Part 42

Thereupon having placed her palms on his head Bharata, the enhancer of Kaikeyi's joy, spoke unto his elder brother Rama, having truth for his prowess, saying,--"Abiding by my mother's request thou didst confer this kingdom upon me; I do return thee the kingdom thou didst give me. Like unto a young one unable to carry a heavy burden thrown off by a powerful bull I am unable to carry this huge burden (of the kingdom). I do consider this kingdom infested with thieves, difficult to govern, as it is difficult to re-construct a bridge broken down by a powerful current of water. As an ass cannot follow the course of a horse and a crow cannot follow that of a gander, so I am unable, O hero, O slayer of foes, to follow thy footsteps. If a tree planted in the inner appartment of a house, growing huge with a big trunk and many branches, is dried up as soon it blossoms without bearing fruits, his object for whom it is planted, becomes fruitless. And this simili, O thou of long-arms, shall prove good in thee, if dost thou not, our master, govern us, O lord of men, who are thy servants. Let the world, O Raghava, behold thee installed (to-day) like unto the powerful mid-day Sun burning in effulgence. Do thou sleep and rise up with the sound of stringed instruments, womens' girdles and _Nupuras_ and charming songs. Do thou govern the people as long as the solar system exists and as far as the earth extends". Hearing the words of Bharata, Rama the conqueror of enemies' cities, saying,--"So be it" sat on an excellent seat. Thereupon at the command of Satrughna, expert, skilful and quick-handed barbers gathered round Raghava. At first, Bharata, the highly powerful Lakshmana, Sugriva the lord of monkeys, and Bibhishana the lord of Rakshasas bathed. Thereupon shorn of his matted hairs, bathed, with paste excellent garlands and precious clothes on, he appeared there shining in grace. The valiant and graceful Satrughna, the upholder of the dignity of Ikshwaku race, himself got ready the dresses for Rama and Lakshmana. And all the high-minded wives of Dacaratha with their own hands decked Sita with various charming (ornaments). Thereupon Kaucalya, delighted and fond of her son, herself with great care, decorated the wives of monkeys. Thereupon at the words of Satrughna, the charioteer by name Sumantra got ready the perfectly beautiful car. And beholding that celestial car, bright as the fire of the sun, stationed before him, Rama, having long arms, the conqueror of enemies' cities, ascended it. Sugriva and Hanuman, graceful like Mahendra, bathed, dressed in celestial clothes and wearing excellent _Kundalas_, proceeded (to view the city). And then went Sita and all the wives of Sugriva decorated with all ornaments and wearing excellent _Kundalas_, anxious to behold the city. All the ministers of king Dacaratha in Ayodhya began to hold consultation respectfully with the priest. Asoka, Vijaya and Siddhartha, with undivided mind, consulted with each other about the welfare of Rama as well as that of the city. (Thereupon they ordered the servants) saying,--"Do ye collect materials necessary for the auspicious installation of the high-souled (Rama) worthy of being crowned with victory". The priest and the ministers having ordered thus all speedily issued out of the city to behold Rama. Like unto the thousand-eyed Indra in his car drawn by horses the blameless Rama, seated in his car, proceeded towards the excellent city. Bharata took up the reins, Satrughna held the umbrella and Lakshmana began to fan him on the head with _Chowries_. And Bibhishana, the lord of Rakshasas standing on one side, took up the white _Chowrie_ shining like the second moon. There was audible the sweet encomium of Rama chanted by the crowd of ascetics in the sky, the celestials and the Marutas. Thereupon the highly effulgent Sugriva, the foremost of monkeys, got up upon an elephant named _Satrunyaya_ resembling a mountain. And riding nine thousand elephants proceeded the monkeys assuming human shapes and adorned with various ornaments. And with the music of conches and bugles that foremost of men entered the city abounding in houses. (And the citizens) beheld Raghava enter the city with a graceful person and seated in the car. And they having bowed unto that descendant of Kakutstha were welcomed by him. And they followed that high-souled one encircled by his brothers. And surrounded by his courtiers, Brahmanas and subjects Rama appeared beautiful like unto the Moon encircled by stars. And he went proceeded by men who play on stringed instruments, by people with _Karatal_ and Sustika in their hands and by men chanting delightedly auspicious songs. Persons with Akshata and gold in their hands, kine, girls, Brahmanas and persons with _Modaka_ in their hands went before Rama. Thereupon before the ministers Rama began to describe the friendship of Sugriva, the prowess of the Wind-god's son and the works accomplished by the monkeys. And hearing of the works of the monkeys and the prowess of the Rakshasas, the inhabitants of the city of Ayodhya attained to astonishment. Having related thus (the works of the monkeys) the graceful Rama encircled by the monkeys entered (the city of) Ayodhya abounding in delighted and plump persons. Thereupon the citizens hoisted up flags upon every house and he reached the picturesque abode of his ancestors inhabited by the descendants of Ikshwaku. And having reached and entered his ancestral palace and bowed unto Kaucalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi, the high-souled prince, the enhancer of the joy of the descendants of Raghu, addressed Bharata the foremost of the pious, with sweet words instinct with meaning, saying,--"Do thou set apart for Sugriva my huge and excellent palace abounding in pearls and _Vaidurjas_". Hearing those words, Bharata, having truth for his prowess, taking Sugriva by the hand, conducted him to the palace. And commanded by Satrughna, (servants) speedily entered (that palace) with oil, lamps, bedsteads and beddings. Thereupon the highly effulgent younger brother of Raghava spoke unto Sugriva, saying,--"Do thou, O lord, order some (to bring water) for Rama's installation". And Sugriva conferred upon four leading monkeys four golden jars crested with diverse jewels and said to them,--"Do ye so conduct, O monkeys, that ye may return by the dawn with the jars filled with the water of the four oceans". Being thus addressed by the high-souled (Sugriva) the monkeys resembling the elephants speedily rose up in the welkin like unto quick-coursing vultures. Jambavana, Hanuman, the monkey Vegadarshi and Rishabha brought the jars filled with water from five hundred rivers. Sushena, gifted with prowess, brought that jar crested with gems, filled with water from the Eastern Ocean. And Rishabha speedily brought water from the Southern Ocean. And Gabaya brought, from the great Western Ocean in that golden jar, water perfumed with the fragrance of red sandal and camphor. And the virtuous-souled Wind-god's son, gifted with all accomplishments and the prowess of Garuda and Wind-god, brought, speedily from the Northern Ocean, water in that jewelled jar. And beholding water thus brought by the leading monkeys for the installation of Rama, Satrughna, with his ministers, communicated that unto the leading priests and friends. Thereupon the self-controlled Vasishtha, striken in years, along with other Brahmanas placed Rama with Sita on a jewelled seat. Vasishtha, Vijaya, Javali, Katyayana, Goutama and Bamadeva, sprinkled that foremost of men, with clear and fragrant water as Vasus did the thousand eyed Vasava. (He was then sprinkled by) the _Rittigas_, Brahmanas, maidens ministers, soldiers and the merchants all delighted. (There-upon) with the juice of _Oshadhis_[497] (he was sprinkled by) the celestials stationed in the sky, the deities presiding over the four quarters and all other celestials collected. And having placed him on a seat crested with various jewels in the arena decorated with gold, various jewels and rich parapharnalia, (he placed on his head) the jewelled crown made by Brahma, brilliant and with which in the days of yore Manu and other kings, born in his race, were installed. And being decked by the high-souled Vasishtha with that crown, Raghava was afterwards dressed with the celestial garments by the _Rittigas_.[498] And Satrughna held the white and excellent umbrella and Sugriva the lord of monkeys took the white _Chowrie_. And Bibhishana the lord of Rakshasas took up another _Chowrie_ resembling the moon. And the wind commanded by Vasava conferred upon Raghava, a garland of a hundred golden lotuses, shining in their native lustre. And the wind commanded by Sakra conferred upon that lord of men a jewelled garland crested with diverse gems. The intelligent and worthy Rama being installed the celestials and the Gandharvas sang and the Apsaras danced. The earth was filled with crops, the trees with fruits and the flowers were fragrant on the occassion of Raghava's installation. And that foremost of men conferred upon the twice-born ones one million of horses, a hundred thousand cows and a hundred thousand bulls. And Raghava again conferred upon the Brahmanas thirty _crores_ of golden coins and diverse costly ornaments and clothes. Thereupon that lord of men conferred upon Sugriva a celestial garland brilliant like the rays of the Sun and crested with gold and jewels. And he, gifted with intelligence, conferred upon Angada, Vali's son, two _Angadas_[499] brilliant as the rays of the moon and made of _Baidurja_. And Rama conferred upon Sita an excellent pearl necklace crested with precious jems, celestial clothes and various excellent ornaments. And taking off the necklace from her person Vaidehi, the daughter of king Janaka, conferred it upon the Wind-god's son remembering the services (rendered by him) and cast her looks again and again upon her lord and the monkeys. And beholding that (Rama) capable of reading the gestures, spoke unto the daughter of king Janaka, saying--"O fortunate and beautiful lady, do thou confer this necklace upon him with whom thou art pleased". Thereupon the lotus-eyed (Sita) conferred that upon the Wind god's son. And Hanuman, the foremost of monkeys, in whom perpetually exist, energy, forgiveness, fame, skillfullness, prowess, humility, tactics, manliness, valiance and intellect, appeared with that necklace like a mountain beautified with the rays of the moon and white clouds. And all other elderly and leading monkeys were respectively honoured with clothes and ornaments. And being honoured by Rama of unwearied actions with enough of jewels and other wished-for objects, Bibhishana, Sugriva, Hanuman, Jambavan and other leading monkeys, delighted, returned to their respective habitations. Thereupon, the lord of earth and the slayer of foes conferred, all wished-for things, upon Dwivida, Mainda and Nila. And beholding (the installation of Rama) the high-souled monkeys, taking leave of the lord of earth, went to Kishkindha. And beholding the inauguration of Rama, Sugriva, the foremost of monkeys, honored by Rama, repaired to the city of Kishkindha. And having obtained his own kingdom, the greatly famous and virtuous-souled Bibhishana, with all the Rakshasas, repaired to the city of Lanka. Having slain his foes, the highly generous and glorious Rama, ruled in great delight, the kingdom extending all over the earth. And Rama, fond of the pious, spoke unto Lakshmana, conversant with piety; saying--"O thou conversant with piety, do thou with me and four-fold forces, govern this kingdom, ruled by our predecessors. Like unto our ancestors do thou now carry the burden of an associate in the throne". When the son of Sumitra did not accept the heir apparentship albeit solicited earnestly again and again, the high-souled (Rama) conferred upon Bharata that dignity. And that son of king performed various sacrifices such as _Paundarika_,[500] _Aswamedha_,[501] _Bajimedha_ and others. And governing the kingdon for ten thousand years Raghava performed ten horse-sacrifices with excellent horses and profuse presents. And that highly powerful Rama, having his arms extended up to the knee-joint, having a spacious breast and Lakshmana as his attendant, ruled the earth (in this wise). And obtaining that excellent kingdom, the virtuous-souled Raghava performed many sacrifices with his sons, brothers and friends. And Rama governing the kingdom, the widows were not distressed and there was no fear from voracious animals or from diseases. The people were saved from the thieves and there was no other trouble. And the old were not constrained to perform the funeral ceremonies of the children. All were delighted and devoted to pious observances. And beholding Rama they did not envy one another. And Rama governing the kingdom, (people) lived for a thousand years and had a thousand children,--they were freed from diseases and sorrow. And the trees bore fruits and flowers perpetually--there were showers at will and the wind blew pleasant. And the people delighted engaged in their respective works and the subjects grew pious and truthful, under Rama's regime, and were devoted to the observance of all pious works and gifted with all auspicious marks. And Rama ruled the kingdom for ten thousand years. And this sacred Epic, the first of its kind, affording piety, fame, and long life, and describing the conquest of the kings, was composed by Valmiki in the days of yore. He, who on this earth, shall hear (this story) shall be divested of sins. People, wishing for children, shall obtain the same and those, wishing for riches, shall get by them. Thus people on this earth shall attain to their wished-for objects hearing of this Rama's installation--the king may conquer the earth and subdue his foes. Females may obtain sons (in the same way) as Kaucalya gave birth to Rama, Sumitra to Lakshmana and Kaikeyi to Bharata. Hearing the story of this work describing the victory of Rama of unwearied actions one may attain to a long life. He, who with devotion and having his anger subdued, shall hear the story of this epic written by Valmiki in the days of yore shall get over all troubles. And hearing the story of the Epic composed by Valmiki in the days of yore, one living in foreign countries, shall return home and enjoy in the company of his friends. Hearing this people shall secure all their wished-for objects from Raghava and the celestials shall be greatly delighted. When this book is kept in a house it becomes free from the disturbance of evil spirits. Hearing this a king may conquer the earth, and one living in a foreign country fareth well. If a female, during her monthly course, hears the story, she shall give birth to an excellent son. By reading and worshipping this ancient history people are freed from all sins and attain to a long life. The Kshatryas, bending low their heads, should hear this daily from the Brahmanas. Hearing or reading the whole of Ramayana, forsooth shall people get sons and riches. Rama is ever pleased with him. He is the ever-existing Vishnu--the first God, the huge-armed Hari, Narayana and Lord. This ancient work produceth such fruits. May good betide ye. Do ye openly declare that Vishnu's prowess may increase. The celestials shall be greatly delighted for reading or hearing this story of Rama and the progenitors shall be always pleased. Those, who shall write this story of Rama first recorded by the Rishi (Valmiki) shall reach the region of Brahma. Hearing this people attain to, on this earth, multiplied relations, increased wealth and crops, beautiful wives, excellent happiness, and the accomplishment of all desires. They attain to long life, health, fame, intellect, prowess, and good brothers. Therefore it behoveth those good men, who wish for prosperity, to hear this story perpetually.

[497] A domestic chaplain--a family priest.

[498] An annual plant or herb--one that dies after becoming ripe.

[499] A kind of ornament worn on upper arms.

[500] A kind of sacrifice.

[501] A kind of sacrifice in which a horse is slain.

THE END OF YUDDHAKANDAM.