Apprised of Śrī Rāma’s arrival by Sumantra, Daśaratha commands him to usher in Śrī Rāma with his consort. Seeing the Emperor fall unconscious at the very sight of the heir-apparent, the ladies of the royal household start wailing piteously. On Śrī Rāma’s soliciting his permission to retire to the woods, the king enjoins him to take his father captive and ascend the throne. Śrī Rāma in his turn consoles his father by assuring him that he has no hankering for royal fortune and that to him obedience to his fatherís command is of utmost importance. Daśaratha, however, falls unconscious again at the very thought of his separation from Śrī Rāma and Sumantra as well as all the ladies of the gynaeceum follow suit.