With the noble one’s consent having been given, a torrent of fierce vows poured forth, each invoking dire consequences upon the one responsible. Let such a person, pitiless, eat rice cooked in milk and gruel in vain, even scorning his elders despite having gained approval. Let him touch cows with his feet, slander his elders, and betray his friend utterly. Let him reveal in public a confidential reproach spoken in trust, his mind wicked and abandoned to evil. May he be inactive, ungrateful, shameless, and hated by all. Surrounded by sons, wives, and servants in his own house, let him eat fine food alone, shunned by those around him. Let him fail to obtain a suitable wife, die childless, and not accomplish righteous acts. May he witness his lineage perish, suffer distress from his wives, and not attain a full lifespan. Let him incur the sin declared for killing a king, a woman, a child, or an elder, or for abandoning a servant. May he always support his servants with lac, honey, meat, iron, and poison. When battle is joined and he causes fear among the enemy, let him be slain as he flees. Let him wander the earth, begging with a skull in hand, clad in rags, like a madman. May he become addicted to drink, to women, and to gambling, overcome by desire and anger. Though his mind turns to righteousness, let him practice unrighteousness, giving charity to the unworthy. May the wealth he has gathered in many forms, by the thousands, be plundered by robbers. Whatever sin is ascribed to one who sleeps through both twilights, may that sin fall upon him. May he incur the sin that comes from neglecting the sacred fire, violating the teacher's bed, and betraying a friend. May he never serve the gods, ancestors, mother, or father. May he swiftly fall today itself from the world of the virtuous, from their fame and righteous deeds. Let him abandon service to his mother and stand for no purpose, though long-armed and broad-chested. May he, though having many sons, be poor and afflicted with fever and disease, always suffering. May he make false promises to those who are equal, to the distressed, to those who look up in hope, and to supplicants. May he always delight in deceit, be harsh, slanderous, impure, and fearful of the king, unrighteous in soul. May the wicked one transgress against a virtuous wife who is bathed after her period and receptive at the proper time. May he, abandoning his lawful wife, consort with others' wives, estranged from righteousness. May he incur the sin that befalls a Brahmin whose lineage is lost. May he alone obtain the sin of polluting water or giving poison. May he, with impure senses, hinder worship intended for a Brahmin or milk a cow meant for a calf. May he, when water is available, deceive a thirsty person and thus incur that sin. May he, while others argue sincerely and seek the right path in his presence, be joined to their sin. Deprived of her husband and son, Kausalya, the king’s wife, tried to console herself with such words, but overwhelmed by grief, she collapsed. Seeing Bharata, insensible and tormented by sorrow, uttering such harsh oaths, Kausalya spoke: “My suffering, son, only increases, for as you swear these oaths, you are taking away my very life. By good fortune, your soul, together with Lakshmana, has not turned away from righteousness. My child, steadfast in your promise, you shall attain the worlds of the virtuous.” Having spoken thus, she took Bharata, who cherished his brothers, onto her lap, embraced his mighty arms, and wept, overwhelmed by grief. As the great-souled Bharata lamented in distress and pain, his mind became agitated from delusion and suppressed sorrow. While he was being comforted, senseless and lying on the ground, sighing deeply again and again, the night passed for him in grief. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, the seventy-sixth sarga is to be heard. To Bharata, son of Kekayī, thus tormented by grief, Vasiṣṭha—the best among speakers and foremost among sages—spoke: “Enough of sorrow, noble prince of great fame; now is the proper time—perform the final rites for the king.” Hearing Vasiṣṭha’s words, Bharata regained his composure and, knowing what is right, arranged for all the funeral rites.