The Curse Fulfilled: Dasharath's Final Days

"'Son, what took you so long?' they asked. 

"Filled with guilt and shame, I was unable to speak. The blind couple then realized something dreadful had occurred and became suspicious of me. I prostrated myself before them and confessed that I had accidentally caused the death of their son. Overwhelmed by this tragic news, the blind and elderly couple fell silent, tears streaming down their sightless eyes. I led them to the riverbank, where their son lay lifeless. They expressed that their only reason for living in this world was their beloved son, and without Shravan Kumar, their lives had lost all meaning.  

'Just as we are dying from the separation from our son, you too will die from the loss of your son,' they cursed me. 

"They then burned themselves alive on their son's funeral pyre."

King Dasharath found himself telling the story, feeling a sense of urgency and fear. "The curse of Shravan Kumar's parents is haunting me," he said with his eyes wide open. "I can hear the cries of his blind parents calling out to me. I believe my time has come." Before his last breath, King Dasharath said, "Kaushalya, I am now as blind as Shravan Kumar's parents. The grip of death is tightening around me. Will Ram come to release me from this curse? Can I see Ram one last time before I pass? Only Ram can save me from the clutches of death."

After Ram left for the forest, Dasharath remained alive for only six days. In his final moments, he repeated Ram's name six times. When the news of King Dasharath's death spread, the palace was filled with grief. All the queens were sobbing and screaming as they held the king's dead body. The entire palace, including the servants, was overcome with sorrow as they mourned the loss of their ruler. The city of Ayodhya was also shrouded in despair, with sadness reaching every household. The morning after Dasharath's passing, the rishis arrived at the palace. Maharshi Vashishth wished to alleviate the grief, and until Bharat returned, King Dasharath's body was treated with oil. Messages were sent to ensure Bharat and Shatrughna's immediate return.

Bharat experienced nightmares during the night, suspecting something terrible had occurred at the palace. His suspicions were confirmed when a messenger informed him that Maharshi Vashishth awaited him in Ayodhya. Bharat and Shatrughna quickly prepared their chariot and hastened toward Ayodhya. Eight days later, they arrived home.

Bharat and Shatrughna arrived in a deserted city filled with sadness. The two brothers then went to Queen Kaikeyi's room to find her lying on a bed of gold. She rose to embrace Bharat and Shatrughna. After they sought her blessings by touching her feet, she showered them with parental affection, kissing their foreheads. Bharat inquired about the whereabouts of his father, brothers Ram and Lakshman, and sister-in-law Seeta, as they were all missing.