The story unfolds with a son, overwhelmed by sorrow, approaching his father, the noble king, and asking, “O father, best of kings, whose deed’s fruit is this?” In response, the king recounted to his sons the tale of three acts of brahma-hatya—the killing of brahmins—as they had occurred. He solemnly declared, “My sons, there is nowhere any expiation for those who slay a brahmin.” Grief descended upon all: the king, the one exiled to the forest, the mother, and the father were consumed by sorrow and went to the earth. The king’s son, recalling the arrival of such pain, the workings of karma, and the threat of hell, fainted from anguish. Seeing the king unconscious, Sita, wise and compassionate, spoke to comfort them. She said, “The great-souled do not grieve at the onset of misfortune; they consider remedies, both divine and human. Even if one grieves for a thousand ages, calamity is never overcome. Those who lack discernment fall into confusion and are never truly wise. What use is this fruitless sorrow, O lord of men? Tell us first of the murder that occurred, which was exceedingly dreadful. A brahmin, devoted to his father, virtuous, accomplished in the Vedas and innocent, was slain—what is the expiation for that sin?” Sita assured them, “I shall act according to scripture; do not grieve, you two. Let Lakshmana take responsibility for the second murder, and you for the other.” Her words, filled with righteousness, were firmly spoken. Both agreed, saying, “So be it.” Then Dasharatha spoke in admiration, “You are truly the daughter of Janaka, knowledgeable in Brahman, not born from a womb, and the wife of Rama. It is no surprise that you speak what is appropriate.” He continued, “None among you suffers hardship, except for the slight effort of bathing Gautami, giving offerings, and performing the ritual of offering balls of food. Freed from three Brahmin-murders, I go to heaven; what you have spoken, born of Janaka, is fitting for your noble family. The women of noble families bring others to the far shore of the ocean of existence by the grace of the Godavari. What indeed is difficult to obtain here?” As the ritual of offering balls of food was being performed, Shatrughna realized there was no food or provisions and spoke to Lakshmana. Lakshmana respectfully replied, “There are fruits of the Ingudi tree, and their flour has been brought almost instantly.” With this flour, Rama prepared to offer the ball of food to his father on the banks of the Ganga, but he was slow and sorrowful. At that moment, a divine voice arose: “Abandon sorrow, prince! You have lost the kingdom and reached the forest; what is there for you to lack? You are not deceitful, devoted to righteousness; you should not grieve here. One who acts righteously but with deceit regarding wealth is indeed sinful. It is heard in all scriptures: whatever food a person eats, O king, the deities of his ancestors eat that same food.” When Rama offered the ball of food, it fell to the ground, and he did not see his father or the corpse at the supreme funeral site. Then, a remembrance that destroys the mass of great sins occurred, and the guardians of the worlds—Rudras, Adityas, and the Ashvins—arrived, each mounted on their own celestial vehicle. Among them, one exceedingly radiant, mounted the best vehicle, praised by the Kinnaras. Dasharatha, Rama’s father, shone among them like the sun. Rama, not seeing his father but seeing the gods in their vehicles, joined his hands in reverence and asked, “Where is my father?” A divine voice spoke to Rama through Sita: “Freed from three Brahmin-murders, King Dasharatha is surrounded by the gods. See, son,” the gods also spoke to him. They said, “You are blessed and accomplished, Rama; your father has gone to heaven. Whoever lifts his ancestors from the multitude of hells is praised. He is blessed, adorned by that meritorious act; see him shining like the sun, freed from sin, in all three worlds. Even if endowed with all wealth, a sinner is like a burnt tree; but even without possessions, a virtuous man is seen as radiant as the moon-crested one.” Dasharatha, seeing his son, spoke to him, blessing and greeting him with good wishes. “You have accomplished your duty; may good fortune be yours. By you, O sinless one, I have been delivered. In this world, that son is blessed who delivers his fathers.” Then the hosts of gods spoke for the fulfillment of their purpose: “O best of men, Rama, go as you wish.” Hearing these words, Rama addressed the gods, “O gods, with my guru and father, what duty remains to be done?” The gods replied, “No river is equal to the Ganga; no son is like you; no god equals Shiva; no man equals the deliverer. By you, Rama, all duties to the elders have been fulfilled; by you, the ancestors have been delivered by their son. Let all return to their own places, and you too, go as you wish.” Emboldened by the words of the gods, Rama, elder brother of Lakshmana, together with Sita, witnessed the greatness of the Ganga and, astonished, spoke: “Ah, such is the power of the Ganga—there is nothing like it in the three worlds. We are blessed, for we have seen the Ganga, the purifier of the three worlds.” Filled with great joy, Rama installed the god Maheshvara, worshipping that Lord with sixteen offerings and utmost devotion. Having worshipped the Lord, adorned with coverings and possessing thirty-six energies, Rama, with joined palms, praised Shankara, the supreme Lord.