When Bharata pleaded with Rāma to accept the throne, he spoke earnestly: “You are the eldest and rightful heir, renowned as Rāma. Therefore, take up your own kingdom and care for the people, O king. Among all the Ikṣvākus, it is always the eldest who becomes king; if an elder exists, the younger son is not consecrated for the throne. You must not violate the ancient law of the Raghus and your own lineage today. Rule the earth, rich in jewels and vast in realms, as your illustrious ancestors did.” Having spoken thus, the chapter concluded. Then, Vasiṣṭha, the royal priest, addressed Rāma with another speech filled with righteousness. He said, “For a person born in this world, there are three elders: the teacher, the father, and the mother, O descendant of Kakutstha. The father gives birth to the man, O best of men; the teacher imparts wisdom, and so he is called ‘guru.’ Thus, I am your father’s teacher and yours as well, O destroyer of foes. By following my words, you will not deviate from the path of the virtuous. “Indeed, in these assemblies, these groups, and among the twice-born, O dear one, by following righteousness, one does not depart from the path of virtue. One should not disregard the words of one’s aged and righteous mother; by obeying her command, one remains steadfast in virtue. By fulfilling the request of Bharata, who is pleading, O Rāghava, you do not depart from your true self, you who are devoted to truth and righteousness.” When his teacher spoke sweetly, Rāghava himself replied to the seated Vasiṣṭha, the best among men. “Whatever parents do for their child can never be fully repaid; what is done by mother and father cannot be compensated. By giving as much as one is able, by bathing and clothing, by always speaking kindly, and by nurturing, one repays them as best as possible. He is my father, Daśaratha, the king and my progenitor; whatever command of his I have received will not be disregarded by me.” When Rāma had spoken thus, Bharata, noble-hearted and deeply distressed, immediately addressed his charioteer: “Quickly spread out kuśa grass for me here on the ground, O charioteer; I will sit facing my noble brother until he is pleased with me. Without food, without light, deprived of wealth like a twice-born, I will lie before the shelter until he returns.” Seeing Rāma, Sumitra, distressed, placed the kuśa mat on the ground and himself lay upon it. Rāma, the illustrious royal sage, addressed Bharata: “Why, O Bharata, do you wish to sit beside me as I do this? A brāhmaṇa may sit on one side to restrain men here, but for those who have been anointed, there is no prescribed sitting in protest. Rise up, O tiger among men, abandon this harsh vow; swiftly go to Ayodhyā, the foremost city, O Rāghava.” But Bharata, remaining seated, looked all around at the townspeople and countryfolk, and said, “Why do you not instruct my noble brother?” The townspeople and countryfolk replied to the great-souled one, “We recognize Kakutstha; Rāghava speaks rightly. He too, greatly fortunate, abides by his father’s command; therefore, we are not able to turn him aside directly.” Hearing their words, Rāma spoke: “Listen to the words of friends who see with the eye of righteousness. Having heard both these matters fully and rightly, Rāghava, arise, O mighty-armed one, and touch the water along with me.” Then, having risen and touched the water, Bharata spoke these words: “Let the assembly, the counselors, and the guilds listen to me. I do not ask my father for the kingdom, nor do I command my mother; I do not permit the noble Rāghava, knower of the highest dharma. If it is absolutely necessary to fulfill my father’s command, then I myself will dwell in the forest for fourteen years.” Righteous Rāma, astonished by his brother’s truthful words, looked upon the citizens and countryfolk and spoke: “What was promised, pledged, and granted by my living father cannot be undone either by me or by Bharata. I must not act contrary to dharma, nor is forest-dwelling to be despised by me; what was rightly spoken by Kaikeyī and done by my father was well done. I know Bharata to be patient and one who honors elders; in this matter, all is well with this great soul, steadfast in truth. When I return from the forest with this righteous brother, I shall become, together with him, the foremost lord of the earth. The king, at Kaikeyī’s urging, was bound by my promise; let Bharata free that great king, our father, from falsehood.” Thus another chapter came to an end. The assembled great sages, amazed at the meeting of the two brothers whose energy was incomparable, felt their hair stand on end. Then the groups of seers and perfected sages, though invisible, praised those two great-souled sons of Kakutstha. They said, “Blessed is he whose two sons are both wise in dharma and mighty in righteousness; hearing their conversation, we all long for such sons.