Kausalya, her heart heavy with grief, addressed Bharata with words laden with sorrow and reproach. “The kingdom you long desired has come to you, free from obstacles,” she said. “Indeed, Kaikeyi has swiftly secured it for you through her cruel actions. By sending my son, dressed in bark garments, to live in the forest, what virtue does Kaikeyi, whose vision is harsh, see in this? “Soon, I am sure, Kaikeyi will send me as well to the place where my illustrious son, radiant as gold, now resides. Or else, I myself, with Sumitra by my side, will gladly go there, having performed the sacred fire-rite beforehand, to be with Raghava. Or, if you wish, you may take me there today, to where that tiger among men, my son, endures his penance. “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 blameless Bharata, causing him deep anguish, as if a needle had pierced a wound. Disturbed in mind, Bharata fell at her feet, lamenting in many ways. He lost consciousness, and when he regained his senses, he stood before her. As Kausalya continued her lament, Bharata, his palms joined in reverence, spoke to her, who was surrounded by grief. “Respected lady,” he pleaded, “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, after making 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 if, after promising gifts to ascetics at a sacrifice, he deceitfully withholds that reward, may he who has gained the noble one’s consent suffer that fate. 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 any 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. May he incur the sin that comes from neglecting the sacred fire, from violating the teacher’s bed, and from betraying a friend. “May he never serve the gods, ancestors, mother, or father—the one by whose consent the noble one has departed. May he swiftly fall today itself from the world of the virtuous, from their fame, and from righteous deeds—the one by whose consent the noble one has departed. “Let him abandon service to his mother and stand for no purpose—the long-armed, broad-chested one by whose consent the noble one has departed. May he, though having many sons, be poor and afflicted with fever and disease, always suffering—the one by whose consent the noble one has departed. “May he make false promises to those who are equal, to the distressed, to those who look up in hope, and to supplicants—the one by whose consent the noble one has departed.” Thus, Bharata, overwhelmed by emotion and earnestness, declared his innocence and steadfast devotion to Rama, invoking powerful curses upon any who would act with Kausalya’s approval to bring about such misfortune. His words were a testament to his anguish, loyalty, and the deep sorrow that filled the palace in the wake of Rama’s exile.