Thus did the long-armed Rāma spend his days looking into all administrative works relating to the city and provinces. Some days having elapsed, he, with folded hands, said to Janaka, the king of Mithilā, "Thou art our only refuge—we have been reared by thee and by the help of thy dreadful prowess we have been able to destroy Rāvana. O king, the relation between the families of Ikshwāku and Mithilā, is unequalled and delightful. Taking the jewel, do thou proceed to thy own city and Bharata as a help shall follow thee." Saying "So be it," the king Janaka bespoke Rāma "O king, I have been delighted with seeing thee and thy courteous manners. The jewels collected for me, I do confer upon my two daughters." The royal saint Janaka having gone away, Rāma, with folded hands and humbly said to his maternal uncle Kaikeya—"O king, this kingdom, myself, Bharat and Lakshmana are all at thy disposal. The old king might have been grieved for thy long absence. It therefore behoveth thee, O king, to go there to-day. With immense wealth and various jewels let Lakshmana follow thee." Agreeing with his request Yudhājit said, "O Rāghava, let jewels and wealth be be inexhaustible with thee." Thereupon, Rāma, at first saluted and went round him and then Yudhājit, the son of Kekaya, went away to his kingdom in the company of Lakshmana like unto Indra (leaving for home) in the company of Vishnu on the destruction of the Asura Vitra. Having bade adieu unto his maternal uncle Rāma embraced his friend Pratardana, the undaunted king of Kashi and said:—"Thou hast displayed thy brotherly feelings and delight by making arrangements for my installation in the company of Bharata. O king, do thou now leave for thy city Baranushi, highly picturesque, well-guarded, girt by strong walls on all sides and having well-decorated gate-ways." Saying this, Rāma, the descendant of Kākutstha rose up from his seat and embraced him cordially. Having taken farewell from Rāma enhancing Kausalya's delight, the king of Kashi, with his followers, fearlessly and speedily proceeded to his own city. Having bade adieu to the king of Kashi, Rāma, with a smiling countenance and sweet accents, said to the three hundred assembled kings: "Being well protected by your own prowess, you have all displayed your great love for me. By your piety, truthfulness, sagacity and strength, the vicious-souled Rāvana hath been slain. Forsooth, I am merely the instrument in the destruction of Rāvana—he hath been slain by your strength. Hearing that Sitā, the daughter of Janaka, had been stolen away from the forest the high-minded Bharata did bring you all—but fortunately you were not constrained to go through miseries. High-minded as you are, you were all prepared for this work. Long since you have come here. I think it better that you should proceed to your respective habitations." Whereto the kings, greatly delighted, replied: "O Rāma, it is by thy good fortune that thou hast come off victorious and been installed on the throne; it is by thy good luck that thou hast got back Sitā and the enemy Daçānana hath been vanquished. That we behold thee, O Rāma, victorious and freed from all enemies, is our great benefit and delight. The encomiums, thou hast showered upon us, are natural with thee. Thou art Rāma, who always pleases people. Thou art worthy of being praised but we do not know how to praise thee. With thy permission we shall now leave for our respective provinces but thou shalt always reside in our hearts. O thou having long arms, O great king, mayst thou have that love for us perpetually that we may find place in thy heart." Whereto Rāma replied saying "So be it." Thereupon the kings, highly delighted and desirous of going, bade farewell unto Rāma, with folded palms and being honored by him, left for their respective kingdoms.
SECTION XLIX.
Having agitated the earth with thousands of elephants and horses the kings proceeded to various quarters. And being prepared to help Rāma many Akshauhini soldiers with many steeds waited at Ayodhyā at the command of Bharata. Those kings, proud and powerful, spoke to one another—"We did not face Rāvana—the enemy of Rāma; Bharata did uselessly invite us after the destruction of Rāvana. Had they brought us earlier, we would, forsooth, have slain him. We would have, on the other side of the ocean, well protected by the prowess of Rāma and Lakshmana, and freed from all disturbances, fought at pleasure." Being thus delighted, all those assembled princes proceeded to their respective kingdoms, dwelling on these and various other topics. And having arrived at their celebrated cities, unscathed, abounding in delighted people, wealth, crops and jewels they sent various presents of jems to Rāma for his satisfaction. Besides this they made over to him innumerable horses, conveyances, infuriated elephants, sandal, excellent ornamants, jewels, pearls, corals, beautiful female servants and various cars. And taking all those jewels, the highly powerful Bharata, Lakshmana and Satrughna returned to their own city. Having arrived at the picturesque city Ayodhyā those foremost of men, made presents of various jewels unto Rāma. Having delightedly accepted those gifts Rāma in return made presents of them unto the successful king Sugriva, Bibhishana and other Rākshasas and monkeys by whose help he had achieved victory. And those highly powerful monkeys and night-rangers wore on their heads and arms those jewels conferred on them by Rāma. Having placed on his lap the long-armed Angada and Hanumān, the mighty car-warrior—the lotus-eyed Rāma said to Sugriva "Angada is thy good son and Hanumān is thy wise councillor. O Sugriva, these are always engaged in my well-being and in giving me good counsels. For thee, therefore, O king of monkeys, I should honor them in various ways." Having said this, the illustrious Rāma took off from his arms valuable ornaments and adorned Angada and Hanumān therewith. Thereupon having welcomed and casting loving looks upon the highly powerful and leading monkeys such as Neela, Kesarin, Kumuda, Gandhamādana, Sushena, Panasa, Mainda, Dwivida, Jāmbavān, Gabāksha, Dhumra, Baleemukha, Prajaghna, Saunāda, Dareemukha, Dadbimuka, Indrajānu and others, he addressed them all in sweet accents, saying:—"You are all my friends like unto my limbs and brothers. O ye inhabitants of forests, you have saved me from the ocean of danger. Blessed is the king Sugriva and blessed are the friends like yourselves." Saying this Rāma, the foremost of men, conferred upon them duly many precious clothes and ornaments and embraced them all. The monkeys lived there all happily feasting on fragrant honey, well-cooked meat and various fruits and roots. In this way they spent more than a month—but it appeared to them as a moment on account of their devotion unto Rāma. He, too also spent his time happily with monkeys assuming shapes at will, the highly powerful Rākshasas and the mighty bears. In this way the delighted monkeys and Rākshasas spent the second winter month. Enjoying delight they thus spent their days happily in the city of Ayodhyā working to the welfare of Rāma.
SECTION XLX.
In this wise, the monkeys, bears and Rākshasas spent their days in Ayodhyā. Thereupon the highly effulgent Rāma, the descendant of Raghu said to Sugriva:—"O gentle one, proceeding to the city of Kishkindhā, hard to be got at by the celestials and Asuras, do thou reign there undisturbed with thy councillors. O thou having long arms, always look towards Angada, with loving eyes. Do thou, O Sugriva, protect lovingly the highly powerful Hanumān, Nala, thy father-in-law Sushena, the mighty Tāra, irrepressible Kumada, the powerful Neela, the heroic Satabali, Mainda, Dwivida, Gaya, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sarava, the irrepressible and powerful king of bears Jamvaban, Gandhamādana, valiant Rishava, Supatala, Keshan, Sarabha and Sumbha—these and other heroic monkeys who dedicated their lives to my service. Do thou never act to their displeasure." Having said this and embraced Sugriva again and again Rāma addressed Bibhishana with sweet accents. "I know thou art cognizant of piety; the citizens, thy councillors and thy brother Kuvera also love thee; do thou therefore go and govern Lankā piously, O king; never cherish any vile intention; the honest kings always enjoy the earth. And my only request to thee, O king, is that thou mayst with love remember me and Sugriva. Do thou now proceed, divested of sorrow." Hearing the words of Rāma, the bears, monkeys and Rākshasas repeatedly exclaimed glory unto Rāma and said "O Rāma, having long arms, thy understanding resembleth that of the Self-Sprung, thy prowess is equally wonderful and thy beauty is also par excellence." The monkeys and Rākshasas having said this, Hanumān bowing, said unto Rāma "May my loving reverence be always in thee, O king; may my devotion unto thee remain unshaken, O hero; and may my mind be not attached unto any other thing. May my life remain in my body as long as the stories of Rāma shall be in currency on earth. Let not this prove otherwise. O foremost of men, O descendant of Raghu, may the Apsarās make me always hear of thy themes. O hero, as the winds scatter the clouds so I shall remove my anxiety by listening to thy nectar-like themes." After Hanumān had said this, Rāma rose up from his throne and having embraced Hanumān affectionately said, "O foremost of monkeys, what thou hast said, shall undoubtedly be carried out into action. As long as my stories shall be current on earth thy fame shall exist and life shall be in thy body. And as long as the world shall exist my themes shall be related. I cannot, even at the sacrifice of my life, release myself from the debts of one good service out of the many, thou hast done for me, monkey; and I shall for ever remain indebted to thee for thy last benefaction. Or let them wear out in me, for men, at the time of danger, become worthy of having their benefits returned." Having said this, Rāma took off from his neck a chain set with sapphires brilliant as the rays of the moon and placed it round the neck of Hanumān. Like unto the mountain Sumeru beautified by the rising of the moon on its summit, Hanumān, the foremost of monkeys, appeared graceful with the chain placed on his breast. And hearing the words of Rāghava, the highly powerful monkeys, one by one, saluted Rāma, touching his feet and went away. Both Sugriva and the virtuous-souled Bibhishana embraced Rāma and three of them were beside themselves with tears. And other monkeys and Rākshasas were all moved with tears and sorrow to take leave of Rāma. Having received favours thus from the high-souled Rāghava the monkeys went away to their own houses like-unto bodied creatures leaving off their bodies. Thereupon the Rākshasas, bears, monkeys, having bowed unto Rāma, the glory of the Raghu family and with their eyes full of tears consequent upon his separation, went away to the countries from which they had hailed.
SECTION LI.
Having bade adieu unto bears, monkeys and Rākshasas the long-armed Rāma began to live happily in the company of his brothers. Thereupon he and his brothers heard from the air the following sweet accents:—"O gentle Rāma, do thou with a delighted countenance behold me. O lord, know me as Pushpaka coming from the abode of Kuvera. O foremost of men, at thy command I did go there to carry him. But he said to me:—'Having slain the irrepressible Rāvana in battle the high-souled Rāma, the foremost of men, hath conquered thee. I have greatly been delighted on the destruction of the vicious-souled Rāvana, with his relatives, sons and friends. O gentle one, the great Rāma hath conquered thee in Lankā; I permit thee, therefore to convey him. Thou art the fit conveyance for traversing all regions. But my earnest desire is that thou shouldst take Rāma, the descendant of Raghu. Do, thou therefore go there at pleasure without any sorrow.' Hearing this command of the high-souled Kuvera I have come to thee. Do thou fearlessly accept me. I am above the conquest of all the worlds. At the command of Kuvera I shall valiantly traverse all regions carrying out your behests." Hearing the words of Pushpaka, the highly powerful Rāma said to the returning car stationed in the welkin:—"O foremost of cars, Pushpaka, if such be the case, do thou come here; while the lord of wealth hath commanded thus, I will not be blameable for bad character." Having said this and worshipped it with dried paddy, fragrant flowers and incense, Rāma, having long arms, addressed Pushpaka—"Do thou go now and come here whenever I shall remember thee. While proceeding by the welkin, O gentle one, be not sorry for our separation. And be not obstructed in thy course whilst traversing all the quarters." Having been adored by Rāma and saving 'So be it' Pushpaka proceeded towards its wished-for direction. And the holy Pushpaka car having thus vanished, Bharata, with folded palms, said to Rāma, the delight of Raghus—"O hero, during thy divine administration, we have seen many inhuman creatures and objects speak like men. During all these months since thy installation subjects have not suffered from any disease. Even the most aged animals have not met with death. The female, without any risk, have been giving birth to children and all people are plump and delighted. The delight of the citizens hath been greatly increased, O king. Indra hath been pouring nectar-like showers in due time. The wind is always delightful and wholesome. O king of men, the inhabitants of the city and provinces are all saying 'We may have for ever such a king.'" Hearing those sweet accents given vent to by Bharata, Rāma, the foremost of kings was greatly delighted.
SECTION LII.
Having sent away the golden Pushpaka, the highly powerful Rāma entered the Asoka forest beautified by sandal, Aguru, Mangoe, dark sandal and Debadaru trees, and covered with Champaka, Aguru, Nāga, Kesara, Madhuka, Panasa, Sarja, Pārijāta, resembling smokeless fire, Sodhra, Neepa, Arjuna, Nāga, Saptaparna, Muktaka, Mandāra, Kadalee and various creepers, abounding in Priyanga, Kadamba, Vakula, Jambu, pomegranate, and Kadali trees, containing various flowers, picturesque, having many fruits, fragrant, decorated with new leaves and adorned with various other trees. There were many a tree, having profuse foliage and flowers and covered with maddened black bees as if constructed by architects. The forest-land was variegated and beautified by cuckoos, the ornaments of mangoe trees, black-bees and various birds of various colours. Amongst the trees beautifying the forest some were gold-hued, some were radiant as the flame of fire and some were like red collyrium. There were various flowers, spreading fragrance and making garlands. And there were various ponds filled with pure water. The stairs of those ponds were made of corals and the ground was of crystal. And they were all filled with lotuses and lilies. They were beautified with Chakrabakas and the banks were graced with variegated trees and flowers. And the forest was encompassed by stone walls and in the inside were dwelling many a Sārdula bird resembling Vaiduryas. All the trees in the forest were filled with flowers. And the rocks there, covered with flowers falling down from trees, appeared like welkin beautified with stars. And Rāma's Asoka forest was like unto Indra's Nandana and Kuvera's Chitraratha made by Brahmā. Having entered the rich Asoka forest abounding in many seats and houses and creepers Rāma sat on an excellent seat, covered with a beautiful coverlet and well constructed. Like unto Purandara with Sachi he took Sitā by the hand, made her sit and drink the wine distilled in the province of Mira. And in no time the servants brought for him well-cooked meat and various fruits. Being inebriete the beautiful Apsarās, well-skilled in the art of singing and dancing, began to dance before Rāma in the company of Kinnaris. The virtuous-souled Rāma, the foremost of those who know how to please, satisfied those beautiful damsels adorned with various ornaments. And Sitā sitting by him, he appeared like the effulgent Vasishtha in the company of Arundhati. Being greatly delighted the celestial-like Rāma pleased every day Sitā resembling a celestial damsel. Sitā and Rāghava thus spent their days happily. And thus was spent the delightful winter giving all enjoyments. Enjoying various things the high-souled Rāma and Sitā spent ten thousand years. Once on a time, having performed all the religious ceremonies, in the fore part of the day, Rāma, to spend the evening, entered the inner apartment. Sitā, too, having performed all religious ceremonies, at first attended to the service of her mothers-in-law. Thereupon wearing a beautifully coloured cloth and being adorned with various ornaments Sitā appeared before Rāma like unto Sachi approaching the king of celestials in heaven. And beholding the auspicious signs of pregnancy in his spouse Rāma attained to excessive delight. Thereupon he said to the beautiful Sitā resembling a celestial damsel:—"O Vaidehi—signs of pregnancy are manifest in thee. What desires of thine can we satisfy?" Smiling a little the daughter of Janaka said:—"O Rāghava, I wish to behold the holy hermitages. I wish to salute the greatly effulgent Rishis living on fruits and roots and residing on the banks of the Ganges. I greatly desire, O Rāma, that I may spend even one night in the hermitage of the Rishis living on fruits and roots." Whereto replied Rāma of unwearied actions, saying "So be it. Believe me, O Vaidehi, that thou shalt undoubtedly go there to-morrow." Having thus addressed Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, Rāma, the descendant of Kākutstha, then issued out of the inner apartment and entered the middle one filled with his friends.