A Surprise

Surprisingly, on the day when Dashratha had donated cows to Brahmins in anticipation of his sons’ weddings, Bharat’s maternal uncle, Prince Yudhajit, arrived in Mithila. He had been to Ayodhya to take Bharat, his nephew to Kaikeya, his father’s state in the north-west of India, as his father was longing to see his grandson. On being told that Dashratha had left for Mithila with Bharat and Shatrughna, he came all the way down to Mithila.

Yudhajit was always civil and sober in his manners. His coming to Mithila uninvited, therefore did not give offence to Dashratha. Yudhajit however, was forewarned of something happening which had far-reaching consequences. The news of Rama’s marriage had of course been the centre of discussions everywhere. But when Yudhajit reached Ayodhya nobody knew of the further developments which had led to Bharat and Shatrughna’s betrothal to Kushadhwaja’s daughters.

Anyway, Yudhajit did not see anything amiss in what had taken place. He was happy for Bharat.