Part 40

Having brought that car Pushpaka, adorned with flowers and having stationed himself at a distance, Bibhishana the lord of Rakshasas, being incited to hurry on, humbly and with folded hands, spoke unto Rama, saying, "What shall I do, O Raghava?" Hearing those words the highly powerful Raghava, in the presence of Lakshmana, gave vent to the following accents out of affection--"All these monkeys and bears have brought about the accomplishment of my work with great care. Do thou, satisfy them, O Bibhishana, with diverse jewels and riches. With these and thee, I conquered the city of Lanka, lord of Rakshasas. They all fought with a delighted heart, having renounced all fear of life and who did never go away from the battle-field. Do thou, with a gift of riches and jewel, make good the work of these monkeys and bears who encompassed the accomplishment (of my end). Being honoured and delighted by thee grateful, all these leading monkeys shall repair (to their respective quarters). (If thou art found to be) sacrificing, self-controlled, compassionate and (the just) collector of revenues, all shall be attached unto thee. For this I do address you (thus). O lord of men, the soldiers, disgusted, renounce that king who is void of all royal accomplishments, and who uselessly slays soldiers in the conflict". Being thus accosted by Rama, Bibhishana, with a distribution of jewels and riches, honoured all those monkeys. And beholding all those leading monkeys worshipped with jewels and riches Rama ascended that excellent car, taking the bashful, and high-minded Vaidehi on his lap and accompanied, by his powerful brother Lakshmana, a skilled bowman. And being stationed on the car Kakutstha honouring all the monkeys, the highly powerful Sugriva and Bibhishana, said--"O foremost of monkeys, ye have performed a friendly service--it hath been appreciated by me--do ye repair to your wished-for quarters. O Sugriva, thou, ever afraid of impiety, hast performed all that a loving and well-wishing friend should do. Do thou, encircled by thy army, proceed towards Kishkindha. Do thou, O Bibhishana, live in thy kingdom, Lanka, conferred upon thee, by me. Not even the celestials, headed by Indra shall be able to assail thee. I wish to return to Ayodhya, the capital of my father's (kingdom). I wish to obtain your permission (and for this) I have invited you all". Being thus addressed by Rama, all the leading monkeys bears as well as the Rakshasa Bibhishana said with folded hands--"We wish all to go to Ayodhya. Do thou take us. We shall all range with delight at forests and gardens. Beholding thee installed and bowing unto Kaucalya, we shall soon return to our respective homes, O foremost of kings". Being thus accosted by the monkeys with Bibhishana, the virtuous-souled Rama, spoke unto them and Sugriva and Bibhishana, saying--"Dearer than the dear, I shall attain to, when returning my city, along with you all, I shall enjoy in the company of all my friends and relatives. O Sugriva, do thou soon ascend the car along with the monkeys. Do thou ascend too, O Bibhishana, lord of Rakshasas, with all thy courtiers". Thereupon ascended that celestial car _Pushpaka_, Sugriva, greatly delighted with the monkeys and Bibhishana, with his courtiers. And they all having got up, the excellent car, of Kuvera at the command of Raghava, rose up in the welkin. And in that car coursing at will and drawn by effulgent ganders, Rama greatly delighted appeared like Kuvera (himself). And all the monkeys, bears and the highly powerful Rakshasas sat in that celestial car unobstructed and at their pleasure.

SECTION CXXV.

Being commanded by Rama, that excellent car, drawn by ganders, with a huge noise, rose high up in the welkin. And casting his looks on all sides, Rama, the descendant of Raghus, spake unto Sita, the daughter of the king of Mithila, having a moon-like countenance, saying,--"O Vaidehi, do thou behold Lanka, situate on the summit of the mount Chitrakuta, resembling that of Kailaca and constructed by _Vicwakarma_. And behold, O Sita, that huge arena of battle, bathed in the blood and flesh of the monkeys and Rakshasas. Do thou behold, O thou having expansive eyes, Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, the repressor of people and who obtained a boon, lying there, slain by me on thy account. Kumbhakarna was slain there, the night-ranger Prahasta, as well, and Dumraksha, were slain by the monkey Hanuman. Bidyutmali was slain there by the high-souled Sushena--and Indrajit, the son of Ravana, was slain there in the encounter, by Lakshmana. The Rakshasa named Bikata was slain there by Angadi--and Birupaksha, hard to look at and Mahaparsha and Mahodara. And the powerful Akampana was slain (there) and all other Rakshasas--Trishira, Alikaya, Devantaka and Narantaka--and the two leading and powerful Rakshasas, mad after conflict--the sons of Kumbhakarna--Nikumbha and Kumbha, Bajradanstra, Danstra and many other Rakshasas were slain and the irrepressible Makaraksha was slain (there) by me in the conflict. Akampana was slain--and the powerful Sonitaksha. And Yupaksha and Prajangha were destroyed (there) in the great conflict. The grim-visaged Rakshasa Viddutsjmha was slain there--and Yajnasatru and the highly powerful Suptaghna. (And there was slain) Suryasatru and Brahmasatru. (And there bewailed for Ravana) his spouse Mandodari, surrounded by his thousand other wives. O thou having an excellent countenance, do thou behold the descending place of the ocean, where I spent the night after crossing the deep for thee. O thou having expansive eyes, for thee, this difficult construction of the bridge was made by me over the deep by the help of Nala. Do thou, O Vaidehi, behold the unagitated deep--the abode of Varuna, appearing as if without the other end, roaring and abounding in conchs and pearl oysters. O Maithili, do thou behold the golden mount, which rose above the deep for affording a resting place unto Hanuman. And on the bank of this ocean I halted with my soldiers. And here Mahadeva, the lord of the celestials, was propitiated with me. It behoveth thee to behold this descending place of the high-souled Ocean, known as _Setubandha_,[488] worshipped of the three worlds, highly sacred and destroying even the worst sin. There, Bibhishana, the king of Rakshasas first came to me. Do thou behold, O Sita, Kishkindha, having beautiful gardens, the pleasant city of Sugriva, where Vali was slain by me". And beholding the city of Kishkindha, ruled over by Vali, Sita, incited by her love, addressed Rama, with worthy words, saying--"O king, I wish to repair to Ayodhya thy capital with thee, in the company of Tara, the dear wife of Sugriva, as well as of the wives of other leading monkeys". Being thus addressed by Vaidehi Raghava replied--saying, "this shall be done" and getting at Kishkindha he stopped the car. And having beheld the car stationed he spoke unto Sugriva, saying--"O foremost of monkeys, do thou speak unto all the leading monkeys that they may go to Ayodhya accompanied by their wives. O thou of great strength--they may all go with Sita. Do thou hurry them on, O Sugriva. We shall (soon) go, O thou the lord of monkeys". Being thus addressed by Rama, of unmitigated prowess--the beautiful lord of monkeys, encircled by them, entered speedily the inner apartment and beholding Tara there, said--"O dear, at the command of Raghava and the kind desire of Sita, do thou soon go, taking with thee the wives of all the high-souled monkeys. We shall see Ayodhya and the wives of Dacaratha". Hearing the words of Sugriva, Tara, having a perfectly beautiful person, assembling all the wives of the monkeys, said--"You have been ordered by Sugriva to repair (to Ayodhya) with the monkeys;--to behold Ayodhya, is also a dear object of mine. (I shall behold) Rama enter the city with the citizens and villagers and the wealth and riches of the wives of Dacaratha". Being thus commanded by Tara, the wives of the monkeys, putting on all their ornaments and circumambulating (her) ascended the car, with a view to behold Sita. And beholding the car going up with them all, Raghava again spoke unto Sita, near the mount Rishyamuka, saying,--"Do thou behold there, O Sita, the huge and foremost mount Rishyamuka abounding in gold and various metals, like unto clouds accompanied with lightnings. There I was joined by Sugriva, the lord of monkeys. And there I entered into an agreement, O Sita, for the destruction of Vali. And there is (the lake) Pampa abounding in lilies and skirted by picturesque forest where separated from thee, I bewailed piteously. And on its bank I beheld the pious _Savari_. And there I slew _Kavandha_ and _Yoyanavahu_. Behold there, O Sita, a beautiful tree, in Janasthana, where, O thou ever used to luxuries, for thee, the highly powerful and energetic Yatayu, the foremost of birds, was slain by Ravana. Do thou behold there, O thou of a beautiful person, O thou of auspicious looks, our hermitage and the beautiful cottage of leaves, wherefrom thou hadst been carried away by force by the lord of Rakshasas. Do thou behold there the beautiful and sacred river Godaveri having clear water and the hermitage of Agastya, surrounded by plantain trees. Do thou behold there, O Vaidehi, the great hermitage of _Sarabhanga_, where came the thousand-eyed, Sakra, the subduer of enemies' cities. O worshipful dame, O thou having a middle stature--amongst all those ascetics, thou beholdest, there lived Atri, the lord of our family--resembling the fire of the Sun. There was slain the huge-bodied Biradha by me. There thou didst behold, O Sita, the female ascetic (the wife of Attri) ever performing pious observances. There cometh in view, O thou having a beautiful person, the king of mountains, Chitrakuta, where to propitiate me, came the son of Sumitra. Behold the beautiful Yamuna, having picturesque forest on its bank and the pleasant hermitage of Varadwaya. Behold there the sacred river Ganges, dividing itself into three branches. Behold there the city of Sringabera, where I made friendship with Guha. Behold there, O Sita, the capital of my father. Do thou bow unto Ayodhya, O Vaidehi". Thereupon all the monkeys and Rakshasas along with Bibhishana rose up delightedly and saw the city. Thereupon the monkeys and Rakshasas beheld the city abounding in white houses having spacious compartments, filled with elephants and horses and looking like Amaravati, the capital of Mahendra.

[488] This is still to be seen in the shape of a delapidated bridge near _Rameswar_ a place of pilgrimage. Pilgrims go there Via Madura, a district in South Madras. The Raja of Ramnud in whose Zemindari it is situated is called Setupati.--T.

SECTION CXXVI.

Having completed the fourteen years (of exile), the self-controlled elder brother of Lakshmana, arriving at the hermitage of Varadwaya on the fifth day, saluted the ascetic. And bowing unto Varadwaya, having asceticism for his wealth, he said,--"O thou gifted with six sorts of wealth, hast thou heard of the prosperity and well being (of my city)? Is Bharata still engaged (in guarding the people)? Are my mothers living?" Being thus addressed by Rama the great ascetic Varadwaya replied, delighted, and smiling, unto that foremost of Raghus,--"Abiding by thy command and with matted locks, Bharata is waiting for thee, always honoring thy sandals. And all others are well in thy house. O subduer of thy enemies, I was greatly pained, when I saw thee before entering the huge forest, wearing bark, three with thy wife,[489] deprived of thy kingdom for piety only, walking on foot, renouncing every thing, obeying the command of thy sire, deprived of all comforts, like a celestial banished from heaven, deprived of thy kingdom at the words of Kaikeyi, and living on wild roots and fruits; but beholding thee now of accomplished end, with all thy friends having vanquished the enemy, I have attained to highest delight. O Raghava, I am apprised of immense griefs and happinesses which befell thee when thou didst live in Janasthana. Thy blameless spouse was carried away stealthily by Ravana engaged as thou wert in the behoof of the Brahmanas, and in the protection of all the ascetics. The view of Maricha--the carrying away of Sita,--the beholding of the headless demon,--thy going to (the lake) Pampa,--thy friendship with Sugriva, where Vali was slain by thee,--the enquiry of Vaidehi undertaken by the son of Wind-god,--the construction of the bridge by Nala after the whereabouts of Vaidehi had been known--the conflagration of Lanka by the delighted and the leading monkeys--the destruction, in the conflict, of Ravana proud of his own strength, along with his sons, friends, courtiers, army and steeds--the arrival of the celestials on the destruction of Ravana, the thorn of gods and the grant of boon by them--I have known all these by virtue of my asceticism, O thou fond of virtue. My disciples used to go hence to that city to bring tidings. I shall even now grant thee a boon, O foremost of those using weapons. Do thou accept my _Arghya_[490] and then repair to Ayodhya to-morrow". And respectfully abiding by his words, that effulgent son of the king, delighted, begged of him the boon. "O thou gifted with six qualities, on my way while proceeding to Ayodhya, let all the trees, bearing fruits out of season, and producing honey, bear many a nectar-smelling fruit". No sooner he replied saying,--"Thy promise shall be fulfilled" than all the trees there became like those of heaven. Trees without fruits were filled therewithal and trees without flowers were covered with them. All the trees, whose leaves were dried up, were enveloped with foliage and all of them began to pour honey. The way to Ayodhya for three _yojanas_ was thus filled all over (with trees). Thereupon thousands of monkeys, living, at pleasure and delightedly, on various celestial fruits, thought as if they were in heaven.

[489] _i.e._ thyself, Lakshmana and Sita.

[490] A respectful oblation to gods or venerable men of rice, _durva_ grass, flowers &c with water in a small boat-shaped vessel.

SECTION CXXVII.

Thereupon beholding Ayodhya, Rama, the descendant of Raghu, of light movements and desirous of affording delight unto others, thought of welcoming (them). Thinking thus the intelligent and effulgent (Rama) cast his looks towards the monkeys and spoke unto Hanuman, saying,--"O foremost of monkeys, speedily reparing to Ayodhya do thou learn of the welfare of all people in the palace of the king. Arriving at the city of Sringavera, do thou communicate unto Guha, the king of _Nishadhas_[491] having the forest as his kingdon, my well-being, at my command. Hearing that I am hale and hearty and relieved of all troubles, Guha, my friend like my own self, shall attain to delight. And Guha, the lord of _Nishadhas_, delighted, shall inform thee of the way to Ayodhya and the well being of Bharata. Do thou ask of Bharata his well-being at my words, and communicate unto him my (arrival) with Lakshmana and my spouse after having made good the vow (of my sire)--the carrying away of Sita by the powerful Ravana--the friendship with Sugriva and the destruction of Vali in the conflict--the search of Maithili instituted by thee having got over the huge lord of rivers--the advance (of the monkeys) to the banks of the deep--the view of the ocean, the construction of the bridge--the destruction of Ravana,--the grant of boon by Mahendra, Brahma and Varuna--my meeting with my father by the favour of Mahadeva. Do thou, O gentle one, communicate unto Bharata, my arrival here with the lord of Rakshasas and king of monkeys. (Tell him) 'vanquishing his foes and attaining to excellent fame Rama hath arrived at the gate of the city with his valiant friends, having satisfied the vow (of his sire).' Thou shouldst read the signs expressive of joy or sorrow that Bharata shall display on hearing this and infer therefrom his attitude towards me. Thou shouldst know, from the colour of his countenance, his looks and his words, all the movements and actions of Bharata. Whose mind doth not change obtaining such an ancestral kingdom, filled with all prosperity and abounding in elephants, horses and chariots? If the effulgent Bharata, the descendant of Raghu, ruling over it, wisheth the kingdom for himself, let him lord over the entire earth. Therefore, O monkey, it behoveth thee to come back speedily apprised of his intention and movements, before we proceed further". Being thus commanded, Hanuman, the son of Wind-god, assuming a human shape speedily proceeded towards Ayodhya. Hanuman the son of Maruta rose up in the welkin with velocity like unto Garuda ready to fall upon a huge serpent. Then crossing the Wind-path and the abode of the birds, getting over the terrible confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna, reaching the city of _Sringavera_ and meeting Guha, the energetic Hanuman, delighted, (addressed him) with the following excellent words--"Thy friend Rama, the descendant of Kakutstha, having truth for his prowess, with Sita and son of Sumitra, hath enquired of thy welfare. Having spent five nights[492] till to-day, he, having obtained permission from the ascetic _Varadwaja_, shall proceed to-morrow". Having said this the highly energetic monkey, not caring for the exhaustion of travel, greatly delighted and with hairs erect, rose up with great velocity. Beholding the holy river sanctified with the name of Parasurama, the rivers--Balukini, Baruthi, Gomati, the huge forest of _Sala_ trees, the various countries populated with thousands of people, and proceeding a great distance speedily, that foremost of monkeys got at the trees near _Nandigram_[493] like unto those of Chaitraratha, the garden of the lord of celestials the flowers whereof were being plucked off by many a damsel accompanied by their children decked in various ornaments. He saw at a distance of one _crosa_ from Ayodhya, Bharata wearing the skin of an antelope, poorly, greatly reduced, living in a hermitage, wearing matted hairs, having his body covered with dirt, greatly pulled down in consequence of his brother's disaster, living on roots and fruits, self-controlled; living the life of an ascetic, observing pious observances, with a bundle of clotted hairs on his head, wearing bark and deer skin, having control over his passions and senses, effulgent like _Brahmarshis_, ruling the earth always placing the sandals before him, protecting people of four _Varnas_ against all fear, with courtiers, priests leading a holy life and soldiers all wearing red clothes; around him. All those citizens, fond of piety, did not like to use good clothes beholding the prince use bark and deer skin. Thereupon Hanuman, the son of Maruta spake with folded hands unto him, conversant with piety like virtue incarnate, saying--"Kakutstha, living in the forest of Dandaka with bark and matted hairs, for whom thou art lamenting, hath enquired after thy welfare. Do thou, O worshipful sire, speak out thy welfare and renounce the dreadful grief. Thou shalt in this moment be reconciled to thy brother Rama. Slaying Ravana, and regaining Maithili, Rama, having accomplished his end, hath arrived here with his valiant friends. The highly effulgent Lakshmana and the famed Vaidehi (have also come). Sita fareth well with Rama like unto Sachi in the company of Mahendra". Being thus addressed by Hanuman, Bharata, the son of Kaikeyi, delighted, fell down all on a sudden in a swoon of joy. Thereupon rising up in no time, and welcoming him, Bharata, the descendant of Raghu, spake unto Hanuman communicating the pleasant tidings, the following words. And embracing the monkey respectfully the graceful Bharata sprinkled him with profuse tears not out of grief but of joy. He said,--"Art thou a man or god who hast kindly come here? O gentle one, I shall confer upon thee, who hast communicated unto me this pleasant tidings, hundreds and thousands of kine, hundreds of prosperous villages, sixteen young wives, pious, wearing excellent _Kundalas_, golden-hued, having beautiful noses and breasts, having moon-like countenances, decked with all ornaments and born of respectable families". And hearing from that leading monkey of that wonderful return of Rama, the son of the king, delighted became anxious to behold him and again addressed joyously Hanuman with the following words.

[491] A low caste aboriginal Hindu corresponding to our _Chandalas_ always living in the forest. The Raja of Ramnud in the district of Madura in Madras traces his descent from this Guha.

[492] Having spent five nights after the expiry of fourteen years of exile he is living at the hermitage of Varadwaja. He shall leave that place to-morrow.--T.

[493] The country of Bharata's maternal uncle.--T.

SECTION CXXVIII.