Dasharatha Questions the Messengers Again and Again

सुनि पाती पुलके दोउ भ्राता। अधिक सनेहु समात न गाता।। प्रीति पुनीत भरत कै देखी। सकल सभाँ सुखु लहेउ बिसेषी।। तब नृप दूत निकट बैठारे। मधुर मनोहर बचन उचारे।। भैया कहहु कुसल दोउ बारे। तुम्ह नीकें निज नयन निहारे।। स्यामल गौर धरें धनु भाथा। बय किसोर कौसिक मुनि साथा।। पहिचानहु तुम्ह कहहु सुभाऊ। प्रेम बिबस पुनि पुनि कह राऊ।। जा दिन तें मुनि गए लवाई। तब तें आजु साँचि सुधि पाई।। कहहु बिदेह कवन बिधि जाने। सुनि प्रिय बचन दूत मुसकाने।।

Hearing the letter, both brothers thrilled with joy; their boundless love could not be contained within their bodies. Seeing Bharata's pure and sacred love, the entire assembly was filled with a special happiness. Then the king seated the messengers nearby and spoke sweet, charming words: 'Brothers, tell me of the welfare of both my young sons, whom you have seen with your own eyes. One dark-complexioned, one fair, bearing bows and quivers, young in age, in the company of sage Kaushika. Do you recognize them? Tell me their nature.' Overcome with love, the king asked again and again. 'From the day the sage took them away, only today have I received true news of them. Tell me, how did the King of Videha come to know them?' Hearing these loving words, the messengers smiled.