- who dwell in a poor village in the wilds and are the worst of our class, that we should have such a vision, a sufficient reward for the highest religious merit?’ Such were the joy and wonder in every village, as though a celestial tree had sprung up in the desert.

At the sight of Bharata the good fortune of the people by the roadside manifested itself, as though by the will of Providence Prayaga had become accessible to the people of Lanka.

Hearing these praises of his own and the tale of Rama’s perfections, Bharata went on his way, meditating on Raghunatha. Whenever he saw a holy place, he bathed, and whenever he caught sight of a sage’s hermitage or a temple, he made obeisance to it,

- praying in his heart for the boon of devotion to the lotus feet of Sita and Rama. Whomsoever he met, be he a Kol, a Kirata, or any other forester or even if he were an anchorite, a religious student, a recluse or a hermit,

- he would salute him and ask him in what part of the forest Lakshmana and Rama and Videha’s daughter (Sita) might be found. They told him all the news of the Lord, and at the sight of Bharata reaped their life’s reward.

Those who said they had seen the Lord safe and well were counted as dear as Rama and Lakshmana themselves. Thus he went on, making courteous inquiries of all and listening to the story of Rama’s life in the forest.

Halting that day, he started again early next morning, invoking Raghunatha; all who accompanied him were as eager to see Rama as Bharata himself.