Lord, being all-wise and knowing the fancies, longings and devotion of the hearts of all and of me, your servant, you, the protector of the suppliant, will protect us all and continue to support us ‘on both sides’ till the last. (You will keep our father’s word and fulfil my desire as well; while serving the gods in the forest, you will take up your abode with me with your divine body; you will reign like a lord and master and I will obey you like a prince and follower. Thus the interests of both sides will be protected.)

I am absolutely confident of this in every way; and when I ponder this, I am not in the least disturbed about it. My own distress and my lord’s tender love have combined to make me thus presumptuous.

So, lord, correct this my great offence and shrink not from instructing your servant.’ Everyone who heard Bharata’s humble petition applauded it, for, like a swan, it had separated the milk (of truth) from the water (of error):

The all-wise Rama, the befriender of the afflicted, on hearing his brother’s meek and guileless plea, replied in terms appropriate to the place and time and circumstance:

‘You and I and our kinsfolk, whether at home or in the forest, are, dear brother, the care of our guru Vasishtha and the king. So long as our guru and the sage (Vishvamitra) and the lord of Mithila are our guardians, neither you nor I can even dream of trouble.

My highest achievement and yours, our material gain and glory, our duty and our highest spiritual welfare consist in this that we two brothers should obey our father’s will, so that the dignity of the Vedas and the shastras is maintained and the king’s vow kept.

Those who obey the instructions of their preceptor, father, mother and master, stumble not, however wrong the path they tread. Pondering thus and putting aside all regrets, go now and look after Ayodhya for the appointed time.