Among the assembled ministers, Bharata turned to his mother and rebuked her, his voice full of pain: “I do not desire the kingdom, nor will I seek counsel from the ministers or from my own mother.” He declared, “I knew nothing of the king’s plans for a consecration, for I was away, living with Shatrughna. I know nothing about Rāma’s exile to the forest, nor about the banishment of Saumitri or Sītā, or how it all came to pass.” As Bharata, noble of soul, cried out in this way, Kausalya heard his anguished voice and spoke quietly to Sumitrā: “Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī, who has brought about this harsh deed, has arrived; I wish to see Bharata, whose vision is far-reaching.” Having said this to Sumitrā, Kausalya—her complexion pale, her garments soiled, trembling and faint—set out, barely conscious, to where Bharata was. At the same time, Bharata, accompanied by Shatrughna and Rāma’s younger brother, made his way to Kausalya’s residence. There, seeing Kausalya overwhelmed by sorrow, both Shatrughna and Bharata, hearts heavy with grief, embraced her as she lay senseless, lost in her pain. Weeping themselves, they approached the noble and wise lady, who was also weeping in her sorrow. Then Kausalya, deeply afflicted, spoke these words to Bharata: “Now the kingdom you desired has come to you, free from all obstacles. Indeed, Kaikeyī has swiftly secured it for you by her cruel act. Having sent my son, dressed in bark garments, to dwell in the forest, what virtue does Kaikeyī, with her harsh 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 Rāghava is. Or, if you wish, you may yourself take me today to where that tiger among men, my son, endures his penance. Indeed, this vast kingdom, filled with wealth and grain, complete with elephants, horses, and chariots, has been handed over to you by her.” Thus, with many such harsh words, Kausalya reproached Bharata, though blameless, and his heart was pierced with anguish, as if a needle had been thrust into an open wound. His mind agitated, Bharata fell at her feet, lamenting in many ways, losing consciousness for a time, and when he regained his senses, he stood there before her. As Kausalya continued to grieve, Bharata, with hands joined in reverence, spoke to her, who was surrounded by sorrow: “Respected lady, why do you reproach me, who am innocent and unaware? You know well my deep and unwavering affection for Rāghava. May my mind, which follows the path of the scriptures, never stray from him; he is truthful, the best among the virtuous, and has your blessing.” He then uttered a series of solemn vows, invoking dire consequences upon himself if he had acted with her approval in any wrongdoing. “Let the most sinful servant be sent forth, let him defile the sun, or strike a sleeping cow with his foot—such be the fate of one who acts with your consent. If a master, having made his servant perform great deeds, later renders him useless, that is unrighteousness—such is the fate of one who acts with your consent. If, while protecting his subjects as his own children, a king is betrayed, let sin fall upon 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 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. Let him, with a skull in hand, wander the earth clad in rags, begging like a madman, who has gained the noble one’s consent. Let him become addicted to drink, to women, and to gambling always, overcome by desire and anger, who has gained the noble one’s consent.” Thus, with deep humility and sorrow, Bharata protested his innocence and unwavering loyalty to Rāma, offering himself to the gravest of fates if he had ever acted with Kausalya’s approval in any of these wrongs.