As Bharata, known for his great soul, cried aloud in anguish, Kausalya heard his voice and turned to Sumitra. With sorrow, she said, “Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, who has brought about this cruel deed, has arrived; I wish to see Bharata, who is wise and sees far.” Having spoken thus, Kausalya—pale, clad in soiled garments, trembling and almost senseless—set out to find Bharata. At that moment, Bharata, accompanied by Shatrughna and Rama’s younger brother, made his way toward Kausalya’s residence. When they arrived, they saw Kausalya overwhelmed by grief, her senses lost to sorrow. Both Bharata and Shatrughna, themselves filled with sorrow, embraced her as she lay in distress. Weeping, the brothers approached the noble and wise lady, who was also weeping in her misery. Then, afflicted deeply, Kausalya spoke to Bharata, saying, “Now, the kingdom you desired has come to you, free from obstacles. Kaikeyi has quickly obtained it for you through her cruel act. She has sent my son, clad in bark garments, to dwell in the forest—what virtue does Kaikeyi, with her harsh vision, see in this? “Soon, Kaikeyi will surely send me as well to where my illustrious son, shining like gold, now resides. Or, I myself, with Sumitra, will gladly go, performing the sacred fire-rite beforehand, to where Raghava is. Or, if you wish, you may take me there 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.” With many such harsh words, Kausalya reproached Bharata, who was blameless, and he felt deep anguish, as if pierced by a needle in a wound. His mind agitated, Bharata fell at her feet, lamenting in many ways, losing consciousness. Regaining his senses, he stood before her. As Kausalya continued to lament, Bharata, with joined palms, spoke to her, surrounded by her 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. “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. “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. “Let his mind turn to righteousness, yet let him practice unrighteousness; let him give in charity to the unworthy, who has gained the noble one's consent. Let the wealth he has gathered in many forms, by the thousands, be plundered by robbers, who has gained the noble one's consent. “Whatever sin is ascribed to one who sleeps through both twilights, may that sin fall upon the one by whose consent the noble one has departed.” With these words, Bharata sought to clear himself, expressing his innocence and unwavering devotion to Rama, and invoking the gravest curses upon anyone who would act with Kausalya’s consent against righteousness.