Well is it that the whole host collected at one place; I shall, therefore, give vent this day to the wrath I have been nourishing. As a lion tears to pieces a herd of elephants, or a hawk carries off a quail in its clutches,

-so shall I contemptuously overthrow Bharata upon the field with his younger brother (Shatrughna) and his army. Even if Shankara himself should come to their aid, I swear by Rama that I would vanquish him in battle!’

When they saw Lakshmana boiling with anger, his face flaming red, and heard his solemn oath, the spheres trembled with fear and their rulers longed to flee away in panic.

The world was seized with terror and a voice from heaven was heard in the air, magnifying the mighty strength of Lakshmana’s arm: ‘Who can tell, dear child, or who even knows your might and majesty?

But before doing anything one must weigh carefully whether it is right or wrong; then everyone will speak well of it. They who act rashly and repent afterwards are anything but wise, so declare the Vedas and the sages.’

On hearing this voice from heaven, Lakshmana was abashed, but both Rama and Sita addressed him courteously: ‘What you have said, dear Lakshmana, is sound wisdom, for there is no such heady intoxication as that of kingly power.

Those rulers who have never waited on an assembly of saints are maddened by the merest taste of it. But I tell you, Lakshmana, in all God’s creation I have never seen or heard of anyone so good as Bharata.