Rāmāyana | Yuddha Kaṇḍa | Chapter 127
127. Rāma Reaches Ayodhyā
[Bhārata and Śatrughna make great arrangements to receive Rāma. Rāma arrives in the aerial car. Bhārata and Śatrughna salute Rāma and speak nice words to the monkeys and Vibhīṣaṇa. Rāma salutes his mothers. Then they all reach Nandigrama. Rāma sends back Pushpaka Vimāna to Kubera.]
The truly valorous Bhārata attained divine joy and commanded Śatrughna, the destroyer of enemies who was also happy. 127.1
"Let men of good conduct worship all the Gods in temples as well as in town with scented garlands accompanied by playing of musical instruments." 127.2
"Let the Charioteers, experts in singing praises in a primeval manner, All people who sing poems of praise, experts in singing with musical instruments and dancing girls join together with the wives of the king, ministers, army men and their wives, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, leaders and members of trade councils come out and see the moon like face of Rāma." 127.3-127.4
Hearing the words of Bhārata, Śatrughna the destroyer of enemies summoned several thousand labourers working for wages and divided them in to several groups and told them as follows. 127.5
"Let the holes and depressions on the road from Nandigrama to Ayodhyā be levelled by filing them up and let the rough and uneven places in the paths be levelled." 127.6
"Let the entire ground be sprinkled with ice cold water and let others keep on sowing parched grains of paddy and flowers on them." 127.7
"Let all the streets of Ayodhyā which is an excellent city be lined with flags, and let the houses be decorated till the Sun rises." 127.8
"Let hundreds of men make fall on the royal highway scented loose flowers and garlands of five colours." 127.9
On hearing that command of Śatrughna ministers, Driṣṭi, Jayanta, Vijaya, Siddhartha, Arthasadhaka, Ashoka, Mantrapala and Sumantra proceeded with joy. 127.10-127.11
Some people decorated by hundreds of pots rode on thousands of elephants in rut, and some others on female elephants provided with golden platforms and along with these elephants several great charioteers issued forth riding on chariots in great speed. 127.12
Great warriors riding on selected horses which were superior and in thousands of numbers bearing flags and pennants and carrying Javelins, spears and nooses in their hands, further surrounded by thousands of foot soldiers sallied forth, 127.13-127.14
All the women of Daśaratha, keeping Kauśalya and Sumitrā in the front mounted on their vehicles started forth along with Kaikeyi and reached Nandigrama. 127.15
Placing the wooden sandals of his brother on his head and taking the white parasol which was adorned with white garlands and two white whisks decorated with gold, eminently worthy of kings, accompanied by the foremost of Brahmins, leaders of the guilds of traders and artisans, including the mercantile class, surrounded by the counsellors with garlands and bell-shaped sweets in their hands, cheered by the blast of conches and kettle-drums, duly praised by musicians, the great Bhārata, whose mind was set on Dharma, who was well-versed with the secret of Dharma, who was emaciated through fasting, who felt miserable, and was clad in the bark of trees and the skin of a black antelope, who experienced joy for the first time in hearing the news of the arrival of his brother then went in advance, along with his ministers, to meet Rāma. 127.16-127.20
The Earth was shaking by the sounds of hoofs of the horses, the sound of rolling of wheels of the chariots and the tumultuous sound raised by conches and kettle drums. 127.21
It was felt that the entire city stretched up to Nandigrama and glancing round Bhārata spoke to the son of wind God. 127.22
"Has the absence of firm mind in case of monkeys has been resorted by you, for I am not seeing Rāma the son of Kākutstha clan and the destroyer of his enemies." 127.23
When these words escaped from the truly valorous Bhārata, Hanuman immediately told him words which were suitable to the situation. 127.24
"A great roar of joyful monkeys is being heard, for, they are seeing on their way trees which continually, yield fruit, adorned with blossom, flowing with honey which is drunk by bees which make reverberant humming sounds which is due to the grace of Sage Bharadvāja. Oh Bhārata, the destroyer of adversaries, A boon also was conferred by Indra by virtue of which, a hospitality rich with all excellences was earlier extended by Bharadvāja to you, with your entire army. I presume that the aforesaid army of monkeys is crossing the rivers, Gomati." 127.25-127.27
"See the cloud dust raising above the grove of Sāla trees, which is because of the shaking of the pretty Sala trees by the monkeys." 127.28
"Far away the famous and divine aerial car called Puspaka, which was created by the mind of Brahma and which shines like the moon is to be seen." 127.29
"This vehicle of Rāma was got after killing of Rāvaṇa and all his relatives and shines like the rising Sun and belonged to Kubera to whom it was given by Brahma and travel with the speed of thought." 127.30
"In that car are besides the brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa along with Sītā are the greatly lustrous Sugrīva and the Rākṣasa Vibhīṣaṇa." 127.31
Then the words, "Here is Rāma", like a loud clamour touching the sky was heard from the mouth of women, children, old people and youth which gave rise to great joy. 127.32
Getting down from their chariots, elephants and horses those men stood on the ground and they all saw Rāma seated in the aerial car resembling the moon in the sky. 127.33
That very happy Bhārata with folded hands in salutation turned his face towards Rāma, worshipped him and welcomed Rāma in a fitting manner. 127.34
The very long eyed elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa seated in the aerial car created by the mind of Brahma shined like another Indra with a thunderbolt in his hand. 127.35
Bhārata saluted his brother who stood at the edge of aerial car shining like rising sun from Mount Meru and bent low in great reverence. 127.36
That matchless aerial car with the permission of Rāma which had swans drawn on it landed on the earth. 127.37
Bhārata of the true valour again felt very happy when he climbed in to the aerial car, approached Rāma and again greeted him. 127.38
Then that son of Kākutstha clan seeing Bhārata after a very long time made him sit on his lap and with great joy embraced him. 127.39
Then the dear Bhārata, the destroyer of his enemies approached Vaidehī and Lakṣmaṇa announced his name and greeted them. 127.40
Then Bhārata the son of Kaikeyi embraced one after another, Sugrīva, Jambavan, Angada, Mainda, Dvividha, Nīla and Riṣabha. 127.41
He also embraced Suṣeṇa, Nala, Gavaksha, Gandhamādana, Sarabha, Panasa and all monkeys surrounding them. 127.42
Those monkeys who can assume any form that they desire assumed the form of a man and with joy enquired about the welfare of Bhārata. 127.43
After that the very lustrous prince Bhārata, who is great follower of Dharma embraced Sugrīva, the great monkey and told him. 127.44
"We are four brothers and you are our fifth brother, Oh Sugrīva, affection is born out of friendship and hatred is the sign of an enemy." 127.45
After hugging Vibhīṣaṇa, Bhārata told him, "it is only because of your help this impossible job was got done." 127.46
Then Śatrughna offered salutations to Rāma as well as Lakṣmaṇa and that one with great humility offered salutation to the feet of Sītā." 127.47
Rāma went near his mother with a sorrowing downcast face, bowed and caught her feet making the mind of his mother happy. 127.48
Then he saluted Sumitrā and the famous Kaikeyi and all his mothers and also to his priest sage Vasiṣṭha. 127.49
All the citizens of Ayodhyā with hands joined in salutation told him, "Oh great hero who increases the delight of Kauśalya, welcome to you." 127.50
The elder brother of Bhārata saw thousands of joined palms of the citizens of Ayodhyā which appeared like lotus flowers in bloom. 127.51
Bhārata himself took the sandals of Rāma and placed them below the feet of the king of men, who was the follower of Dharma. 127.52
Bhārata after saluting Rāma told, "Oh king, here is the kingdom of yours which was given to me as a deposit." 127.53
"Today after seeing you return back to Ayodhyā, my life has accomplished its goal and the great desire of my mind has been fulfilled." 127.54
"Please see critically examine your treasury, granary, palace and army which by the power of your spirit has enhanced tenfold." 127.55
Seeing Bhārata, who loved his bother talking like this, the Rākṣasa Vibhīṣaṇa and all the monkeys shed tears. 127.56
Then Rāghava placed with great delight Bhārata on his lap and along with the army flew to the hermitage of Bhārata in that aerial car. 127.57
After reaching the hermitage of Bhārata along with the army, that Rāghava got down from the front portion of the aerial car and stood waiting on the earth. 127.58
Then Rāma spoke to that matchless aerial car, "I permit you to carry now Kubera the lord of wealth and so please leave." 127.59
Thus permitted by Rāma that matchless aerial car travelled towards the north so as to reach the home of the Lord of riches. 127.60
That divine aerial car called Pushpaka once abducted by the Rākṣasas went with great speed to the Lord of riches impelled by the words of Rāma. 127.61
Then the valorous Rāghava affectionately pressed the feet of his priest as well as well-wisher Vasiṣṭha, like Indra would press the feet of Brihaspati and made him sit in a separate seat near his own. 127.62
This is the end of One Hundred and Twenty Seventh Sarga of Yuddha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.