Of your forbears King Bhagiratha brought down the celestial river, the very thought of which is a fountain of all choice blessings. As for Dasharath’s virtues, they are beyond all description; he has no equal in the world, much less is any greater.

Won by his affection and modesty, Rama himself appeared on earth – Rama whom the eyes of Shankara’s heart are never wearied of beholding.

You have created a peerless moon of glory, in which for the figure of the hare is stamped the love of Rama. You feel distressed at heart, dear son, for no purpose; you fear poverty even though you have found the philosopher’s stone.

Listen, Bharata; I tell no falsehood; I am a solitary, an ascetic, and dwell in the forest; to be able to obtain a glimpse of Lakshmana, Rama and Sita is the most excellent fruit of all spiritual practices,

- and the reward of that reward is the sight of you. Most fortunate are both Prayaga and myself! You deserve all praise, O Bharata, since by your glory you have conquered the whole world.’ So saying, the sage was overwhelmed with affection.

As they heard the sage’s words, the whole assembly rejoiced; the gods applauded Bharata’s goodness and rained down flowers. Even as Bharata heard the shouts of ‘Blessed, blessed is he!’ resounding in the heavens and at Prayaga, he was in raptures at the sound.

He trembled with emotion, and with his heart full of Sita and Rama and his lotus eyes flowing with tears, he made reverence to the assembly of sages and thus spoke in faltering accents: