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.