Ayodhya Kaanda
97 - Bharata takes a dip in the Mandakini and arrives at Citrakuta; Bharata and others meet one another, mourn the kingís death and perform his Sraddha (obsequies)
Chaupais
Description
Bharata knew every word of his servant (Guha) to be true; and proceeding further he drew near to the hermitage. When he saw the forest and the mountain range, he was as glad as a hungry man on getting excellent food. Just as a people tormented by the fear of calamities* and afflicted by threefold troubles as well as by the influence of evil stars and by pestilence feel happy on migrating to a well-governed and prosperous country, Bharata too had similar feelings. The natural wealth of the forest grew while Sri Rama lived there, even as the people rejoice on securing a good king. The charming forest was the sacred realm referred to here; Discretion was the king (who ruled over it), while Dispassion was his counsellor. Likewise the five Yamas† and the five Niyamas* constituted the champions of the realm, Mount Citrakuta stood for its capital, while Peace and Good Understanding represented the virtuous and lovely queens. In this way the good king was complete in all the limbs† of a good state; and depending as he did on Sri Rama's feet his heart was full of zeal.