Bharata's words hit Rama like a thunderbolt and he swooned. Weeping bitterly for not being able to even perform the last rites, for that magnanimous king, who had died grieving for him he said, "I have no desire to go back to Ayodhya bereft of its king, even after the period of exile expires. I will miss his guidance and love."

Trying to comfort Sita who sobbed inconsolably he asked Lakshmana to get ready the ingudi cakes, so that they could go to the river and offer their libations. Sumantra accompanied the princes to help them perform the ritual. Rama standing in the waters, turned towards south and said, "Father, you are now in the land of our ancestors, may the libations of this water reach you". He then offered 'Pinda' along with his brothers saying, "We offer you the food that we now partake, for whatever a man partakes so do his gods.Meanwhile the waiting army hearing the mourning royals, left their camp to race towards the direction of the sound.and the clamour terrified the denizens of the forest.

Fleeing in terror, elephants deserted Chitrakuta trundled away into the neighboring forests. Panic-stricken herds of wolves, bears, buffaloes, apes and antelopes joined the flight. Petrified snakes slithered away in fright as ducks, cranes, geese, karandava birds, cuckoos and krauncha birds, flew raucously in all directions. Into this din came, the galloping, riding and walking armies of Ayodhya. When they beheld Rama their eyes brimmed and flowed with tears to see him seated on the bare earth. They censured Kaikeyi and Manthara, for the fate of their beloved lord even as Rama rushed to greet them.