All who accompanied him were sad at heart, miserable and afflicted, and I saw that the queens were greatly altered in appearance.’ On hearing Sita’s dream, Rama’s eyes filled with tears, and he who rids others of their sorrow became a prey to sorrow.

‘Lakshmana,’ he said, ‘I have a foreboding that this dream is inauspicious and that it will bring us some terrible bad tidings.’ So saying, he and his brother bathed, worshipped Shiva and did homage to the saints.

After adoring the gods and reverencing the sages, he sat down and looked towards the north. He saw that the sky was darkened by clouds of dust, and a host of birds and beasts had taken to flight in panic and were making their way to the Lord’s retreat. Says Tulasidasa: he got up when he saw it, anxious in mid as to the cause. Presently came the Kola and Kiratas and told him all the news.

When he heard the glad tiding, he felt overjoyed and a thrill ran through his body, while is eyes that resembled the autumn lotus, says Tulasidas, filled with tears of love.

Sita’s lord became anxious the very next moment and said to himself, ‘What can be the cause of Bharata’s coming?’ Then came one and said, ‘He has with him a great army complete in its four limbs (viz., foot, horses, elephants and chariots).’

Rama was greatly disturbed by the news; on the one hand there was his father’s command, on the other his regard for his younger brother (Bharata). Pondering on Bharata’s disposition, the Lord’s mind found no sure ground on which it might take its stand.

But at last he consoled himself with the reflection that Bharata was submissive, good and sensible. Lakshmana saw that the Lord was troubled at heart and spoke out what prudence demanded on the occasion.