After killing the demon Rāvaṇa and rescuing mother Sītā, Lord Rāmacandra returned to His capital, Ayodhyā. He was greeted on the road by the princely order, who showered His body with beautiful, fragrant flowers while great personalities like Brahmā and other demigods glorified His activities in great jubilation. When Lord Bharata understood that Rāma was returning to Ayodhyā, He immediately took upon His head Lord Rāma's wooden shoes and came out from His camp at Nandigrāma. Lord Bharata was accompanied by ministers, priests, and other respectable citizens, by professional musicians playing their instruments pleasingly, and by learned brāhmaṇas loudly chanting Vedic hymns. Following in the procession were chariots decorated with flags and drawn by beautiful horses with harnesses of golden rope. There were soldiers bedecked with golden armor and servants bearing betel nut, an umbrella, whisks, various grades of precious jewels, and other paraphernalia befitting a royal reception. Accompanied in this way, Lord Bharata, His heart softened by intense loving ecstasy and His eyes full of tears, approached Lord Rāmacandra and fell at His lotus feet.