‘Tell me, my friend,’ said Bharata, ‘is all well with the Lord of bliss and with his younger brother (Lakshmana) and the revered Janaki?’ Hanuman told him briefly all that had happened, whereat Bharata felt much distressed, his heart filled with remorse.

‘Ah, me, good heavens, why was I born into this world at all, if I could not be of any service to Rama, my Lord?’ Then, realizing that the circumstances were adverse, Bharata, that gallant and mighty prince, mastered his feelings and again addressed Hanuman:

‘My friend, you will be late in reaching and nothing will avail after daybreak; mount therefore on my arrow, mountain and all, and I will send you straight into the presence of the Lord of grace.’

On hearing this, Hanuman’s pride was aroused. ‘How.’ He thought, ‘can the arrow fly with my weight upon it?’ Then, recalling Rama’s glory, he did reverence to Bharata’s feet and spoke with folded hands:

‘Cherishing the thought of your majesty, O my lord and master, I’ll set on my journey right swiftly.’ Thus speaking Hanuman took his leave and after making obeisance to Bharata’s feet, set forth.

As he journeyed forth, the Son of the Wind again and again extolled to himself the might of Bharata’s arm, his amiability and his virtue and his boundless devotion to the Lord’s feet.

Meanwhile, having seen Lakshmana’s condition, Rama uttered words after the fashion of an ordinary man. ‘Though half the night has passed, Hanuman has not yet turned up!’ So speaking and raising his brother, Rama clasped him to his bossom.