When the assembly in Ayodhyā heard the pressing words of concern, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha turned to the gathered friends, ministers, and Brāhmaṇas and addressed them earnestly. He reminded them that Bharata, the prince, was now living contentedly in the palace of his maternal uncle, together with his brother Śatrughna, in the distant city of Kekaya. Recognizing the urgency of the hour, Vasiṣṭha urged, “Let swift messengers, mounted on the fastest horses, go at once to bring back the two heroic brothers. There is no reason for delay.” The assembly agreed wholeheartedly with Vasiṣṭha’s counsel, and, hearing their assent, the sage continued, calling out, “Come, Siddhārtha, Vijaya, Jayanta, Aśoka, and Nandana—listen to my instructions.” He directed these trusted messengers to travel swiftly to Kekaya’s city and palace, setting aside any sorrow, and to deliver this message to Bharata on his behalf: “The chief priest and all the ministers send you their respectful greetings. Depart at once with haste; an urgent matter awaits you.” Vasiṣṭha cautioned them, however, not to reveal that Rāma had gone into exile or that King Daśaratha had passed away—only to summon Bharata to the house of the Raghus. He instructed them also to take with them fine silk garments and splendid ornaments for both the king and Bharata. The messengers, after partaking of food suitable for their journey, returned to their homes to make preparations. Mounting their swift, well-chosen horses, they performed the necessary rites for safe departure and, with Vasiṣṭha’s blessing, set out with great haste toward Kekaya. Their journey led them northward along the western bank of the broad Aparaṭāla, crossing the Mālinī river midway. They traversed the Gaṅgā at Hastināpura, then turned westward, passing through the land of Pañāla and the Kurujāṅgala region. Along the way, they saw lakes and rivers filled with pure water, and, intent on their mission, they pressed on swiftly. Soon they reached the clear and sacred Śaradaṇḍā river, alive with many kinds of birds and bustling with people. They arrived at a grove of Nikūla trees, a hallowed place where wishes are fulfilled, and, after paying their respects, entered the city of Kuliṅga. At the auspicious hour, they came to the holy river Ikṣumatī, sacred to their ancestors and flowing from Bodhibhavana. Passing through the land of Bāhlīka and the mountain called Sudāmāna, they saw Brāhmaṇas, learned in the Vedas, drinking water with cupped hands. Their path took them past the abode of Viṣṇu, and the rivers Vipāśā and Śālmālī. They beheld rivers, ponds, lakes, marshes, and pools, and saw wild animals—lions, tigers, deer, and elephants—as they hurried along the great road, eager to fulfill their master’s command. Though their horses grew weary from the long journey, the messengers pressed onward, reaching the splendid mountain city without delay. Their devotion to their master and his lineage, and their desire to protect the royal family, spurred them on, and they arrived at the city in the deep of night. That very night, as the messengers entered the city, Bharata himself was troubled by a most unpleasant dream. When dawn broke and he recalled the vision, the son of the great king was weighed down with distress. His dear friends, noticing his sorrow, gathered around him, seeking to lift his spirits with stories and gentle words. Some played music, others danced, and some performed plays and comedies. Yet, surrounded by kind friends and pleasant diversions, the noble Bharata found no joy. Sitting among his companions, one dear friend asked him, “My friend, why do you not take pleasure in these things?” Bharata replied, his voice heavy, “Listen to the reason for my sadness.” He spoke of his troubling dream: “I saw my father, unkempt and with loosened hair, falling from a mountain peak into a muddy, filthy pool. There he floated, drinking oil with his hands, as if laughing again and again. After eating rice balls made of sesame, his head hanging down, his whole body smeared with oil, he immersed himself in oil over and over.” He continued, “In my dream, I saw the ocean dried up, the moon fallen to earth, and blazing fire suddenly extinguished. The tusk of the royal elephant was shattered, and the fire was snuffed out. I saw the earth split open, many trees withered, and mountains scattered and smoking. My father was seated on an iron throne, dressed in black garments, mocked by women with dark and tawny complexions. Then, adorned with red garlands and ointments, he hurried southward in a chariot yoked with donkeys, his righteous nature apparent. Finally, it seemed as though a woman in red attire, a demoness with twisted posture, was dragging the king away before my eyes.” Thus, Bharata’s heart was filled with foreboding, even as the messengers, having arrived in the night, prepared to deliver their urgent summons.