‘It is nobody’s fault,’ said Kausalya; ‘sorrow and joy, loss and gain, are governed by our past actions. The inexorable ways of destiny – the effects of action are known to God alone, who dispense all rewards, both good and bad.

God’s decree dominates over all, including the processes of creation, maintenance and dis-solution, even over poison and nectar (which destroy and restore life). It is no use lamenting, O queen, out of infatuation, so immutable and eternal are God’s schemes.

If we call back to our hearts the king’s life or death and sorrow for him, sister, it is because we are thinking of our own loss.’ ‘Your noble words are passing true,’ said Sita’s mother, ‘O spouse of that paragon of virtue, the lord of Ayodhya!’

Said Kausalya with a heavy heart, ‘If Lakshmana, Rama and Sita stay in the forest, all will be good in the end, not bad; but I am anxious about Bharata.

By God’s favour and your blessing my sons and their wives are all as pure as the water of the Ganga. Though I have never yet sworn by Rama, sister, I now swear by him and tell you in good faith,

- that in extolling Bharata’s amiability, virtue, modesty and nobility, his brotherly love and devotion, his faithfulness and goodness the wit of even Sarasvati falters; can the ocean be ladled out with an oyster-shell?

I have always known Bharata to be the light of our house, and the king had said so time and again. Gold is tested on the touchstone and a gem on reaching the hands of a jeweller; so also are men easily tested by their character in the hour of trial.