Revised Version

After the dust settled surrounding their father's death two things became urgent to the brothers Bharata and Shatrughna.

"How are we going to find Rama and Lakshmana in the forest?" Bharata said. "They have been gone long enough to make it difficult to find them in a short time."

At Bharata's question Shatrughna agreed, but there was something more urgent. "Our father needs to be put to rest before we attempt a quest like that."

Bharata hung his head in grief before looking to Shatrughna determined. "You are the one who must perform the funeral. After my mother's outburst he expressed that I was not to be responsible for his last wishes."

Shatrughna could see how profoundly this was affecting Bharata. After arriving back home he had learned of his mother's betrayal, his father's death, and that he was to be punished by not being allowed to lay his own father to rest.

Shatrughna had only been able to hold his composure by focusing on what comes next.

"Of course, we can make it a swift farewell so as to find Rama and Lakshmana." Shatrughna was already out the door of their father's study to make the arrangements leaving Bharata to his own devices.

After the funeral Shatrughna could feel it. He lay in his bed encouraging sleep and when it was within reach it would slip through his grasp.

Days later with limited sleep a servant gave a tea to help him sleep. Shatrughna drank the tea setting the cup on his night table. He could feel sleep consume him near instantly. Within his own mind he saw his father. He believed it to be a memory. Before long he began to understand that his father was commanding that something be done to appease him.

"Go, go and hunt me a wild rhino. Gather all three of your brothers and hunt or I will continue to avoid the river of death and haunt your dreams."

The dream startled Shatrughna out of bed sweating and determined. "Prepare our weapons. Bharata and I leave at dawn in search of our brothers."

Bharata and Shatrughna struggled through the forest. While they were prepared they were attempting a quick journey so as to satisfy their father. After a few days they found Rama, Lakshmana and Sita deep in the forest.

At the news of his death Rama and Lakshmana grieved. After the news of their father haunting Shatrughna they decided to quickly find a rhino.

"I have heard of a wild rhino on the clearing over the east side of the forest," Lakshmana erupted. "It would be no time at all if we leave now."

So the brothers went off to stalk the wild beast.

After finding tracks they spent little time stalking before coming upon it. They killed the rhino swiftly with swords and arrows before crows appeared to feast on the rhino's flesh. Shatrughna could feel the heavy weight of his father's haunting ease off of him.

"He has navigated his way across the river," Shatrughna said. "His presence has been lifted."

At this the brothers knew that Dasharatha was satisfied.

Author's Note: I expanded on the story of Bharata and Shatrughna Go to Rama. The additions were used to give depth to the original story in the Tiny Tales from the Ramayana. Many of the additions are representations of how I imagined the scene playing out in more words and more detail. The exchanges between the brothers were all newly added to give more character to the brothers. The events throughout the story are based off the events of Shatrughna performing his father's funeral, the haunting of Shatrughna, and the hunting of the rhino. The greater one-horned rhino is also known as the Indian rhino and has a history of being hunted for sport. The species had been critically endangered but has now had much success with conservation efforts and is now considered endangered. It has been deemed a great feat to have hunted and killed a rhino in history and it makes sense that Dasharatha had asked his sons to hunt a rhino.

Laura Gibbs: The Devas Hide from Ravana,Bharata and Shatrughna Go to Rama.

World Wildlife Fund. Greater One-Horned Rhino. WWF.