Bharata, his heart heavy, spoke of Kaikeyī, his mother, and her sons. He declared, “This queen has two sons, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, both radiant as gods—heroes of true valor. For her sake, those tigers among men risked their lives, and Daśaratha, deprived of his sons, has gone to heaven. Know Kaikeyī as my mother—angry, lacking wisdom, proud, thinking herself fortunate, craving power, ignoble though she appears noble. Know this mother of mine to be cruel and intent on evil, for I see her as the root of this great calamity for my father.” Having spoken thus, Bharata, the tiger among men, choked with tears, sighed deeply, his eyes red like an enraged elephant. The great sage Bharadvāja, wise and discerning, addressed Bharata with meaningful words. He said, “Kaikeyī should not be blamed by you, Bharata; for Rāma’s exile will bring about a happy outcome. For gods, demons, and seers of purified souls, Rāma’s exile here will indeed prove beneficial.” After offering his respects and circumambulating the sage, Bharata addressed the army and instructed them to prepare for departure. Splendid chariots adorned with gold were harnessed, and a great multitude of people, eager to set out, mounted them. Elephant maidens and elephants with golden trappings and banners, like clouds at the end of summer, set out with resounding noise. Various vehicles, both large and small, departed, and the esteemed foot soldiers proceeded on foot. The women, led by Kausalya and desiring to see Rāma, joyfully departed in covered carriages. Bharata, resplendent and surrounded by his retinue, set out in a splendid palanquin shining like the moon, sun, and dawn. That great army, filled with elephants, horses, and chariots, moved southward, spreading out like a great rising cloud. Passing through forests teeming with deer and birds, they reached the far banks of the Ganga, as well as mountains and rivers. The army of Bharata, filled with delighted priests, horses, and warriors, frightened flocks of deer and birds as it advanced through the great forest, shining brilliantly. Thus ended the ninety-second sarga of the glorious Ayodhya Kanda in the ancient and revered Ramayana composed by the sage Valmiki. As the great army, adorned with banners, advanced, wild elephants, struck with fear, fled with their herds. Bears, herds of spotted deer, and antelopes were seen in the forest groves, as well as on the mountains and by the rivers. Bharata, the righteous son of Dasharatha, pleased, set out surrounded by his great, resounding fourfold army. Bharata’s mighty army, resembling a mass of ocean waves, covered the earth as a rain cloud covers the sky in the rainy season. From this, it was inferred that a long time had passed. Having traveled a long distance, with his vehicles thoroughly fatigued, the illustrious Bharata spoke to Vasistha, foremost among counselors. He said, “From the appearance and as I have heard, it is clear we have reached the place that Bharadvaja described. Here is Mount Chitrakuta, here is the Mandakini river, and from afar that forest appears, dark as a rain cloud. The delightful slopes of Chitrakuta mountain are now being trampled by my elephants, who are themselves as mighty as mountains. These trees on the mountain slopes are shedding their blossoms, just as rain clouds release water when the heat subsides. Look, Shatrughna, at this mountain region frequented by Kinnaras, surrounded everywhere by deer, like the ocean is by makaras. These herds of deer, swift and urged onward, shine like rows of clouds scattered across the autumn sky by the wind. They make fragrant garlands of flowers upon their heads, just as people in the south adorn themselves with shining fruit resembling clouds. This forest, once silent and fearsome in appearance, now seems to me as crowded as Ayodhya. Dust stirred up by hooves rises and covers the sky, and the wind swiftly carries it, as if doing me a favor. See, Shatrughna, these chariots drawn by horses and driven by skilled charioteers, speeding through the forest. See these frightened, beautiful peacocks quickly entering their shelter among the trees. This place appears to me exceedingly charming; it is clearly the dwelling of ascetics, like the path to heaven. Many deer, together with their mates, are seen in the forest, beautiful in form and adorned as if with flowers.” He then instructed, “Let the noble troops proceed and search the forest, so that those two tiger-like men, Rama and Lakshmana, may be found.” Hearing Bharata’s words, the warriors, weapons in hand, entered that forest and saw smoke rising there. Seeing the column of smoke, they said to Bharata, “Fire does not occur where there are no people; surely the Raghavas are here.