On the eleventh day, Bharata, having completed the purification rituals, commenced the sacred rites for the deceased king. In accordance with royal dignity and tradition, he followed these rites with generous donations. True to the civil and secular customs set forth by the late king, Bharata bestowed gifts upon the people: pure white herds of goats to the communities, along with cows, lands, houses, chariots, and horses to those deserving, particularly those connected to the royal lineage.
On the thirteenth day, he gathered the mortal remains of his father, now sanctified by fire, from the funeral pyre. Overwhelmed with grief, he cried aloud, mourning the final severance of his bond with the king. He lamented, “O Father! Rama, whom you entrusted to my care, has gone to the forest. I am left in an unbearable void. Mother Kausalya, already devastated by Rama’s exile, now bears the weight of your departure, wandering in a darkness deeper than ever.”
Gazing at the pyre that had consumed his father’s physical form, Bharata lifted the purified ashes, his hands trembling as he stumbled in sorrow. Observing his fragile state, the court scholars and counsellors approached to console him. Satrughna, struck by his own grief, fell to the ground, weeping inconsolably. None could comfort him, and he cursed the scheming Kaikeyi, who, spurred by the venomous words of Mandhara, had plunged their family and kingdom into a sea of suffering. “Father!” he cried, “How could you leave us in such despair? You, who gave us joy with colorful clothes, sweets, and playthings—who will care for us now?”
Witnessing this poignant scene, even the gathered crowd dissolved into tears. The venerable Sage Vasishta then addressed Bharata:
“O King Bharata, this is the thirteenth day since your father’s passing. You must now perform the sacred act of consigning his remains to the holy waters, ensuring his redemption. Remember, every being born on this earth must endure the inescapable pairs of existence: hunger and thirst, joy and sorrow, birth and death. These are the natural laws of life, impartial and unchangeable. Do not let sorrow deter you from fulfilling your duties.”
Sumantra, too, sought to console Satrughna, reminding him of the inevitable cycles of life. Together, they urged Bharata and Satrughna to rise from their despair, for their grieving mothers depended on their strength.
Meanwhile, Bharata, lost in contemplation, considered seeking Rama in the forest. Satrughna, however, voiced his anguish:
“Rama, our guiding strength, has been cast into exile by a cruel and deceitful woman. Lakshmana, bold and steadfast, was present when our father succumbed to this tragic misjudgment. Why did he not intervene? Why did he not reverse this calamity?”
As their grief-stricken conversation unfolded, Mandhara appeared at the eastern gate, adorned in rich silks and heavy gold ornaments, exuding a false grandeur. To the assembled courtiers, her appearance was a grotesque mockery of the sorrow engulfing Ayodhya. Recognizing her as the root of their suffering, the guards seized her and presented her before Satrughna.
With righteous fury, Satrughna declared, “This woman, the harbinger of our woes, must face justice!” Grasping her by the hair, he prepared to mete out punishment. Mandhara wailed, her attendants scattering in fear. Seeking refuge, they turned to the ever-compassionate Kausalya.
As Satrughna dragged Mandhara through the harem, her jewellery scattered like fallen stars, symbols of the ill-gotten wealth Kaikeyi had lavished upon her for her treachery. Trembling with fear, Mandhara fell at Bharata’s feet, begging for mercy. Bharata, steadfast in virtue, intervened:
“Satrughna, under no circumstances may a woman be killed, whether by a king or his subjects. I grant her pardon, not out of pity for her deeds, but to uphold the values instilled in us by Rama. He, who cherishes Kaikeyi more than I, would never forgive us if we acted otherwise.”
Reluctantly, Satrughna released Mandhara, who collapsed at Kaikeyi’s feet, consumed by shame. The crooked woman, spared by Bharata’s wisdom and restraint, found herself confronted by the magnitude of her actions.
In these moments of turmoil and resolution, each character revealed their unique virtues—Bharata’s forgiveness, Satrughna’s fierce loyalty, and Kausalya’s compassion. These qualities, steeped in tradition and culture, preserved the balance and harmony of the kingdom. Through the intricate unfolding of events, the legacy of the Ikshvaku dynasty endured, is a testament to the enduring strength of righteousness in the face of adversity.
