Set out on his journey for the Dandaka forest with Sītā and Laksmana, Śrī Rāma reaches at dusk the hermitage of Sage Bharadwāja in the vicinity of the confluence of the holy Gangā and Yamunā rivers. Paying due honours to Śrī Rāma and his party, the sage recommends Citrakūta as the fittest place for him to sojourn in. Spending the night in discourses on various topics with him, the sage grants him leave early next morning to depart for Citrakūta.