Dasharatha married Kaikeyi, princess of Kekaya, who saved his life in battle by serving as his charioteer. Their son Bharata was born after the Putrakameshti sacrifice. Kaikeyi later demanded Rama's exile and Bharata's coronation, using boons Dasharatha had granted her.
Bharata married Mandavi, daughter of Kushadhvaja and niece of King Janaka, in the same grand ceremony at Mithila where Rama wed Sita and the four Kosala princes each took a bride from Janaka's house.
Bharata governed Ayodhya for fourteen years as regent, refusing the throne itself and ruling in Rama's name with his brother's sandals placed upon the royal seat as a symbol of the absent king's authority.
Bharata was away at his grandfather's kingdom when Dasharatha exiled Rama and died of grief. Returning to find his father dead and his mother responsible, Bharata rejected the throne and ruled Ayodhya only as Rama's regent, placing Rama's sandals on the throne.
Bharata marched with the army and court into the Chitrakuta forest to beg Rama to reclaim the throne, but Rama held firm to his father's word and refused — so Bharata took Rama's wooden sandals and vowed to govern Ayodhya only as their guardian until his brother's return.
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