When the gods saw the meeting of Bharata and Ramachandra, they were alarmed and their hearts throbbed; but when their guru admonished them, they got rid of their stupidity and rained down flowers and applauded.

After fondly embracing Ripusudana (Shatrughna), Rama greeted the Nishada chief; and when Bharata saw Lakshmana making obeisance, he too affectionately greeted him.

Lakshmana embraced his younger brother (Shatrughna) with overflowing eagerness and then clasped the Nishada chief to his heart. Next, the two brothers (Bharata and Shatrughna) greeted the host of hermits and rejoiced to receive from them the desired blessing.

Then in a rapture of love Bharata and his younger brother (Shatrughna) placed on their heads the dust of Sita’s lotus feet and made obeisance to her again and again; but she raised them up each time and stroking their heads with her lotus hands, made them be seated.

Sita blessed them in her heart, for she was so love-enraptured that she lost all consciousness of her body. When he found Sita so graciously inclined, Bharata was rid of all anxiety and no more apprehensive.

No one uttered a word nor put a question, for their souls were so full of love that they ceased to act. Then the Nishada chief took courage and bowing his head, submitted with folded hands:

‘Distressed by your absence, my lord, all the queens and the people of the city, the servants, the generals and the ministers of state have come here along with the lord of sages, Vasishtha.’