Having learnt that the Lord was coming, the city of Avadh became a mine of all loveliness. The water of the Sarayu flowed crystal clear, and a grateful breeze blew, soft, cool and fragrant.

Accompanied by his guru, his kinsfolk, his younger brother and a company of Brahmans, with a heart overflowing with deep devotion, Bharata joyfully went forth to meet the all-merciful Rama.

Many women mounted to the upper storeys and looked for the chariot in the sky; and when they saw it, they began in their joy to sing song of welcome in melodious strains.

As the waves of the sea rise and swell at the sight of the full moon, so poured forth the women of the city with an uproarious rapture at the sight of Raghupati. (Raghupati was the full moon and Ayodhya the sea that swept along in boisterous rapture to behold him, and the women were like the waves._

Meanwhile, Rama, who brought delight to the Solar race as the sun to the lotus, was pointing out the beauties of the city to the monkeys! ‘Listen, Sugriva, Angad and Vibhishana (lord of Lanka): Ayodhya is a holy city and this land a land of beauty.

Though all have extolled Vaikuntha, renowned in the Vedas and the Puranas and known throughout the world, yet it is not so dear to me as this city of Ayodhya; and rare are they who comprehend this mystery.

This lovely city is my birthplace; to the north there flows the holy Sarayu, by bathing in which men effortlessly win a home near me.