In an hour and a half everyone was taken across, and then Bharata disembarked and made sure that all had come.

After performing his morning rites Bharata adored his mother’s feet and bowed his head before the preceptor, and sending a party of the Nishadas on ahead, set the host in motion.

He made the Nishada chief lead the van and then started the palanquins carrying the queenmothers; he summoned his younger brother (Shatrughana) to be their escort; the guru set out next with the Brahmans.

He himself then made obeisance to the celestial river, invoked Sita, Rama and Lakshmana and went on foot, accompanied by riderless horses led by the bridle.

Again and again his faithful servants said, ‘Be pleased, my lord, to mount your horses’. But Bharata replied, ‘Rama has gone on foot, and are chariots, elephants and horses made for me?

Rather ought I to walk on my head; for a servant’s duty should always be the hardest.’ When they saw Bharata’s conduct and heard his gentle speech, all his servants were filled with grief and remorse.

In the afternoon Bharata entered Prayaga, crying, ‘Rama, Sita! Rama, Sita!’ with irrepressible devotion.