Maheśvara was extremely pleased hearing the glorious words of Rāghava. He told Rāma, “Thanks to good fortune, you have vanquished your enemy and regained your beloved. You must now head back to Ayodhyā and console the queen-mothers. Ensure that you continue the lineage of the Ikṣvākus and perform the aśvamedha. After donating your wealth to the brāhmaṇas, you may ascend the svarga. Look here, your father, Daśaratha has appeared in a vimāna; you may salute him now!” Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa bowed down to their father. Daśaratha took Rāma upon his lap and said, “I swear to you, Rāma – I only crave your company and do not even desire the svarga. Those words of banishment uttered by Kaikeyī still torment my heart. You have saved me from ill fame, my beloved son! I now realise that you are Puruṣottama who descended onto the earth to slay Rāvaṇa. Due to my ill fate, I am not alive to see you reunite with your people. Please be kind to Kaikeyī and Bharata!” Daśaratha embraced Lakṣmaṇa and said, “You have severed Rāma and Sītā with immense devotion. You are an embodiment of dharma.” He then said to Sītā, “Please don’t be angry over this repudiation, Vaidehī. Rāma, who only cares for your well-being did this to demonstrate your purity to the world. There is nothing I can tell you about loyalty to your husband; nevertheless, let me tell you that he is your highest divinity!”
Indra appeared before them and Rāma requested him to bring back to life the vānaras who had died in the battle and to cure the living vānaras of their wounds. Indra did so and ensured Rāma that there would be no dearth of food for the vānaras in the forest.
~
Rāma camped with his army outside the city of Laṅkā that night. The next morning, when Vibhīṣaṇa came to offer water for his bath, Rāma insisted that they hurry back to Ayodhyā. Vibhīṣaṇa offered the puṣpaka-vimāna to Rāma for his return journey. The vimāna was covered with gold and had innumerable golden mansions; it was adorned with white banners and flags as well as jingling bells. Created by Viśvakarmā, it resembled the Mount Meru.
Rāma advised Vibhīṣaṇa, “You must reward the vānaras with gems, ornaments, and other valuables. These beings which dwell in the forest cast off their fear of death and fought valiantly in the battle. I am suggesting this to you so that the vānaras may realize that you know both how to acquire and dispense wealth; they will recognise you as compassionate and illustrious.” Vibhīṣaṇa acted as per the advice of Rāma.
Rāma mounted the puṣpaka-vimāna and seated a shy Vaidehī on his lap. Lakṣmaṇa got onto the flying palace with a bow in his hand. As Vibhīṣaṇa, Sugrīva, and the vānaras expressed their desire to see the rājyābhiṣeka of Rāma in Ayodhyā, Rāma joyfully permitted them to mount the vimāna as well. Upon his command, the vimāna sped through the skies. As they passed through different places, Rāma pointed to Sītā various locations and recollected the events that took place there. He said, “Look at Laṅkā situated on Mount Trikūṭa and here is the battlefield which is mired with flesh and blood. It is here that I slew Rāvaṇa and Lakṣmaṇa vanquished Indrajit. And there you can see the ocean and the bridge designed by Nala. Here comes Kiṣkindhā, Sugrīva’s charming city and I killed Vālī here. That’s the Lake Pampā, where I deeply lamented for you. On its banks, I met Śabarī and killed Kabandha. And there, Sītā, is Janasthāna; that is where Jaṭāyu fought Rāvaṇa for your sake. Look, there lies the āśrama of Agastya and here comes the dwelling of Atri. That is the Citrakūṭa mountain, where Kaikeyī’s son came to request me to return. Over there is Bharadvāja’s āśrama. Look there! That is Ayodhyā! We are finally back! You must pay obeisance to Ayodhyā!”
~
Rāma reached Sage Bharadvāja’s āśrama on the fifth day after the completion of fourteen years. The sage told him, “Bharata awaits you, having placed your pāduka on the throne; his body is smeared with birth and he wears matted locks. I have learnt about all your joys, sorrows, and valorous deeds, Rāma. You may stay here today and accept my hospitality. You may return to Ayodhyā tomorrow.” Rāma accepted the sage’s offer and in no time, barren trees were filled with fruits and flowers.
As he headed back to Ayodhyā, Rāma instructed Hanūmān, “Hasten to the city of Ayodhyā and check if all is well in the king’s palace. Inform Guha, the king of Śṛṅgavera that all is well with me; he will lead you to the way to Ayodhyā and tell you about Bharata’s activities. You must inform Bharata in my words that I am safe and have returned with my wife and Lakṣmaṇa. Tell him about the slaying of Vālī and Rāvaṇa and our meeting with our father, Daśaratha. And tell him, ‘Having vanquished his enemies and achieved his purpose, Rāma has returned with his allies.’ And whatever expression Bharata assumes upon hearing this news, you must report to me in detail. You must perceive his intention through the colour of his face, his glance, and his manner of speaking. Whose mind would not be drawn by the riches of his ancestral kingdom? If Bharata has gotten accustomed to being the king and has the desire for kingship, let him continue to rule the kingdom. Once you have determined his state of mind, return quickly to me.”
Accordingly, Hanūmān met Guha and with his guidance reached Nandigrāma. A little distance away from Ayodhyā, Hanūmān saw Bharata who was living in an āśrama. He looked dejected and emaciated and was clad in bark cloth and antelope skin. He lived on fruits and roots. Having placed Rāma’s pāduka on the throne, he took care of the kingdom. He protected the earth and the people of all the four varṇas. He was in the company of pure-hearted ministers, purohitas, and army chiefs, all clothed in ochre robes. No citizen wished to abandon Bharata, their dhārmic ruler. Hanūmān spoke to him with his hands joined in reverence. He reported everything Rāma had asked him to. Upon hearing that his elder brother was coming back, Bharata fell onto the ground in great delight and almost fainted, overcome with joy. With tears of joy, Bharata embraced Hanūmān and promised him innumerable gifts. He said, “Whether you be a deva or a human, I will give you a hundred thousand cows, a hundred prosperous villages, and sixteen beautiful maidens of excellent character. It seems to me that the popular proverb, ‘Joy surely comes to a man even if he has to wait a hundred years,’ is true. When and how did Rāma develop the friendship of the vānaras?”
Hanūmān narrated to Bharata all the events that had taken place while Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā were in the forest. Bharata was extremely pleased to hear Hanūmān’s words. He instructed Śatrughna, “Let pious men worship divinities in temples and shrines, with fragrant garlands and musical instruments. Let the king’s wives, ministers, soldiers, and the armies go to see Rāma.” Śatrughna commanded his men to level the road from Nandigrāma to Ayodhyā and to strew the path with grain and flowers. He asked them to beautify the streets and houses of Ayodhyā.
Soldiers went forth swiftly in their chariots along with thousands of elephants. Daśaratha’s wives led by Kausalyā and Sumitrā followed, mounted in carriages. The entire city appeared to go forth to Nandigrāma. Bharata set forth to meet Rāma. He was surrounded by brāhmaṇas, leaders of guilds, and merchants. He carried his brother’s pādukas on his head and a held white chatra decked with white garlands. He also held two cāmaras in his hands. Though emaciated with fasting, he was filled with joy upon hearing his brother’s return. He couldn’t wait to see Rāma. He said to Hanūmān, “I hope I have not fallen prey to the tricks of the vānaras. I can’t see Rāma yet!” Hanūmān explained to Bharata that Rāma had halted for a day to receive the hospitality of Sage Bharadvāja and told him that he would arrive in the puṣpaka-vimāna. Even as he was saying so, the citizens of Ayodhyā shouted in joy. They had spotted Rāma in his puṣpaka-vimāna. Bharata uttered words of praise for Rāma and the older brother invited him on to the vimāna. He placed Bharata on his lap and embraced him, for he had not seen him in a long time. Bharata greeted Lakṣmaṇa and respectfully saluted Vaidehī. He embraced Sugrīva, Aṅgada and the other vānaras, who had taken human forms and he thanked Vibhīṣaṇa for his help. Śatrughna too offered his salutations to them.
Rāma approached his mother, who was grieving. He clasped her feet and soothed her heart. He saluted Sumitrā, Kaikeyī, and the other queens as well as the purohitas. The people of Ayodhyā, with their hands joined in reverence, welcomed him. Bharata placed the pādukas at Rāma’s feet and said, “Here is your well-guarded kingdom, O king! Today, I have accomplished the purpose of my birth and my most cherished wish is fulfilled. You may please inspect the treasury, granary, the city, and the army.” The rākṣasas and vānaras shed tears of joy looking at Bharata speaking in this fashion.
Rāma, with Bharata on his lap, flew to Bharata’s āśrama. He sent the puṣpaka-vimāna back to Kubera. Bharata requested Rāma to take over the kingdom immediately and Rāma gracefully agreed. Upon Śatrughna’s command, skilful barbers attended to Rāma. Following this, Rāma gave up his matted locks and bathed. He donned colourful garlands and ornaments and dressed in brilliant clothes. Rāma mounted a splendid chariot that was driven by Bharata; Śatrughna held the chatra over him and Lakṣmaṇa fanned the cāmara. Sugrīva and Vibhīṣaṇa held vyajanas. To the backdrop of the sound of conches, cheers, and dundubhis, Rāma entered the city. He was surrounded by citizens. Musicians went before him holding tālas and svastikas. Cows, brāhmaṇas, and maidens went before Rāma with akṣatas and sweets in their hands. Beautiful flags and banners were raised in every house.
Upon Sugrīva’s instructions, the vānaras brought waters from five hundred different rivers. Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, Jābāli, Kāśyapa, Kātyāyana, and Gautama, performed abhiṣeka to Rāma with the waters. The divinities came down to the earth to be a part of the ceremony. They offered Rāma innumerable gifts. Rāma gave gifts to the brāhmaṇas as well as to Sugrīva and Aṅgada. He presented Sītā with a pearl necklace decked with the most precious gems. Sītā took out a necklace from her neck and looked back and forth at her husband for his approval to gift it away. Upon his approval, she gifted the necklace to Hanūmān. Rāma honoured every vānara in accordance with his merit. He then requested Lakṣmaṇa to rule the kingdom with him. But when Lakṣmaṇa humbly denied it, he consecrated Bharata as the yuva-rāja.
After attaining his vast kingdom, Rāma ruled for ten thousand years; he performed many yajñas including the pauṇḍarīka, aśvamedha and vājapeya. When Rāma ruled, no widows mourned and there was no threat of diseases. The kingdom was free of thieves and everyone was devoted to dharma. No occasion arose where the elderly had to perform funerary rites to their children. People did not harm one another. There were timely rains and the breeze was cool. Trees and plants were richly filled with fruits and flowers. Everyone was honest and performed their duties to the best of their capabilities.
To be continued...
[The critically constituted text and the critical edition published by the Oriental Institute, Vadodara is the primary source. In addition, the Kannada rendering of the epic by Mahāmahopādhyāya Sri. N. Ranganatha Sharma and the English translation by Sri. N. Raghunathan have been referred.]
