Stock Photo - Rama refuses Bharata´s entreaties to return, Bharata continues to urge Rama to return to Ayodhya to be crowned, arguing that their father had sinned against him for fear of his wife´s wrath. But Rama still refuses, citing Kaikeyi´s right to insist on the two promises given to her by Dasaratha and their duty to fulfill them, and tells Bharata to return to Ayodhya to be installed as regent lest their father end up in hell. Vasistha now tries to persuade Rama by claiming that in the unbroken line of descent of the Iksvaku dynasty only the eldest son had ever become king, but Rama cites obedience to his father´s command as a higher duty. Bharata says that he is unfit to govern the kingdom and that he will remain in the forest instead of Rama, but again Rama cites the absolute imperative of a parent´s command. The assembled populace agree that Rama is right. Image taken from Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda. Originally published/produced in Udaipur, 1650.