Bharata thanked Bharadvaja profusely for his lavish hospitality, which would forever remain a cherished memory in the minds of all of them. To Bharata pining to see Rama the sage said, "A few miles from here, where no men dwell other than the Rishis, is the mountain known as Chitrakuta and to the north of it flows the river Mandakini.Between that river and the mountain, is a cottage, where Rama, Lakshmana and Sita live. Travel south from here and you will soon reach your destination."

After Bharata had taken leave of the sage came the queens to pay their homage. Asked by the sage, Bharata began introducing them. "The one who is despondent and emaciated with grief is Kausalya. Foremost among the queens and divine mother who bore a divine son, like Aditi bore Visnu. The one who stands to the left plunged in sorrow is Sumitra, who holds middle place among the queens. She is mother to the celestially handsome and noble brothers Lakshmana and Satrughna." Of Kaikeyi, with utter disdain Bharata said, "For the blame of this woman, the most virtuous among men is banished to live in the wilderness and noblest among kings to his death. An arrogantly ambitious woman, who in her arrogance believes herself the most beautiful and intelligent, has imperiled the very world with her greed. She stands stripped of all respect and her virtuous facade belies her sinful nature. Know this to be my mother, a ruthless woman full of evil and the cause of my misery."

Bharata's impassioned tirade was broken by his frustrated sobs. The red in his eyes matched the fire of his anger and the anger in his sighs matched the hissing of angry serpent. Pacifying him, Bharadvaja in his wisdom said, "Do not deem Rama's banishment to be Kaikeyi's fault for in times to come it will prove a great boon for the Devas, Danavas and the Rishis."

The night of revelry passed and disappeared with the light of dawn. The apsarasas and gandharvas left but the armies from Ayodhya still inebriated were in a dream like state. Their crushed garlands bore testimony to a glorious night of song, dance and festivity. Bharata once again started on his journey followed by an army that moved like a large cloud spreading over the entire Southern region.