They reached the entrance of Ayodhya. Bharatha was a very smart person and he had a keen sense of observation. He noticed that at the main gate there were no fresh welcoming arches. The mango leaves were all dried up and this was symbolic of the dreary atmosphere and not one of prosperity. He started seeing bad omens and began wondering as to what the matter was. He found all the streets littered with dirt and all the houses appeared very unclean. This unusual situation made him think that something was drastically wrong and that some tragedy had befallen Ayodhya. His chariot was taken straight to the mansion of Kaikeyi.

As soon as he saw Kaikeyi, he could not understand the meaning of the perplexed look which Kaikeyi had. After a few minutes, he realized that the death of his father had taken place, and Rama had been banished to the forest. He ran to his Guru Vasishta. Vasishta described to him, in detail all that had happened. As soon as he got the details of what had happened, Bharatha become very upset. His eyes became very red. He became so excited that he used very harsh words against his mother. He went straight to Kausalya. Unable to bear the death of her husband, and the separation from her own son, Kausalya was in deep sorrow. Bharatha ran to Kausalya, fell at her feet and asked her to pardon him, and said that he was innocent, and that he was not responsible for what had happened. In many ways he asked for her pardon.

Both Kausalya and Vasishta requested Bharatha that he should first perform the last rites for his dead father. It was already 14 days after the death of his father. The body was carefully preserved. The kind of preservatives and methods by which the body was preserved in those days were not such that as we have in these days. Bharatha came to the conclusion that he does not deserve to perform the last rites of his father. Bharatha said that in Ayodhya where Rama does not live he cannot stay even a single moment. Here, we should see that Bharatha even forgot the grief caused by the death of his father. Grief caused by the separation from Rama was much more to him than the death of his father.

But he adjusted himself to the orders of Kausalya and Vasishta, and performed the last rites of his father. The very next day, all the necessary articles were collected for the coronation of Bharatha. But Bharatha would not agree for his coronation. Bharatha said that whatever arrangements have been made for the coronation should be taken along with him to the forest. He proclaimed that in the Ikshvaku Dynasty, it was only the eldest son that had the right to the throne. He being younger had no right at all. He recognized that this was the dharmic way of doing things and he requested Vasishta and others to let him go to the forest. He thought that Rama’s coronation could be performed even in the forest. He always looked to the ideas of people and wanted to follow the ideas of people. So he took many of the people of Ayodhya with him.

In this manner, along with the people of Ayodhya, he undertook the journey to the forest. From some distance, Bharatha saw that Rama was having his hermitage on the Chitrakoota mountain. His heart melted at the sight. The sorrow that came from his heart was something he could not bear. He noticed that Ramachandra’s hair was unkempt. He was shocked to see that Ramachandra who was used to sleeping on a bed of silk, was lying on a bed of leaves and bark on the ground. Rama looked at the sorrow of Bharatha and in many ways tried to console him. But all the attempts made by Rama to console Bharatha did not give him any satisfaction. Bharatha fell at the feet of Rama and said that he would not leave his feet until Rama agreed to return to Ayodhya and accept to become the king. Even in that sorrowful situation, Rama was asking questions in a very peaceful manner: Is everyone well at home? Is the Kingdom going on well? Are the people of the Kingdom well? He was asking questions with an unparalleled peace of mind.

During that conversation, Bharatha told Rama that their father had died. Although Rama was the incarnation of Narayana, because he was in human form and in order to proclaim how one in human form should conduct himself in that situation Rama also appeared as if he suffered very much at the news of the death of their father. Rama and Bharatha consoled each other. Immediately thereafter, Rama and Bharatha went to the river and performed the traditional rites which they do at the death of the father. They returned home and were talking about various things.

The next day Bharatha arranged a big congregation. All the people were requested to pray. The prayers were that either Rama should return to Ayodhya and take charge of the kingdom or since all the sons were on the same footing, Bharatha also should be permitted to stay in the forest along with Rama. Preparing himself for such a task, Bharatha was determined that by some means or the other, he should take Rama to Ayodhya. He was repeatedly saying that he was in no way responsible for the sins committed by his mother. Rama told Bharatha that even his mother Kaikeyi was not responsible for the situation. He explained that in fact they proposed to install Rama on the throne the very next day. Over night due to pressure, this decision had been changed. The change in such a decision overnight must be because of the Divine Will. It was not a human decision. In this manner Rama was giving some explanation or other to Bharatha. Inspite of all explanations, Bharatha did not give up his determination.

When Bharatha left Ayodhya and went to the river Ganges even Guha had some doubts about the intentions of Bharatha. Guha asked Bharatha if he was taking all the attendants with him to Rama with a view to cause some harm to Rama. Bharatha was not in a position to give any reply. Bharatha accused his mother and said because he was born to this women Kaikeyi, he was submitting himself to all this humiliation. From there he went to the ashram of Bharadwaja. He also exhibited some suspicions about Bharatha’s motives. Here it was made very clear how much Bharatha was devoted to Rama. Bharadwaja wanted to test Bharatha. He had a big throne chair prepared and was arranging for a feast. The feast that was arranged by Bharadwaja was not creating any interest in Bharatha. When his brother Ramachandra was living on roots in the forest, he would not participate in the feast.

We should recognize the close relationship and affection that existed between the brothers in those days. Recognizing the connection between Rama and Lakshmana, Bharatha felt very sorry that Lakshmana alone deserved to be close to Rama and that he did not get that opportunity of being close to Rama. In this way Bharatha’s ideal was to serve Rama all the time and thereby derive the grace of the Lord. We can describe in this manner that Bharatha’s devotion and faith were even more than those of Lakshmana. Brothers, between whom such devotion, faith and affection exist, are very rare in this world. These brothers were serving Rama all the time and in that service they were setting an example to mankind.

The people of those days were also such that they will obey good orders immediately. So they recognized the sacred heart of Bharatha and accepted these suggestions. He took Rama’s sandals placed them on the throne, and with a heavy heart went to the near by village Nandigrama. In that village he announced that he would stay without food and without rest till Rama returned to Ayodhya. He decided and began to live a life of austerity in the village Nandigrama in the same manner in which Rama was living in the forest. In this context the elders have been telling us that the attributes and aspects of Rama and Bharatha became one and the same.

• Bharatha gave up his mother, his throne and all his wealth and power. He revealed it in the travail and poverty. He dwelled only in the thought of Rama in the forest and denied himself everything that his brother could not get. By constant contemplation on Rama, even his complexion changed into Rama’s. Following the promise he gave to Rama on the mountain of Chitrakoota, Bharatha was spending all his time in the village of Nandigrama. None of the citizens of Ayodhya could see Bharatha who was leading a secluded life in Nandigrama. The reason for this was that Bharatha took a vow to lead the same life which was being led by Ramachandra, wear the same kind of clothes which Ramachandra was wearing and eat the same kind of roots and fruits which Ramachandra was eating.

After living for fourteen years in the forest and after the death of Ravana, Rama was returning to Ayodhya along with Lakshmana, Sugreeva and various other attendants. On the way, He reached the ashram of Bharadwaja. Rama knew very well the agony in the mind of Bharatha. Rama knew that if he delayed even a little beyond fourteen years, Bharatha would probably enter fire and destroy himself. So, Rama sent Hanuman in advance to Bharatha to tell him about his impending arrival. When Hanuman reached Nandigrama and told Bharatha that Rama was coming, Bharatha was overjoyed and was in ecstasy, and he quickly made all arrangements in Ayodhya for the reception of Rama. He called Sumantra and asked for his chariot to be brought. This chariot was placed on the outskirts of Ayodhya and Bharatha was awaiting anxiously for Rama.

The citizens of Ayodhya were extremely happy. In that happiness they cleaned up all the streets made all preparations for the coronation of Rama. The next day, Rama was proclaimed king and Bharatha was proclaimed the yuvaraja. After the ceremonies were gone through, Rama and Lakshmana stated that all that they had done was for the prosperity and happiness of the people.

While this was the situation a king by name Gandharva was causing a lot of trouble to the people in the two cities Takshasila and Pushkalavati of his kingdom. The people came to Rama and Lakshmana and pleaded that their difficulties should be removed. Bharatha who recognised that the people’s prosperity and the people’s happiness were also the ruler’s prosperity and ruler’s happiness went along with them in order to remove their difficulties. Bharatha challenged the king Gandharva and fought with him very hard for seven days and with the help of the name of Rama, he defeated the Gandharva. After defeating Gandharva, Bharatha made one of the Gandharva’s sons Takshaka, the king of Takshasila. The second son of Gandharva was made the king of Pushkalavati. He returned to Rama and said that he did not want anything more, and that he had no more ambition. He said that he only wanted to spend the rest of his life at Rama’s feet. Bharatha regarded his entire life as belonging to Rama and his ambition was to be the nearest to Rama. All his life was surrendered to the service of Rama.