This is the seventy-fifth sarga—listen. After a long time, Bharata, mighty of spirit, regained consciousness. Tears filled his eyes as he gazed upon his mother, who was steeped in sorrow. Among the assembled ministers, Bharata reproached his mother: “I do not desire the kingdom, nor will I consult with the ministers or with my mother. I know nothing of the consecration that was planned by the king, for I was far away, dwelling with Shatrughna. I know nothing of Rāma’s exile to the forest, nor of the banishment of Saumitri or Sītā, and how it came about.” As Bharata, great-souled and anguished, cried out in this way, Kausalya heard his voice and spoke to Sumitrā: “Bharata, son of Kaikeyī, who has wrought this cruel deed, has come. I wish to see Bharata, who sees far.” Having spoken thus, Kausalya—pale and clad in soiled garments, trembling and senseless—set out to where Bharata was. At the same time, Bharata, together with Shatrughna and Rāma’s younger brother, made his way to Kausalya’s residence. There, seeing Kausalya overwhelmed by grief, Shatrughna and Bharata, both filled with sorrow, embraced her as she lay senseless. Weeping themselves, they approached the noble and wise lady, whose tears flowed in her sorrow. Kausalya, greatly afflicted, spoke to Bharata: “Now, the kingdom you desired has come to you, free from obstacles. Indeed, Kaikeyī has quickly obtained it for you by her cruel deed. Having sent my son, clad in bark garments, to dwell in the forest, what virtue does Kaikeyī, with her cruel vision, see in this? Soon, Kaikeyī will surely send me as well to where my illustrious son, shining like gold, now dwells. Or else, I myself, accompanied by Sumitrā, will gladly go, performing the sacred fire-rite beforehand, to where Raghava is. Or, if you wish, you may yourself take me there today, to where that tiger among men, my son, endures his penance. Indeed, this vast kingdom, filled with wealth and grain, and complete with elephants, horses, and chariots, has been handed over to you by her.” With many such harsh words, blameless Bharata was reproached. He felt deep anguish, as if pierced by a needle in a wound. His mind agitated, he fell at Kausalya’s feet, lamenting in many ways, losing consciousness. After regaining his senses, he stood there, sorrowful. As Kausalya continued her lament, Bharata, with palms joined in reverence, spoke to her, surrounded by much grief: “Respected lady, why do you reproach me, who am innocent and unaware? You know well my deep and steadfast affection for Raghava. May my mind, which follows the path of the scriptures, never turn from him; he is truthful, the best among the virtuous, and has your approval.” Bharata then declared, “Let the most sinful servant be sent, let him defile the sun, or strike a sleeping cow with his foot—such is the fate of one who acts with your consent. If a master, having made his servant perform great deeds, renders him useless, that is unrighteousness—such is the fate of one who acts with your consent. If, while protecting his subjects like his own children, a king is betrayed, let sin befall the one who acts with your consent. If, after collecting the lawful share of taxes, a king fails to protect his people, may the sin of such a one fall upon him who acts with your consent. And having promised gifts to ascetics at a sacrifice, may he, who has gained the noble one’s consent, deceitfully withhold that reward. In battle crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, where weapons abound, may he, who has gained the noble one’s consent, not uphold the righteous conduct of the virtuous. Let the subtle meaning of the scripture, carefully taught by a wise man, be destroyed by the wicked-minded one who has gained the noble one’s consent. May he not see one with arms adorned, shining like the moon and sun, seated in royal splendor, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him, pitiless, eat rice cooked in milk and gruel in vain, and even scorn his elders, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him touch cows with his foot, slander his elders himself, and utterly betray his friend, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him, wicked-minded, reveal in public some confidential reproach spoken in trust, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him be inactive, ungrateful, self-abandoned, shameless, and hated by all in the world, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Surrounded by sons, wives, and servants in his own house, let him eat fine food alone, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him, failing to obtain a suitable wife, die childless, and not accomplish righteous acts, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him see his own lineage perish, be distressed in his wives, and not attain a full lifespan, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him incur the sin declared for killing a king, a woman, a child, or an elder, and for abandoning a servant, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him always support servants with lac, honey, meat, iron, and poison, who has gained the noble one’s consent. When battle is joined and he causes fear among the enemy’s ranks, let him be slain as he flees, who has gained the noble one’s consent.” Thus, Bharata, deeply wounded and utterly sincere, pleaded his innocence and unwavering devotion to Rāma before Kausalya, pouring out his heart in anguish and lamentation.