“Bharata’s brotherly affection, devotion and conduct dispel the woes and evil of those who talk or hear of them. Whatever may be said with regard to them, dear friend, will be quite inadequate; it is no wonder that a brother of RŒma should be like that. All of us who have seen Bharata and his younger brother have become praiseworthy among women.” Hearing of his virtues and seeing his forlorn state they lamented, “Surely he is not a fit son for such a vile mother as Kaikey¶.” Someone said, “The queen-mother (Kaikey¶) is not to blame at all; all this has been accomplished by God, who is so favourably disposed to us. Of what account are we, vile women, excluded both from secular and Vedic rites and impure by birth as well as by doings, who dwell in an accursed region (woodland) and in a wretched village and are the worst of our class, that we should have such a sight, which is a reward of great religious merit?” There was a similar rejoicing and wonder in every village: it seemed as if a celestial tree had sprung up in a desert. (1—4)