In the midst of the assembly, the wise and gentle Rāma spoke, “Dear one, among these gatherings, these noble groups, and the twice-born, it is by following righteousness that one remains on the path of the virtuous. One should never disregard the words of an aged and righteous mother; by obeying her command, one does not stray from dharma. And if you fulfill the request of Bharata, who pleads with you, O Rāghava, you do not depart from yourself, for you are ever devoted to truth and righteousness.” Hearing these words spoken sweetly by his revered teacher, Rāghava himself responded to the venerable Vasiṣṭha, who was seated among them. He said, “Whatever parents do for their child can never truly be repaid; the debt to mother and father is beyond compensation. Yet, by giving as much as one is able, by bathing and clothing, by always speaking kindly, and by nurturing, one can repay them as best as possible. Daśaratha is my father, my king and progenitor; whatever command of his I have received, I will not disregard.” As Rāma spoke thus, Bharata, noble-hearted and deeply distressed, immediately turned to the charioteer and said, “Quickly spread out kuśa grass for me here on the ground. I will sit facing my noble brother until he is pleased with me. Without food, without light, deprived of wealth like an ascetic, I will lie before this shelter until he returns.” Seeing this, Sumitra, filled with sorrow, placed a kuśa mat on the ground and himself lay upon it. Rāma, the illustrious royal sage, addressed Bharata gently, “Why, O Bharata, do you wish to take this vow and sit beside me in such a manner? A brāhmaṇa may sit in protest to restrain men here, but for one who has been anointed, there is no prescribed sitting in protest. Rise up, O tiger among men, abandon this harsh vow; swiftly return to Ayodhyā, the foremost city.” But Bharata remained seated, looking around at the townspeople and countryfolk, and said, “Why do you not instruct my noble brother?” The people replied, “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, O mighty-armed one, arise and touch the water along with me.” Then Bharata rose and, after touching the water, addressed the assembly, counselors, and guilds, “Let all listen to me. I do not ask my father for the kingdom, nor do I command my mother; nor do I permit the noble Rāghava, knower of the highest dharma, to do so. If it is absolutely necessary to fulfill my father’s command, then I myself will dwell in the forest for fourteen years.” 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 do I despise forest-dwelling; 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.” At this, the one hundred and eleventh sarga of the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa comes to a close. The assembled sages, amazed at the meeting of these two brothers whose energy was incomparable, felt their hair stand on end. The groups of seers and perfected sages, though invisible, praised the two great-souled sons of Kakutstha, saying, “Blessed is he whose two sons are both wise in dharma and mighty in righteousness; hearing their conversation, we all long for such sons.” Then, eager for the destruction of the ten-headed one, the seers quickly gathered and spoke to Bharata, “Born in a noble line, great in wisdom, conduct, and fame, you should accept Rāma’s words if you honor your father. We desire that Rāma may always be free of debt to his father; and because of Kaikeyī, Daśaratha has attained heaven, being free from debt.” Having spoken thus, the Gandharvas, great sages, and royal sages all departed to their own abodes. Delighted by these auspicious words, Rāma, whose appearance was radiant, honored the sages with a joyful face. But Bharata, his limbs weakened, with joined hands and trembling voice, once again spoke to Rāghava, “Considering royal duty and the tradition of our lineage, you ought to fulfill the request of my mother and myself, O Kakutstha. I alone am not able to protect this vast kingdom, nor to please the citizens and countryfolk who are devoted.