- and hid into her body the prickly grass and thorns and stones and crevices and everything disagreeable and hard and rough; Earth made the paths beautifully soft for them, and they were refreshed by soft, cool and fragrant breezes.

The gods rained down flowers; the clouds afforded shade; the trees broke out into blossom and fruit; the grass made a soft carpet; the beasts with their glances and the birds with their sweet notes offered their services to Bharata, whom they knew to be Rama’s beloved brother.

When an ordinary man finds the highest success easy of attainment if he merely utters Rama’s name while yawning, this was no great matter for Bharata, Rama’s most beloved brother!

In this manner Bharata roamed the woods, and the sages, who beheld his devotion and austerity, were abashed. The sacred ponds and tracts of land, the birds and beasts, the trees and herbs, the hills and woods and orchards,

- were all charming, wonderful and pre-eminently holy. Seeing them all so divine, Bharata asked the lord to seers about them, and the sage listened to his questions and with gladness of heart gave him the history of each, with its name, virtues and spiritual potency.

At one place Bharata would bathe, at another make obeisance; here he would admire the entrancing beauty of the woods and there sit down with the permission of the sage and meditate on Sita and his two brothers (Rama and Lakshmana).

Seeing Bharata’s noble disposition and his affection and faithfulness in service, the sylvan gods gladly gave him their blessing. The third watch of the day was half spent when Bharata returned to gaze upon the Lord’s lotus feet.