men and women of the city, He departed through the grand road to see Daśaratha.

Standing on His chariot, Rāma observed the pleasant nature of the city and heard His well-wishers bless and glorify Him. He captivated the minds and eyes of the onlookers. After reaching Daśaratha’s residence, He set aside His associates and approached Daśaratha.

Śrī Rāma offered His obeisances unto the feet of Daśaratha and Kaikeyī. Upon hearing Daśaratha’s piteous words and so on, He inferred Daśaratha’s distress and inquired about it from Kaikeyī. Kaikeyī had Rāma promise that He would do what His father wanted and then informed Him that Daśaratha had granted her two boons that He be banished and that Bharata be coronated as the crown prince. She also told Rāma that Daśaratha was in distress about their impending separation.

Rāma requested Kaikeyī to grant Him time to console Sītā and Kausalyā and promised to depart on that day. Then He went to Kausalyā’s home with Lakṣmaṇa whose eyes were filled with tears.

When Rāma departed from Kaikeyī’s residence, the ladies of the inner quarters described Rāma’s auspicious qualities and piteously lamented. When Rāma bowed down to Kausalyā’s feet, she embraced Him and affectionately blessed Him. Rāma then informed her that He was departing to the forest. Upon hearing that, Kausalyā became so distressed that she fell to the floor. Then she expressed her sorrow in many ways to Rāma and lamented piteously for a long time.

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.

Śrī Rāma describes providence as the factual cause of His banishment to Lakṣmaṇa who is angry at Kaikeyī. Thus He denies her of being the factual reason for His banishment and pacifies Lakṣmaṇa.

Upon hearing Śrī Rāma’s words, Lakṣmaṇa became extremely angry. He asserted that Their father’s instruction was adhārmika and hence to be rejected. He then established that between providence and manly endeavor, manly endeavor is more powerful. He then told Lord Rāma that using His manly prowess, He can restrain those who obstruct Rāma’s coronation and successfully enthrone Rāmacandra as the crown prince. Śrī Rāma then pacified Lakṣmaṇa and informed Him that Their father’s instruction should be carried out.

Rāma was unshaken in His firm determination to carry out His father’s instructions. Kausalyā told Him that she would not be able to tolerate being separated from Him and so told Him that she would follow Him to the forest. Rāma then praised the service rendered by a wife to her husband and informed her that it is the mandatory duty of women to serve their husbands. She then very sorrowfully accepted Rāma’s departure to the forest.

Kausalyā elaborately invoked auspiciousness for Rāma. Rāma then offered His obeisances unto her lotus feet and departed to His home to meet Sītā-devī.

Not knowing that Śrī Rāmacandra’s coronation had been cancelled, Sītā-devī had worshipped various deities and waited for His return. Rāma entered His home in a mood of embarrassment. Noticing His discolored face, she asked Him in distress why He did not appear happy. Rāma explained the reason and instructed her to serve Daśaratha and other elders and be obedient to the commands of Bharata as long as He is exiled to the forest.

When Śrī Rāma instructed Śrī Sītā to reside in Ayodhyā, she became angry with Him out of love and told Him that His instructions to her will become a matter of public ridicule. She stated that Daśaratha’s instruction to exile Rāma to the forest automatically included the instruction to exile her along with Him to the forest. She said that she could not bear the pain of living without Him and requested Him to take her with Him to the forest.

Śrī Rāma tells her that it is very difficult for her to reside in the forest with Him and so refused to accept her request to go with Him to the forest.

With some tears in her eyes, Sītā stated that the disadvantages of living in the forest as stated by Rāma were actually to her advantage. She also said that when she was in her father’s house, she had heard from some brāhmaṇas who knew the Sāmudrika-śāstras and from a female mendicant that she would live in the forest in the future. So she told Rāma that she was very eager to live in the forest with Him. Though Sītā-devī, unable to tolerate His separation, thus requested Him in many ways to allow her to reside in the forest with Him, Śrī Rāma still did not agree with her and consoled her.

Despite Rāma’s words of consolation, out of loving anger, Sītā criticized Him as being incapable of protecting Himself in the forest. She then told Him firmly that she would have no difficulty in living in the forest and informed Him that if He were to leave her in Ayodhyā to go to the forest, she would give up her life by drinking poison and so on, and cried in sorrow. Śrī Rāma then agreed that she could follow Him to the forest and requested her to distribute her jewels, ornaments and other valuables to the brāhmaṇas and others.

Lakṣmaṇa also beseeched Rāma to take Him to the forest. Rāmacandra instructed Him to take care of Kausalyā and others and forbade Him from following Him to the forest. Lakṣmaṇa asserted that Kausalyā and Sumitrā can easily take care of themselves and informed Rāma that He would like to menially serve Sītā and Rāma. Rāma then became happy with Lakṣmaṇa’s words and agreed to take Him with Him to the forest and then instructed Him to bring along weapons. And then, with the desire to distribute His wealth, He instructed that Suyajña be brought.

After Lord Rāma distributed His wealth to the brāhmaṇas, He departed to Daśaratha’s residence with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa to see him. Seeing them on route to Daśaratha’s palace, the people became agitated in their minds in sorrow. Despite their talks, Rāma’s mind was unchanged. Having entered Daśaratha’s residence, He requested Sumantra who was there to inform His father that He had arrived.

Sumantra informed Daśaratha about the arrival of Śrī Rāma. Daśaratha called for his wives and requested that Rāma be brought in. As soon as he saw Rāma, Daśaratha fainted and fell on the ground while the ladies there lamented. When Rāmacandra requested Daśaratha to permit Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa to accompany Him, Daśaratha requested Rāma to attack Him and occupy the throne. Rāma informed His father that He had no desire for the kingdom and so on and consoled him that He would carry out his order. When Daśaratha again fainted in distress about his son, all of his wives except Kaikeyī lamented while Sumantra also fainted.

Sumantra regained consciousness and became furious. He tried to agitate Kaikeyī’s mind by describing the evil acts of her mother and criticized her severely. He repeatedly requested her to reconsider her decisions, but she was not even slightly disturbed.

Daśaratha requested Sumantra to send an army, wealth, grains and so on with Rāma. Then Kaikeyī gave the example of Asamañja to exile Rāma, though the eldest son of the king, without any wealth. The king’s chief secretary named Siddhārtha pointed out that Asamañja engaged in sinful activities whereas Rāma didn’t, and beseeched Kaikeyī to not obstruct Rāma’s coronation. When Kaikeyī didn’t consider Siddhārtha’s request, the king stated that he will follow Rāma into the forest.

Lord Rāma emphatically declared that He was not interested in whatever King Daśaratha wanted to send with Him. He then requested the servants to bring him clothes of bark. When Kaikeyī handed Him those clothes, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa discarded Their royal attire and put on those clothes. When Sītā found it difficult to wear such clothes, Rāma helped her. Vasiṣṭha stated that Sītā did not have to wear clothes of bark, but Sītā-devī wanted to accept the same dhārmika vows that her husband had accepted and so discarded his request.

When Sītā-devī wore her ascetic garment, everyone cried out in lamentation. His distress intensified by their cries, the king then criticized Kaikeyī. Rāma then prepared to depart and respectfully requested Daśaratha to protect Kausalyā.

On Daśaratha’s order, Sumantra brought a chariot for Rāma to depart to the forest. Sītā decorated herself with ornaments brought by the royal treasurer on the order of the king. Queen Kausalyā described the characteristics of a truthful and chaste lady and instructed her to stick to the principles of chastity despite Rāma losing His kingdom and honor. Sītā-devī replied that she was well aware of the principles of being sworn to the service of a husband and assured Queen Kausalyā that she would stick to her principles. After Rāma consoled His mother Kausalyā, He begged forgiveness for any offense committed to any of His other mothers. Upon hearing those words, all of them loudly lamented in distress.

Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā offered obeisances unto Daśaratha and circumambulated him. Rāma and Sītā offered obeisances unto Kausalyā’s lotus feet. After Lakṣmaṇa offered His obeisances unto Kausalyā, He offered His obeisances unto the lotus feet of Sumitrā. Sumitrā gave some good advice to Lakṣmaṇa. When Sītā, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa got on the chariot, Sumantra had the horses start moving. All the residents of the city ran after Rāma’s chariot with difficulty. Because the chariot drove faster they became hopeless and stopped following it. Daśaratha with Kausalyā and others ran following Rāma. When he could not catch up with the chariot, his assistants restrained him with proper advice and the king stood in the middle of the road.

The author now elaborates on the terrible condition of Ayodhyā and its residents upon Rāma’s departure to the forest.

Daśaratha had followed the path taken by Rāma’s chariot. When he no longer saw the dust raised by that chariot, he fell on the ground in distress. When Kaikeyī and Kausalyā approached him to help him, he criticized Kaikeyī and forbade her from touching him. Kausalyā brought the king up and returned with him. On the king’s order, he was brought to Kausalyā’s residence. When the king lamented about Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā while lying down, Kausalyā sat next to him and lamented in distress.

Kausalyā laments for Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā in the presence of Daśaratha in the middle of the night.

Kausalyā became relieved of her distress when Sumitrā consoled her by establishing the glories of Śrī Rāma.

Some of the residents of the city followed Śrī Rāma. Despite His request to them to return, they continued to follow Him because they were unable to tolerate being without Him. Then Rāma got down from His chariot with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa and walked toward the forest. The brāhmaṇas and other residents of Ayodhyā requested Him in various ways to return to the city. Despite this, Rāma set out to the forest to fulfill His father’s command. He reached the bank of Tamasā by the evening.

Rāma spoke to Lakṣmaṇa about the condition of the residents of Ayodhyā who had followed them and lamented about His mother and father. He slept on a bed of tender leaves made by Lakṣmaṇa and Sumantra, and woke up at sunrise. To deceive the residents of Ayodhyā who had followed Him and who had fallen asleep, He instructed Sumantra to drive the chariot towards Ayodhyā and return. When Sumantra did as instructed, Lord Rāma got on the chariot with Sītā-devī and Lakṣmaṇa and departed for the forest.

The citizens who woke up criticized themselves upon not seeing Rāmacandra and lamented. Then they followed the path of the chariot. When they could not discern where it went, they went back to Ayodhyā in distress.

The men who had returned because of not knowing Rāma’s current whereabouts informed the ladies in the city about Rāma’s activities. Those ladies described Rāma’s auspicious qualities, criticized Kaikeyī and lamented in various ways.

At the end of the previous night, Rāma traveled a long distance and performed His sandhyā-vandana. At every path, He heard the villagers talk about Him. He crossed over rivers such as the Gomatī and continued on while speaking pleasantly with Sumantra.

Rāma then turned towards Ayodhyā and offered His respects to the city. He then consoled the onlookers who approached Him and went beyond the kingdom of Kosala. Then He saw Gaṅgā which is described by the sage in detail. With the permission of Lakṣmaṇa and Sumantra, Rāma got down from the chariot under a country almond tree near Gaṅgā and met Guha, a king of the niṣādas, who had heard that Rāma had arrived there. After performing their sandhyā-vandana, Rāma drank water alone and slept on the ground. Then Guha, Sumantra and Lakṣmaṇa stayed awake while talking to each other.

Guha submitted to Lakṣmaṇa that he was prepared to fully protect Lord Rāmacandra and that Lakṣmaṇa could take rest. Lakṣmaṇa appreciated Guha’s desire and stated that He had no desire for His personal comfort upon seeing the state of Śrī Rāma that He didn’t deserve. He passed that night in distress with Guha while lamenting about His parents and the possibility of their experiencing great calamities.

When Guha brought a boat to cross over the Gaṅgā, Rāma, Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa prepared to climb on the boat. Guha asked Rāmacandra what he should then do. Śrī Rāma requested Sumantra to abide by the commands of the king in Ayodhyā. Sumantra requested Lord Rāma in many ways to allow him to reside in the forest. Rāma requested Sumantra to tell King Daśaratha and others that Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā-devī were happy and that Sumantra should go to Ayodhyā. Then Rāma used the milk of a fig tree to tie up His hair into a knot like an ascetic. Then the three of them got on the boat. When the boat was in the middle of Gaṅgā, Sītā-devī offered prayers to Gaṅgā. They then got down from the boat on the southern bank of Gaṅgā and went under a tree in the evening.

Sitting under a tree, Śrī Rāmacandra critically noted Daśaratha’s weakness and the impending disturbances Kaikeyī could give to Kausalyā and Sumitrā, and so requested Śrī Lakṣmaṇa to return to Ayodhyā. Lakṣmaṇa firmly stated that neither He nor Sītā could live without Rāma. Then Rāma accepted Lakṣmaṇa as His constant companion during His stay in the forest for fourteen years.

In the early morning Rāma departed with Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā-devī and in the evening they reached the āśrama of Bharadvāja near the confluence of Gaṅgā and Yamunā. Bharadvāja worshipped Rāmacandra and described the good features of Citrakūṭa. He advised Him that it was a place fit for Him to reside. They spoke about varied subjects and stayed there overnight. Early in the morning, Bharadvāja permitted Rāma to depart to Citrakūṭa.

Early the next morning, Bharadvāja instructed Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa about the path to Citrakūṭa from his āśrama when They were ready to go. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa made a raft with wood and grass and crossed Yamunā with Sītā. Then, while walking, on the order of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa fetched fruits and flowers as desired by Sītā. In the evening, they reached a place to reside in on the bank of Yamunā.

Early the next morning, Rāmacandra departed with Sītā-devī and Lakṣmaṇa. On the way, He pointed out that the forest was pleasant in its features. After reaching Citrakūṭa, they went to the āśrama of Vālmīki. With the permission of Vālmīki, Rāma had Lakṣmaṇa construct a leaf cottage. After worshipping the presiding deity of the cottage, He entered the cottage with Sītā-devī and Lakṣmaṇa at an auspicious time.

Guha’s spies informed Sumantra that Rāma had reached Citrakūṭa and so on. Sumantra then took permission from Guha and departed for Ayodhyā. When he reached Ayodhyā, the citizens ran towards him and asked about Rāmacandra. Sumantra answered them, came to Daśaratha’s inner quarters and then informed Daśaratha about Rāma. Upon hearing his words, Daśaratha and Kausalyā fell down in a swoon and everyone around them lamented in sorrow.

Daśaratha lamented about the distresses unnecessarily undergone by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā-devī. He then requested Sumantra to report to him on what they had spoken about him. Sumantra then told him what Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa had said and about Sītā’s condition.

On Daśaratha’s request, Sumantra again described how Rāma went to the forest. He also described the condition of the moving and nonmoving creatures on the path that he took to return to Ayodhyā. He then described the condition of the residents of Ayodhyā. Upon hearing all this, Daśaratha lamented in many ways because of his anxiety due to Rāma.

Kausalyā trembled in lamentation about Śrī Rāmacandra. To pacify her, Sumantra rationally explained to her that Rāma was free from distress. He also described Sītā-devī’s happy situation and that she was also free from distress. Nevertheless, Kausalyā-devī continued to cry and lament about Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā.

Kausalyā was the most excellent of all chaste women. Nevertheless, she was unable to tolerate the distresses of her son. Thinking about the terrible situation faced by Sītā, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, she lamented about them and condemned Daśaratha.

Daśaratha lamented upon hearing Kausalyā’s harsh words and while remembering his former sinful act of killing the son of a sage that was destined to cause him to die in separation from his own son. He then joined his palms in supplication and appeased Kausalyā. Saddened by her husband’s appeasal, Kausalyā offered her respects to him and pacified him. The king then fell asleep.

Daśaratha woke up in the middle of the night. He remembered his former sinful act that now propelled him to his death in separation from his son, and he began to recount this to Kausalyā. When Daśaratha was a crown prince, he had once gone on hunting. At the end of the night, a son of a sage had dipped his vessel in the river to fetch water. Daśaratha mistook the sound of the water with the sound of an elephant and with the conceit of being a śabda-vedhī archer, released an arrow towards the source of that sound. Struck by the arrow, the ṛṣi’s son lamented in distress about his elderly mother and father. Upon hearing the lamentation of a human, Daśaratha became dejected and came before him. The sage’s son told him about himself and requested him to inform his parents about his condition. He then requested Daśaratha to remove the arrow from his body. When Daśaratha complied with his request, he left his body.

Daśaratha reached the sage and his ascetic wife and informed them that he had unintentionally killed their son. Upon their request, he brought them to their son. They felt the body of their son and cried piteously for a long time and then offered water for his benefit. After assuming a celestial body, their son consoled his father before departing to Svarga. The sagely elder couple then cursed Daśaratha that he would die while in distress about his son. Then they gave up their bodies and attained Svarga. Daśaratha thus informed Kausalyā about this curse. He then remembered Śrī Rāma and gave up his life.

Early in the morning the professional reciters and others tried to wake up the king with the loud sound of musical instruments. When he did not wake up, the ladies nearby detected that he had given up his body and loudly cried in lamentation. Hearing this, Kausalyā and Sumitrā woke up and loudly lamented in great distress with the other wives of the king.

Kausalyā placed her husband’s head on her lap and criticized Kaikeyī and lamented about Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā. The ministers had Kausalyā depart from the scene and placed the king’s body in a tub of oil. Then in the evening they departed to their homes in distress.

On the next day, early in the morning Mārkaṇḍeya and other sages came to the royal assembly. They informed Vasiṣṭha about the dangers of the country in the absence of a functioning dhārmika king, and requested that he coronate any one of the king’s sons to rule over the kingdom.

With the permission of Mārkaṇḍeya and others, Vasiṣṭha sent messengers to bring Bharata and Śatrughna. The messengers travelled to Kekaya and arrived at Rājagṛha.

Bharata had bad dreams at night and was distressed. His well-wishers tried to please Him in various ways. Despite this Bharata remained unhappy. When those beloved well-wishers asked Him why He was unhappy, He described His bad dreams and told them that this was why His mind was distressed.

The messengers arrived while Bharata was describing His dreams to His well-wishers. They offered Him their obeisances and informed Him of Vasiṣṭha’s request. Bharata inquired about their welfare and then took permission from His maternal grandfather and uncle to leave for Ayodhyā. He then departed from the city of Kekaya.

Bharata departed from the city of Kekaya and crossed various rivers, villages and towns. Early in the morning of the eighth day, He reached Ayodhyā. Bharata then described the lack of Ayodhyā’s beauty to the charioteer and unhappily entered the home of Daśaratha.

Bharata entered His father’s home. Not finding His father there, He went to Kaikeyī’s residence. He offered her His respects and while she asked about the welfare of His maternal grandfather and so on, He inquired about Daśaratha. Kaikeyī informed Bharata that the king had departed for the heavens because of Rāma’s exile which happened because of her seeking the fulfilment of the boons Daśaratha had granted her earlier. She consoled Bharata and requested Him to perform His father’s final rites and be coronated as the king succeeding Daśaratha.

Bharata criticized Kaikeyī in many ways. He then declared that He would bring Rāma from the forest to Ayodhyā, coronate Him as the king and become His menial servant.

Remembering Kaikeyī’s evil acts, Bharata’s anger increased and He criticized her again and again. He illustrated Kausalyā’s inability to tolerate being without her son by citing the history of a kāmadhenu cow. He then said that He would bring Rāma back from the forest, have Him coronated as the king and go to the forest to fulfill His father’s promise instead of Rāma. He then fell on the floor in perplexity due to excessive distress.

Bharata informed the ministers that He did not know about Rāma’s exile and so on. Then Queen Kausalyā and Bharata met. She spoke to Him harshly, considering Him to be filled with evil intentions. Bharata explained to her in various ways that He did not at all approve of Rāmacandra’s exile. Kausalyā-devī then understood that Bharata was speaking honestly. She embraced Him and then cried. Bharata then spent the entire night lamenting in distress.

On the request of Vasiṣṭha, Bharata had Daśaratha’s body taken out of the oil tub, placed on a palanquin in royal opulence and taken to the grove of the departed. He then performed the final rites according to the regulations of the scriptures. He, Queen Kausalyā and others then went to Sarayū and offered Daśaratha water and then entered Ayodhyā.

On the twelfth day, Bharata and Śatrughna carried out all aspects of the Śrāddha ceremony and distributed wealth, jewels and such items to brāhmaṇas as part of that ceremony. On the thirteenth day, Bharata went to the site of the funeral pyre to execute the ceremony of collecting the bones of the king. Bharata lamented and fell on the ground in a state of perplexity. Śatrughna also fell on the ground and lamented in various ways. Then Vasiṣṭha and Sumantra consoled both of them and relatives of the two brothers requested Them to quickly conduct the remaining portion of the ceremony.

When Bharata began to consider how He could approach Rāma, Śatrughna told Him that it was inappropriate for Lakṣmaṇa to not have forcibly restrained Their father to prevent Rāma’s exile. The gatekeepers then seized the hunchback Mantharā who had just arrived by the eastern gate, brought her to Śatrughna and informed Him that she was the cause of all these calamities. Śatrughna then seized her hair amidst her companions, and while reviling Kaikeyī, threw Mantharā on the ground and forcibly dragged her here and there. Kaikeyī then begged Bharata to release her. When Bharata explained to Śatrughna why He should release the hunchback, Śatrughna released her.

On the fourteenth day, the ministers humbly requested Bharata to accept the kingdom but Bharata refused to do so. Bharata requested that artisans of various types be employed to create a royal road for Him to go to the forest with a fourfold army to bring Rāma to Ayodhyā so that He could be coronated.

On the instruction of Bharata and the ministers, artisans constructed a comfortable pathway to the bank of Gaṅgā. The pathway was very nicely decorated with camps and so on.

At the end of the night, the sūtas, māgadhas and others began to praise Bharata with musical accompaniment. Bharata immediately stopped it and spoke words of lamentation to Śatrughna. Vasiṣṭha entered the royal court and sent messengers to bring Bharata and others. Accompanied by His ministers and Śatrughna, Bharata entered the assembly hall where Vasiṣṭha and others were seated.

In the presence of all the subjects in the assembly, Vasiṣṭha requested Bharata to accept the kingdom since it had been given to Him by His father and brother. Bharata criticized Vasiṣṭha and told him that He will endeavor with all His might to go to the forest, meet Rāma and bring Him back. On Bharata’s request, Sumantra prepared the residents of the city, the army and so on to go to meet Rāma, and brought a chariot for Bharata.

On the next day, Bharata departed from the city early in the morning with His ministers, citizens, priests, artisans, army and so on. After traversing a long distance, they reached the bank of Gaṅgā in Śṛṅgiberapura that was ruled by Guha. He had them camp there so that He could offer water unto His departed father and so that they could rest.

Guha saw the army and suspected Bharata’s motives. He instructed the fishermen to secure the boats to prevent Bharata and His followers from crossing Gaṅgā. Taking gifts with him, he then went to meet Bharata to understand His attitude. He requested Bharata to relieve Himself and His people by accepting the fruits, roots and so on that he had brought, spend the night and proceed with His journey the next day.

Bharata appreciated Guha’s gesture and asked for the route to Bharadvāja’s āśrama. Guha told Bharata that he and his men would personally accompany them. He then asked Bharata about His intention in going to meet Rāma. Bharata revealed His intentions and lamented. They spoke till sunset.

Guha informs Bharata of his conversation with Sumitrā’s son while Rāma had gone to sleep on the bank of Gaṅgā. He also informed Bharata that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa knotted Their hair on the next day, early in the morning, before crossing Gaṅgā to reach Bharadvāja’s āśrama.

Upon hearing that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa had matted their hair, Bharata fainted in sorrow and fell on the ground. Kausalyā considered that Bharata’s calamity would make it difficult to get Rāma back. Bharata then consoled Kausalyā and requested Guha to speak about Rāma’s eating, sleeping and other activities. Guha informed Him that Rāma and His wife slept on a bed made of kuśa grass and so on, and that Lakṣmaṇa had stayed awake to protect them.

Bharata showed Kausalyā-devī and others the bed of grass that Rāmacandra had slept on. He remembered Rāma’s glories and lamented about Rāma’s current situation. Bharata criticized Himself and praised Lakṣmaṇa. He then declared that He would tie His own hair into a mat and go to live in the forest as a representative of Rāma. If Rāma refused to return to Ayodhyā now despite all of Bharata’s endeavors, Bharata declared, He would live in the forest with Rāma.

Early next morning, Guha met Bharata and then instructed the fishermen to bring boats to help Bharata and others cross the river. The fishermen then had Bharata and others cross the river through boats and so on. Bharata had the army camp in a forest in Prayāga. Desiring to see Bharadvāja, He departed for his āśrama in the company of Vasiṣṭha and others.

Bharata had His army settle on a land one krośa away from Bharadvāja’s āśrama and went with Vasiṣṭha on foot to meet him. After Vasiṣṭha and Bharadvāja honored each other, Bharata offered His respectful obeisances unto Bharadvāja’s feet. Bharadvāja inquired about Bharata’s welfare and then inquired from Bharata about His attitude towards Rāma. Bharata became sad to hear this. He informed the sage that He had actually come to get Rāmacandra back to Ayodhyā and asked him where Rāma resided. The great sage was pleased to hear this and informed Bharata that Rāma resided at Citrakūṭa. He also instructed Him to stay at His āśrama overnight and depart for Citrakūṭa the next day, early in morning, to meet Rāma.

By the great power of his austerities, Bharadvāja extended astonishing hospitality to Bharata, His army and family.

Early the next morning, Bharata approached Bharadvāja. Joining His palms in supplication, He asked the great sage about the route to Citrakūṭa. When Queens Kausalyā, Sumitrā and Kaikeyī offered their respectful obeisances unto the sage, he asked Bharata to identify each of them and Bharata did so. After taking permission from the sage, Bharata departed for Citrakūṭa with His family members and army.

When Bharata reached Citrakūṭa with His army and so on, He recognized it as matching with Bharadvāja Ṛṣi’s description of it. He then dispatched some soldiers to find out where Rāma resided. Not far from there, the soldiers searching for Rāma’s residence noticed smoke billowing up into the sky and they reported it to Bharata. Bharata thought that the smoke might be coming from Rāma’s āśrama. He then instructed the army to stay where it was and decided to go with Vasiṣṭha and Sumantra to that place.

Rāma showed Sītā-devī the astonishing beauty of Citrakūṭa and described them to her.

Rāma showed the special features of Mandākinī to Sītā-devī and described them to her.

When Rāma was at leisure with Sītā-devī on a plateau of Citrakūṭa, He heard the uproar of Bharata’s army and noticed the dust caused by the army. He then requested Lakṣmaṇa to find out the cause of this sound and dust. Lakṣmaṇa then climbed a tree and saw a flag depicting the kovidāra tree on a chariot not far from Their āśrama. He concluded that Bharata had arrived with an army. Apprehending danger from Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa told Rāma that He would kill Bharata.

Rāma emphatically told Lakṣmaṇa that slaying Bharata was wrong. He then glorified Bharata for His pure attitude and pacified Lakṣmaṇa who then became embarrassed. Lakṣmaṇa hid His embarrassment by changing the topic. He then got down from the tree and stood by Rāma to serve Him. In the meanwhile, Bharata had stationed His army near Citrakūṭa to prevent any damage to Rāma’s āśrama.

Bharata engaged Guha and Śatrughna in searching for Rāma’s āśrama with their associates. He said that He would also search with His ministers and other associates. He proclaimed His eagerness to meet Rāma. He glorified Sītā-devī and Lakṣmaṇa for being in Rāma’s presence and entered the forest with some soldiers on foot. He reached a Sāla tree near Rāma’s āśrama and saw smoke coming out from a nearby place. Bharata concluded that this was Rāma’s āśrama and entered it in delight.

Bharata had Vasiṣṭha bring Kausalyā and His other mothers. He then showed Śatrughna the signs of Rāma’s residence while approaching Rāma’s leaf-cottage. When Bharata saw Rāma with Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā-devī, He endeavored to go forward to fall at Rāma’s feet, but upon seeing Rāma’s attire as an ascetic Bharata became overwhelmed in distress and fell on the ground before touching Rāma’s lotus feet. With tears in His eyes, Rāma embraced Bharata and Śatrughna who respectfully fell at the Lord’s feet. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa then met Guha and Sumantra.

Rāma embraced Bharata and asked Him about the welfare of Their father and so on. By asking certain rhetorical questions, He then taught Bharata the duties of a king (rāja-dharma).

Bharata reminded Rāma about the conduct of Their dynasty and begged Him to become the king. He also informed Rāma that Their father had departed to the heavens while lamenting for Him.

Rāma swooned in distress upon hearing that His father had departed to the heavens. Bharata and others then sprinkled water on Him and brought Him to consciousness. When Rāma lamented about the death of His father, Bharata and others consoled Him who consoled Sītā-devī. Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Rāma then reached the river Mandākinī and offered ritual water and śrāddha oblations to Daśaratha. When they returned to their leaf cottage and lamented about Daśaratha, the loud sound of their cries were heard by Bharata’s army. The army then quickly ran towards Rāma’s āśrama to see the four brothers and Rāma received them with due respect.

Vasiṣṭha, Kausalyā-devī and the other mothers of Lord Rāmacandra departed for His āśrama. On the way, Kausalyā showed her co-wives the iṅgudī oilcakes placed by Rāma on darbha grasses whose tips pointed to the south on the bank of Mandākinī for Daśaratha and then pitiously lamented for the king. Kausalyā-devī and others then saw Rāma at the āśrama. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa then offered Their respectful obeisances unto the feet of Their mothers. Kausalyā embraced Sītā-devī who offered her respectful obeisances unto her feet and lamented about her situation. Rāma offered His respectful obeisances unto Vasiṣṭha’s feet and sat down with him. Bharata then sat below and near Rāma with His ministers.

Rāma asked Bharata who wore the garments of an ascetic why He gave up His kingdom and came to the forest. Bharata explained that Rāma should come back to Ayodhyā and accept the kingdom. He also criticized His mother Kaikeyī-devī for her plans. Rāma established that He and Bharata should carry out Their father’s instruction specific to each of Them. Therefore while Rāma wanted to do His part by residing in the forest for fourteen years, Bharata should do His part by ruling the kingdom.

Bharata told Rāma that though Their father had given the kingdom to Him, He was now giving the kingdom to Rāma and that Rāma should therefore accept it. However, Rāma instructed the distressed Bharata about the spiritual teachings of the scriptures and comforted Bharata. Rāma then instructed Bharata to maintain the kingdom.

Bharata reasonably explained in many ways why Rāma should accept the kingdom and begged Him to do so. He then told Rāma that if Rāma does not go back to Ayodhyā, He would also not go back to Ayodhyā. Rāma did not accept Bharata’s request since He had promised His father that He would carry out his promise to Kaikeyī-devī. Then the residents of the city, Kausalyā-devī and others requested Him to come back to Ayodhyā.

Bharata thought that King Daśaratha had given his kingdom to Kaikeyī-devī simply because he was lustfully bewildered by her. Rāma pointed out that there were two reasons for the king’s bestowing the kingdom to her: it was the price with which he had married her and he was obliged to grant her the boons she sought. Therefore, Lord Rāma asserted, Queen Kaikeyī was not at fault. By spelling out the meaning of the word putra, Rāma pointed out that it is the general duty of a son to do good to his father. Therefore, Rāma requested Bharata to protect the kingdom.

When Rāma had thus silenced Bharata, Jābāli took recourse to the ideology of Cārvāka and requested Rāma to accept the kingdom.

Rāma expertly refuted Jābāli’s presentation of the Cārvāka ideology. Jābāli then explained why he presented this ideology and thus pacified Lord Rāma.

Vasiṣṭha revealed Jābāli’s true attitude to Rāma and pacified Him. Then, to prove that only the eldest son of a king is fit to sit on the royal throne, Vasiṣṭha spoke about Rāma’s lineage from Brahmā to Daśaratha in order to point out that in each case, only the eldest son of a king had occupied the throne. Since this was the precedent without even a single exception, Vasiṣṭha requested Rāmacandra to accept the throne.

Vasiṣṭha argued that one’s mother and ācārya are more honorable than one’s father, and that Rāma should therefore fulfill Bharata’s prayer to accept and protect His kingdom. Rāma then proved that a mother and father are more honorable than one’s ācārya, and that since He had first promised to carry out His father’s instruction, He could not transgress it. When Bharata was thus silenced again, He had kuśa grass spread out for Him to sit on and fast. Rāma told Bharata that it was adhārmika for kṣatriyas to engage in such an activity. Bharata then said that He would reside in the forest for fourteen years on behalf of Rāma. Rāma pointed out that carrying out vows through a representative is applicable for those who are incapable and that such an arrangement for Him would be worthy of valid criticism. He then pacified Bharata by declaring that after His residence in the forest, He would return to Ayodhyā.

The devas and others who had assembled in the sky to hear the conversation between Rāma and Bharata praised Their conversation, and told Bharata that Rāma should make His father free from debt by residing in the forest. After saying this, they returned to their respective residences. Bharata told Rāma that He was incapable of managing a kingdom and prayed to Him to accept the throne. Rāma told Bharata that He would not give up His promise under any circumstance. Then Bharata showed Him two gold-studded sandals and prayed to Rāma to place His lotus feet on them and give Him those sandals. Rāma did so and Bharata promised that if Rāma did not return within fourteen years, He would enter into fire. Rāma agreed to this, embraced Bharata and Śatrughna, and sent Them off. After appropriately honoring everyone who had come to meet Him, Rāma entered His leaf cottage.

Bharata departed to Ayodhyā with Vasiṣṭha and others. He first reached Bharadvāja’s āśrama and offered His respectful obeisances unto him. He then informed the sage of the events that occurred in Citrakūṭa—how He got Rāma’s sandals and so on—and with the permission of the sage, left for Ayodhyā. On the way, He crossed Yamunā and Gaṅgā as well as Śṛṅgiberapura. When He saw Ayodhyā, Bharata pointed out the lack of its splendor to Sumantra.

Vālmīki presents several instances of Ayodhyā’s loss of splendor. When Bharata entered Ayodhyā, He pointed out to His charioteer how it was no longer beautiful and then entered His father’s residence.

With the permission of Vasiṣṭha and others, Bharata placed His mothers in Ayodhyā and entered Nandigrāma with Śatrughna. Bharata put on the garments of a sage, coronated Rāma’s sandals as the king of Kosala with royal items of worship and maintained the kingdom.

Rāma understood that the sages wanted to go to another āśrama and so He asked their chief the reason for their decision. They told Him that because of His presence Khara and other rākṣasas had created various disturbances in Citrakūṭa. Despite Rāma’s pleas and great reverence to them, they departed and He then entered His residence.

By observing various other difficulties for ascetic life in Citrakūṭa, Rāma lost the desire to continue living there and departed to another place. On the way, He reached Atri’s āśrama and offered His respectful obeisances unto that great sage. Atri described Anasūyā’s potency on account of her austerities and requested that Sītā-devī be with her. Atri’s wife Anasūyā praised Sītā-devī and then instructed her about the duties of a chaste wife.

Sītā-devī described Rāmacandra’s auspicious qualities to Anasūyā and asserted that if even a man without auspicious qualities should be served faithfully by his wife, how much should a husband with auspicious qualities be served by her? Sītā-devī said that she had already been instructed by her mother and so on about the duties of a chaste woman and praised those instructions. Anasūyā had enhanced her prosperity through austerity. She informed Sītā about it and requested her to take anything she wanted from her. Though Sītā didn’t want anything from her, Anasūyā was so happy with her that she gifted her a divine garland and so on. Anasūyā-devī then requested Sītā-devī to describe how she got married to Lord Rāmacandra and Sītā obliged.

Sītā-devī decorated herself with the divine garland, ornaments and other items gifted to her by Anasūyā-devī who then described the evening there and requested her to go to Rāma. Rāma was happy to see Sītā thus decorated. She informed Him of Anasūyā’s gifting her these items and so on. Rāma was honored by the ascetics there. After Rāma rested for the night there with Sītā-devī, He took permission to depart from the sages early in the morning. They informed Him of the disturbances created by the rākṣasas and requested Him to destroy them. Rāma, Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa then walked on the path showed by the sages and entered Daṇḍakāraṇya.