¹ Thus, King Daśaratha points out that there are subtle material causes for our sufferings as mentioned in an earlier footnote. Ultimately there is a spiritual cause for our sufferings in our material existence—our aversion to unconditional service to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (see Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.2.37). Daśaratha’s falling into Kaikeyī’s trap was the gross material cause of his suffering whereas the subtle material cause was his unintentional murder of the son of sage during his youth. Of course, Daśaratha is an eternal associate of Lord Rāma and he is liberated and beyond the karmic actions and reactions of this world. However when the Supreme Lord appears along with his eternal associates from his spiritual abode in Vaikunṭha universe, they teach various principles of morality and spirituality to help us fully surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord to regain an eternal life of bliss and knowledge in pure service to Him in the spiritual world.