Death of Queens and Rama Sends Bharata to Conquer the Gandharvas

We had seen Sita descending to reach Mother Earth as a test of her purity. At the moment when everyone was in awe of the spectacle, Rama was in grief beyond measure at losing Sita. Though he is an avatar of Vishnu, he has lived as a man—felt love, endured separation, and now faces irrevocable loss. His sorrow is not just personal; it is cosmic. The woman he loved, the queen he abandoned for the sake of dharma, has returned to the Earth, leaving him with nothing but memories and regret. The silence that follows is heavy, filled with the weight of choices made in the name of righteousness. He never stopped loving Sita. He had to choose raja-dharma (duty to kingdom) over pati-dharma (duty to wife). Her departure feels like the final severing of his earthly ties with her. He requests goddess Earth to return Sita or allow him into it to be with her or face the harsh consequences. When the world was terrified at the threat, Brahma appears and appease Rama. He speaks not to Rama the king, but to Rama the divine. Brahma reminds him of his true nature: that he is Vishnu incarnate, born to restore dharma on Earth. Sita’s departure marks the end of that mission. Her return to the Earth is not a punishment, but a transcendence—a return to purity, to the source. Brahma’s words are not just consolation; they are revelation. He tells Rama that his earthly role is complete, and that he will soon reunite with Sita in the celestial realm, beyond the bounds of human suffering. Brahma’s intervention is a reminder that the divine play (leela) must end, and that the actors must return to their true selves. Rama, the ideal king, must now become Vishnu once more. Sita, the ideal wife and mother, returns to the Earth, her purity unquestioned, her dignity intact. By reminding him of his divine nature, Brahma lifts Rama out of his human anguish. Rama’s role on Earth is complete. Sita’s return to Earth signals the end of the divine play (leela). Thus, the departure of divine mother triggered the end of divine play of Ramayana as it is. 

Brahma also told Rama of Valmiki’s Ramayana, the sacred poem narrating his entire life, past and future. This tells ramayana is written before the story has happened. After Brahma departed, the sages of Brahmaloka stayed to hear the Uttara Kanda. Rama, still mourning Sita, asked Valmiki to narrate it the next day, and returned to the hermitage with his sons, Kusha and Lava, spending the night in sorrow and remembrance. We can look at the successive events past this episode in following chapters. 

 

In chapter 99, the death of the queens can be seen. 

When dawn broke after the night of sorrow, Rama gathered the great ascetics and gently instructed his twin sons, Kusha and Lava, to sing the concluding portion of the Ramayana. As the noble sages took their seats, the two princes sang the Uttara Kanda—the moving epilogue of the great epic that told of Sita’s final act of purity and the destiny of their divine father. 

Having witnessed Sita’s descent into the earth, which served as the ultimate proof of her chastity, and with his grand sacrifice completed, Rama was left heartbroken. Deprived of Sita’s presence, he looked upon the world as an empty wilderness. Overcome with grief yet maintaining royal composure, he dismissed the assembled kings, sages, monkeys, bears, and titans, rewarding them with immense treasure for their loyal service and devotion. After bidding them farewell, the lotus-eyed Lord of Ayodhya—ever absorbed in the thought of Sita—returned alone to his kingdom, carrying the ache of separation deep within his heart. 

Despite being urged to remarry, Rama never took another consort, for his heart remained forever bound to Sita. During every sacred sacrifice that followed, he installed a golden image of Janaki beside him, symbolizing her eternal presence. His love and fidelity to her transcended mortal loss. Over the centuries, Rama performed countless Vedic sacrifices: the Vajamedha Yajna, Vajapeya, Agnishtoma, Atiratra, and Gosava among others, each marked by magnificent generosity. The scriptures recount that he performed the Vajapeya ten times more than the Vajamedha, and his gifts of gold and cattle flowed boundlessly to priests, ascetics, and the needy. His reign was an age of sacrifice, charity, and divine order—a golden epoch under the shelter of righteousness (dharma). 

For ten thousand years, Rama ruled Ayodhya with unwavering virtue and compassion. The bears, monkeys, and rakshasas who had once served him in battle now lived peacefully under his protection, and neighboring monarchs came regularly to pay homage to the righteous ruler. The kingdom flourished under his reign: rains came in proper season, harvests were abundant, the skies were clear, and disease and untimely death vanished from the land. No one suffered from poverty or sorrow; every citizen was content and prosperous. The city of Ayodhya shone with peace and purity—an image of heaven on earth. 

As time passed, Rama’s mother Kausalya, now advanced in years, peacefully departed this world, surrounded by her sons and grandchildren. Her soul ascended to the celestial realm, where she was lovingly reunited with her husband King Dasaratha. Soon after, Sumitra and Kaikeyi, who had both performed many acts of devotion and penance, also left their mortal bodies, joining Kausalya and Dasaratha in heaven. There, they received the divine reward of their virtues and were embraced in everlasting joy. 

In remembrance of his mother, Rama performed sacred rites and bestowed precious gifts upon ascetics and brahmins. He offered sraddha ceremonies with rare jewels and great humility, honoring the ancestors and sustaining the traditions of dharma. With each act of sacrifice and devotion, Rama strengthened the moral fabric of the world, upholding truth, compassion, and righteousness for the benefit of all living beings. 

Thus, through thousands of years of peaceful and just rule, Rama, the scion of Raghu, embodied the divine ideal of kingship. His reign became a beacon of harmony between heaven and earth, a time when duty, faith, and compassion prevailed. The memory of Sita remained ever-present in his heart—his sorrow transformed into sanctity—and under his guidance, the world lived in the light of righteousness and bliss. 

In chapter 100, Rama sends Bharata to conquer the Gandharvas. 

In the prosperous reign of Rama, one day a distinguished visitor arrived at his court — Gargya, the son of the illustrious sage Angiras, a Brahmarishi of immeasurable glory and wisdom. He had been sent by King Yudhajita of Kaikeya, Rama’s maternal uncle, bearing tokens of deep affection and esteem. As a gesture of goodwill and kinship, Yudhajita sent ten thousand horses, along with rich carpets, gems, splendid fabrics, and ornaments of dazzling beauty — a royal tribute befitting the nobility of the House of Raghu. 

When Rama received news of the arrival of the great sage and the magnificent gifts, he was filled with reverence and gratitude. Accompanied by his royal entourage, the virtuous Raghava went out from Ayodhya to meet Gargya, walking a full mile to honor him — just as Indra pays homage to his divine preceptor Brihaspati. Upon seeing the sage, Rama bowed with folded hands, performing every act of welcome and respect due to a holy guest. He then accepted the generous offerings, not as mere wealth, but as a sacred sign of love from his mother’s brother, King Ashvapati of Kaikeya. 

Once Gargya was duly received and escorted into the royal palace, Rama offered him a seat of honor and inquired affectionately about the welfare of his uncle, his kin, and the people of Kaikeya. His words carried the warmth of family and the grace of a king who held dharma above all. Then, turning to the sage with devotion and curiosity, Rama asked what message his uncle had entrusted to him. 

The venerable Rishi Gargya, glowing with divine wisdom, spoke with eloquence and calm authority: 
“O Rama, Long-armed Hero, your uncle Yudhajita sends you this affectionate request. There lies a beautiful and fertile land of the Gandharvas, rich in fruits and roots, on the banks of the mighty Sindhu River. Its soil yields abundance, and its cities are splendidly built, but it is now under the control of valiant Gandharvas, well-armed and skilled in warfare. My lord Yudhajita desires that you, in your glory and strength, conquer this land, defeat these warriors, and claim the territory for your house. None but you, O Kakutstha, can accomplish this, for the task demands divine valor. The country is of great beauty and benefit—heed your uncle’s counsel, for it will bring you and your lineage lasting prosperity.” 

Rama listened thoughtfully to the sage’s message and felt pleased by the trust and affection shown by his uncle. He smiled gently and replied, “So be it.” Then, turning to his beloved brother Bharata, Rama’s eyes glowed with resolve and brotherly confidence. He addressed Gargya again: 

“These two young princes—Taksha and Pushkala, the valiant sons of Bharata—shall lead this expedition under their father’s guidance. Protected by my uncle Yudhajita and guided by their father’s wisdom, they will prove their devotion and bravery. Bharata shall command the army, conquer the land of the Gandharvas, and install his sons as rulers of the two principal cities. Once their rule is firmly established, Bharata, my righteous brother, will return to Ayodhya.” 

Thus, with words of faith and foresight, Rama ordered Bharata to depart and begin the campaign. The auspicious moment was chosen under the constellation Saumya (Mercury), and accompanied by the venerable Rishi Gargya, Bharata set forth with a mighty army and his two heroic sons. 

The departure of the army from Ayodhya was a magnificent sight—its radiance so great that even the gods themselves could scarcely approach it. The host was vast and disciplined, shining like a river of valor flowing across the earth. Alongside the human warriors marched titans, forest-dwellers, and mighty beings of fearsome strength—Bhutagramas, rakshasas, and creatures that fed upon flesh, eager for the spoils of battle. Even lions, tigers, boars, and birds of prey flew and ran ahead, sensing the approaching war. 

With perfect order and morale, the cheerful and healthy soldiers marched tirelessly. After a journey of a month and a half, the army of Bharata reached the Kingdom of Kaikeya, ready to fulfill Rama’s command, conquer the Gandharvas, and establish the glory of the Raghu dynasty on the fertile banks of the Sindhu. 

This concludes chapters 99, 100 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen the story unfolding following Sita’s departure. Rama listened to Uttara Kanda with a heavy heart and resume to rule the kingdom for thousands of years. The kingdom flourished under his reign as Rama ruled with unwavering virtue and compassion. As years passed on, Rama’s mother Kausalya and Sumitra,Kaikeyi departs the world peacefully. In remembrance of his mother, Rama performs sacred rites and bestow precious gifts upon ascetics and brahmins. One day, a distinguished visitor Gargya pays a visit to Rama’s kingdom and asks Rama to conquer the land of the Gandharvas. Rama accedes and promptly sends Bharata and his sons on this mission. We can look at Rama’s army defeating Gandharvas and taking over their kingdom in subsequent chapters. We are at the tail end where Rama bestows kingdom to his own sons – Lava, Kusha as well as Bharata’s, Lakshmana’s sons. This can be looked at in the next few chapters.

Towards the End: Sita's Departure; Rama's Grief, Anger and Brahma's Appease

We looked at the sad episode of Sita descending into Earth and concluding her life as the companion of Rama. Rama conducts a test of purity yet again to settle the issue once and for all and reunite with Sita after looking at the eloquent singing of Ramayana from Lava, Kusa infront of him. The mesmerizing performance brings back the memories of Sita and he would like to reunite with the divine mother who is as pure as fire. Since he abandoned Sita on the pretext of bad public opinion forming after living in the captivity of Ravana, Rama can only live again with Sita as a king after the subjects of the kingdom believe in her chastity. The inner urge to reunite with her and the role as a noble ruler who puts his people before personal life influenced him to put her to test once again infront of the world before accepting her into his life. Rama might be an ideal ruler who lived for the world and for the people of his kingdom but the treatment meted out to Sita can be termed as sad, avoidable and unfortunate. He put the pure woman to test not once but twice and the second one had the mother leave him permanently. If a woman who wavers in faith is put to test, she can take it but when a woman who is unwavering in devotion to Rama is subjected to harsh tests by the very Rama, the principled woman deserted Rama himself and left the world. This is a poignant episode of the epic as the woman who is taken for granted by Rama decides to leave him and the mortal world, leaving Rama and the whole world in awe and stunned. Nothing is more shocking than mother Sita leaving Rama when he longs for her and wishes most to live with her. This is one of the heart wrenching episodes along with abandoning Sita in forest when pregnant, imbibed in the story of Rama as Ramayana. In short, life of Sita is most painful in the life of Rama for mother Sita went through the most arduous tenure as a wife of Rama. This pain and difficulty of Sita is Ramayana for you, as is the case with every noble woman in this world who has to undergo ultimate tests every day to make a living and to bring a Rama to the world. 

Sita was born from the Earth; her return signifies the completion of her earthly journey. Her act is a silent protest against societal norms that demanded repeated proof of a woman’s virtue. The Earth’s embrace confirms her purity beyond doubt—no mortal judgment can surpass divine validation. Let us look at the two painful episodes of test of purity yet again to understand why Sita decided to leave the mortal world. After Lord Rama defeated Ravana in Lanka and rescued Sita, he faced a dilemma — not of love, but of dharma. As king and upholder of righteousness, he was bound to address what people might say about Sita’s chastity after months in captivity in another man’s palace.When Sita was brought before him, Rama, though inwardly torn, spoke in front of the assembly of warriors and gods: “I have rescued you to fulfill my duty as a husband and a warrior. But as a king, I cannot take you back without proof of your purity.” It was a moment that shocked even the gods. But Sita, deeply hurt yet resolute, responded with divine dignity. Sita prayed to Agni Deva (the Fire God): “If I have been pure in thought and deed, let this fire protect me.” She entered the blazing fire — Agni Pariksha — in front of all assembled. To everyone’s astonishment, Agni himself emerged carrying Sita unharmed, radiant and divine. Agni declared:“O Rama, Sita is spotless and pure. Her heart has never strayed from you.” Rama then accepted her, explaining that the ordeal was necessary to silence public doubt and establish her honor beyond question. Years later, even as Rama ruled Ayodhya justly, rumors began circulating among his subjects. Some questioned whether Sita, having lived in Ravana’s palace, was truly fit to be queen. Though Rama had already accepted her purity, he placed his kingly duty (raja dharma) above his personal feelings. To uphold the sanctity of the throne and public trust, he made the painful decision to banish Sita to the forest, even though she was pregnant. This act was not out of doubt in her chastity, but out of fear that public mistrust might taint the kingdom’s moral fabric. Years later, during a royal Ashvamedha Yagna (horse sacrifice), the twins recited the epic in Rama’s court. Only then did Rama realize they were his sons. Moved by their purity and the words of the sage, Rama longed for reconciliation with Sita. In the grand assembly, Sage Valmiki attested to Sita’s lifelong virtue. Rama agreed and asked Sita to return to him. But Sita, having endured enough trials, chose a different path. She said: “If I have never thought of any man other than Rama, may the Earth, my mother, receive me.” At once, the Earth Goddess (Bhumi Devi) rose from the ground, embraced Sita, and took her into her bosom — a final, divine affirmation of her purity and righteousness. 

From the moment she entered Rama’s life, Sita endured suffering that no other queen or woman in epics had to face: Abduction by Ravana and long separation from her husband. The humiliation of being asked to prove her purity in the Agni Pariksha. Years of exile in the forest — while pregnant — after being abandoned because of public gossip. Raising her children alone, far from the husband and kingdom she loved. She bore all these silently, with unflinching devotion to Rama and unbreakable adherence to dharma. But when she was once again asked to prove her purity — after years of sacrifice, after a sage’s testimony, and after even the gods had vindicated her once before — she saw that there was nothing left for her to prove. At that moment, she chose to end the cycle of human doubt forever and ended herself as a companion unworthy of insults and tests. No one, even Rama can understand her and treat her fairly. This is the moment she shocked Rama and rose above the petty human nature and transcended into highest level, a woman can ever be. The anguish, grief coming out of this episode can be looked at in the following chapters. 

In chapter 98, Brahma appeases Rama’s anger and grief. 

After Sita, the noble Vaidehi, descended into the Earth, the assembled sages and Vanaras cried out in awe and reverence, exclaiming “Excellent! Excellent!” Their voices expressed wonder at her divine departure, yet their admiration contrasted sharply with Rama’s overwhelming grief. Standing amidst the gathering, Rama was overcome by sorrow. Leaning on the staff he had used during the sacrificial rites, his eyes filled with tears, his head bowed, and his heart shattered. His sighs came deep and frequent, and his anguish was mingled with wrath and helplessness. 

Rama’s pain was immeasurable — to see Sita, the embodiment of Shri (divine prosperity and grace), vanish before his eyes was a suffering greater than any he had known before. He cried out that though he had crossed the mighty ocean and conquered Lanka to bring her back once, now he would retrieve her even from the bosom of the Earth itself. In that moment of heartbroken rage, he invoked the Earth Goddess, Vasudha — his mother-in-law, for Sita had been born from her when King Janaka discovered her while ploughing the field. Addressing the Earth, he declared: 

“O Mother Earth, return Sita to me! You hold her in your depths — give her back to me, or you shall see my wrath! If you do not return her, open yourself so that I may join her in the netherworld or in the realm of the Nagas! But if you refuse to yield her, I will tear you apart with your mountains and forests until nothing remains but water!” 

Thus spoke Rama, of the Kakutstha line, his soul torn by grief and love. His words, filled with pain and divine fury, shook heaven and earth. 

At this moment, Brahma — the Creator, accompanied by the hosts of gods — descended to calm Rama’s anguish. Addressing him with reverence and affection, Brahma said: 

“O Rama, O most virtuous of men, do not be incensed. Remember your divine origin and true nature. You are none other than Vishnu, the Supreme Lord, the protector of the worlds. No being is superior to you. Recall your divinity, O hero among kings.” 

Brahma then revealed the truth of Sita’s destiny: “The chaste and faithful Sita, ever devoted to you, has now reached the celestial realm of the Nagas through the merit of her austerities. Do not grieve, for you shall soon be reunited with her in the divine abode.” 

Brahma continued, saying that the great sage Valmiki had composed a sacred poem — the Ramayana — narrating Rama’s life from birth to the present and even foretelling future events. It contained the story of his virtues, victories, sorrows, and his ultimate destiny. 

He declared that this epic was not merely a poem but divine scripture, capable of removing ignorance and granting wisdom. “O Rama,” Brahma said, “Valmiki, the great sage, is wholly devoted to you. His work, filled with truth and beauty, will be sung forever. I, along with the gods, have already heard it and can affirm its sacredness. Now, O Rama, listen with the assembled Rishis to its conclusion — the Uttara Kanda, which reveals what is yet to come in your life.” 

Having thus comforted Rama and revealed the divine nature of both Sita’s fate and the Ramayana itself, Brahma and the celestial hosts ascended back to their heavenly abodes. 

After their departure, the great sages from Brahmaloka — radiant and high-souled beings — remained behind, eager to hear the narration of the Uttara Kanda and to witness how Rama’s divine story would conclude. 

Then Rama, moved by Brahma’s words but still weighed down by sorrow, turned to the sage Valmiki and said, “O Blessed One, the Rishis of Brahmaloka wish to hear the Uttara Kanda — the tale of what shall happen to me. Let it be recited tomorrow in their presence.” 

Thus resolved, Rama sought out his sons, Kusha and Lava, and dismissed the gathered assembly. Together, they returned to Valmiki’s hermitage — the humble leaf-thatched abode where Sita had once lived in exile. 

That night, Rama, the scion of Raghu, remained there, his heart aching with remembrance and loss. Though the divine had assured him of reunion beyond the mortal world, as a man and a husband, he could not escape the sorrow of separation. He spent the night lamenting for Sita — the beloved queen, the virtuous wife, and the divine consort — whose departure marked both the end of his earthly happiness and the beginning of his eternal reunion to come. 

This concludes chapter 99 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen Rama’s grief and anger over Sita’s exit and Brahma appeasing him. Rama threatens Mother Earth to return Sita or allow him into it or face the consequences. At this moment, Brahma appears and tries to calm Rama by saying he would reunite with Sita in the divine abode. Brahma unfolds the truth that Sita reached her destiny of celestial realm of Nagas through the merit of her austerities and Rama would soon meet her. This is the complete story of Uttara Kanda which the great sage Valmiki had foreseen and written even before Rama has ended his being as mortal human. Living in the memories of Sita, Rama spends the night in the Valmiki ashram. Rama is eager to know the remaining life of himself and the story which happens from henceforth before it unfolds. This will be beautifully delivered by Lava and Kusa. We can look at further happenings following the departure of Sita in subsequent chapters.