As the sun set on Ayodhya, the city was gripped by sorrow. Men and women gathered in groups, their voices heavy with reproach for Bharata’s mother. The absence of the king left the city restless and distressed, with no comfort to be found. Throughout the night, Ayodhya was filled with cries; joy had vanished, and tears choked its people as they endured the darkness. When dawn finally broke, and the sun rose in the sky, the royal priests and the twice-born men assembled and made their way to the council chamber. Among them were Markandeya, Maudgalya, Vamadeva, Kashyapa, Katyayana, Gautama, and the illustrious Jabali. These revered brahmins, joined by the ministers, each spoke their thoughts separately, but all turned to Vasiṣṭha, the foremost among royal priests. Vasiṣṭha and the elders lamented, “This night, which felt as long as a hundred years, has passed in sorrow. The great king has gone to heaven, overcome by grief for his son. Rāma has taken refuge in the forest, and mighty Lakṣmaṇa has gone with him. Bharata and Śatrughna, both great ascetics, are in Kekaya, residing in the delightful palace of their maternal grandfather.” They continued, “Let someone from the Ikṣvāku line be made king here today. Our kingdom, without a ruler, cannot be allowed to fall into ruin. In a land without a king, even thunderclouds, though they resound greatly, do not bring heavenly rain to the earth. Seeds are not sown, sons do not obey fathers, nor wives their husbands. Wealth disappears, and even wives are lost; where disorder reigns, how can truth endure?” The elders spoke of the loss that comes with a kingless land: “Men do not build assembly halls, nor do the joyful create lovely gardens or sacred homes. Twice-born men devoted to sacrifice, self-controlled and firm in their vows, cease performing sacrificial rites. At great sacrifices, wealthy brahmins no longer distribute abundant gifts to worthy recipients. Actors and dancers vanish, festivals and gatherings that bring prosperity no longer flourish. Merchants and businessmen fail to achieve their aims, and those fond of stories find no delight in pleasant tales. Adorned maidens do not gather in gardens to play in the evening, nor do men venture into forests with swift vehicles, accompanied by their beloved women.” They observed further, “The wealthy, farmers, and cattle-keepers no longer sleep safely with their doors open. Elephants with bells and ornaments do not walk the royal roads. The twang of bowstrings and the sound of arrows released in training grounds are absent. Merchants who travel far do not journey safely, even if they have accumulated merit. Solitary ascetics do not walk freely, nor does the sage return home at dusk. Security and welfare vanish, armies do not withstand enemies in battle, and men do not assemble swiftly, adorned with splendid horses and chariots. Men skilled in the scriptures do not remain prosperous, whether in forests or groves. Garlands, sweets, and offerings are not prepared by disciplined people for worship of the gods. Royal princes do not shine, adorned with sandalwood, aloe, and perfumes, like trees in spring.” They likened the kingdom without a king to rivers without water, forests without grass, and cows without herdsmen. “The banner is the sign of the chariot, smoke the sign of fire; among us, the king is our banner, who has attained divinity from here. In a land without a king, nothing belongs to anyone; just as fish, men constantly devour one another. Those who break boundaries, who are atheists, who are full of doubts—even they are brought to order when oppressed by the king’s punishment.” The elders asserted, “Just as sight always operates for the body, so the king is the source of truth and righteousness for the kingdom. The king is truth and righteousness; the king is the lineage of the noble; the king is both mother and father; the king is the benefactor of men. Yama, Kubera, Indra, and mighty Varuna are surpassed by the noble king through his great conduct. Without a king, the world would be utter darkness, and nothing would be known; the king distinguishes the good from the bad.” They concluded, “While the great king lived, we followed only your command, just as the ocean stays within its bounds. Therefore, O best of twice-born, seeing our conduct, this kingdom is like a wilderness without a king. The generous prince, son of Ikṣvāku, should be crowned by you as king here.” Thus, the wise and revered elders of Ayodhya, with heavy hearts and earnest voices, pleaded for the restoration of order and righteousness, urging the crowning of a rightful king to guide and protect the kingdom.