Bharat meets Rama and Chitrakoots and begs him to return to Ayodhya. Rama refuses, and Bharat returns dejected - but not without Rama's sandals!

Bharatha and Shatrughna fell at Vasishta’s feet and wept aloud. “Already, there has been much delay; it is not advisable to delay any further,” he said, and directed Bharatha to prepare himself for performing the funeral rites of his father.

The house was ready for occupation even before sunset. Rama looked often and long at the neat little cottage, and he praised the devotion and skill of his brother to Sita, in high terms. Sita also appreciated the house and said that she had yearned for a long time to live in just such a habitation.

Sita slept on the soft bed of grass. Lakshmana sat at Rama’s feet in order to massage them tenderly, to relieve the tension of exertion.

Citizens of Ayodhya who had gathered at the palace gates saw them walking as hermits and broke into bitter sobs. Many were so shocked that they fell unconscious. Many beat their heads in sheer despair.

"Sita! You will have to sleep on hard rocky ground, wear live on tubers and roots. Even this food might be difficult to get every day"

Rama tried to picture before Sita fearful scenes of forest life, but Sita was not affected in the least.

When Rama, my very breath, proceeds to the forest, whom

am I to serve here, with this inert material physical object called the body? Lakshmana has no desire to

serve anyone except Rama.

Kausalya couldn’t understand a word he said. She could only say, “Son! Within a few minutes you are to be crowned king, and you talk of the Dandaka Forest! I can’t make sense of what you say.” She thought her son was teasing her with a joke.“Son! In this auspicious hour, even in fun you shouldn’t talk of things of bad omen. Give it up, my lovely gem!”

Kaikeyi asked Dashratha to coronate her son Bharatha and send Rama to forest for fourteen years. Dashratha was shocked, but had to fulfill it.

At Ayodhya, Dashratha announced that Rama would be throned as a King after him and started preparation for his coronation.Before this could happen, the King's favorite queen, Kaikeyi's maid Manthara warned Kaikeyi and told her to use the wishes which Dashratha had promised her.