When the night dawned, those brothers surrounded by their friends made (morning) ablutions and, after the prayers, returned to Rama.

This kingdom was given to me for the satisfaction of my mother. I am bestowing it back on you. Enjoy it without any obstacles.

O lord of the earth! as an ass cannot follow the pace of a horse or a bird, the pace of Tarkshya (Garuda), I do not have the capability to follow you.

O mighty-armed Rama, a man plants a tree, rears it till it grows into such a large tree with a big trunk that it becomes difficult for a dwarf to climb. When the tree flowers but does not bear fruit, the man who planted it gets no pleasure out of the purpose for which the tree was planted. Being a mighty protector, do not chastise us who are your
servants. This is a simile. You may better comprehend its implications.
(The meaning of the simile is that if you do not assume the throne, the desire of our father, who nurtured you right from your childhood and hoped that one day you will become king and rule the people, will be in vain.)

O Rama, let the elephants following you, intoxicated with ichor, be heard trumpeting. Let the women of the inner apartment rejoice with composed minds (when they hear of your return).

Having seen the illustrious Bharata lamenting that way, Rama, a man of firm determination and self-possession, consoled him thus:

All accumulations of wealth deplete at the end. Every man who attains elevated positions falls at the end. Every union culminates in separation. Every life ends in death.

Even a house constructed with sturdy pillars gets dilapidated and ultimately decays. In the same way people under the sway of old age and death are destroyed (at last).

The passing days and nights quickly decrease the life span of all living beings in this world, like sunrays drying up the water in summer.

Death follows a man wherever he goes. When he sits, death sits with him. Even after travelling a very long distance, the man returns along with death.

People rejoice when the Sun rises and rejoice when the Sun sets. But they are unaware of the decline of the life span of their own.

In a mighty ocean, two pieces of logs meet one another, float together and in due course get separated. In the same way wives, sons, relatives and riches remain together for some time and thereafter get separated. Their separation is certain.

Like a man standing on the wayside says to a passing caravan, 'I am following you', and follows them, the road taken by our fathers and forefathers is certain for every one and cannot be violated by a person treading that path. (So) why should a man grieve?

Our righteous father and lord of the earth, Dasaratha, attained heaven by giving
abundant charities and performing several sacrifices in accordance with tradition.

Dasaratha, our father and lord of the earth, reached heaven by performing auspicious acts and offering abundant charities in sacrifices.

O dear! our father, king Dasaratha, who was honoured by the virtuous and enjoyed the best of pleasures attained heaven after a long life. Therefore, he is not to be grieved over.

No one like you or me should ever mourn about this highly sagacious and learned king who was proficient in scriptural knowledge.

O foremost of the eloquent, compose yourself. Do not grieve. Return to the city (Ayodhya) and reside there. You have been commanded so by our father who was a man of self-control.

O subduer of enemies, I cannot violate the order of the king. You also must respect it for he is our father and friend indeed.

O best of men, if a man aspires to conquer the higher world, he should remain virtuous, compassionate and obedient to his preceptors.