Chapter
11
Happy Ayodhya
The
Pushpaka
took off and turned north. When it rose, there was great
commotion on the ground; Vanara hordes raised thunderous
shouts of 'Jai' - "Victory to Rama, Victory to Sita, Rama
and Lakshmana". Inside the Pushpaka, there was a high
throne charmingly carved and designed. Sita and Rama took
their seats on it. They then appeared to all as cloud
with a lightning flash resting on the Sumeru Peak. Rama
drew the attention of Sita to the battlefield below, and
said. "Here is where Lakshmana overpowered and killed
Meghanada
[RRV2-8b]".
He also showed her other spots associated with similar
exploits and victories. He showed her the bridge
[RRV2-7a,
7b] that
the Vanaras constructed across the sea, and described to
her the heroism, devotion and faith of the Vanaras. Very
soon, the aerial chariot reached the
Dandaka Forest.
Rama had the vehicle land before the hermitages of
Agastya [RRV2-1]
and other sages. With Sita and Lakshmana, and other
members of his entourage Rama visited the holy sages,
paid reverential homage to them, and after taking leave
of them, he ascended the Pushpaka again, and reached the
Chitrakoota Hill [Photo
of Chitrakoot].
There too, he offered prostrations to the sages, and
soaring to the sky again, he showed Sita the City of
Kishkindha [RRV2-4a]
from the chariot itself. Even while the Pushpaka was
speeding fast, Rama indicated to her the sacred rivers
Yamuna and Ganga. Sita offered worship to the holy
streams in her mind. Soon, they could see the thrice-holy
Prayag,
where the Yamuna flows into the Ganga. They could get a
far glimpse from that position of the splendorous City of
Ayodhya itself.
The chieftain of the
Nishada tribe,
Guha, [RRV-14]
who was yearning most ardently for the return of Rama,
his brother and his consort, espied the Pushpaka in the
sky; he fell flat on the ground in grateful obeisance,
the very moment he saw the vehicle. And, lo and behold,
the Pushpaka landed just then at the very place. Guha ran
forward and fell at the feet of Rama. Tears streamed from
his eyes; he could not contain his delight; he rose and
embraced Rama in the ecstasy of his heart. Sita, Rama and
Lakshmana conferred their blessings on the tribal
chieftain. They took their bath in the sacred river and
ordered Guha to bring the ferry-boat for them to cross
the Ganga. The Pushpaka, which belonged to
Kubera,
before Ravana appropriated it, was sent back to its
original owner.
One more day remained
to be spent, outside Cities, in exile. Therefore, Rama
commissioned Hanuman to change himself into a Brahmin and
proceed to Ayodhya. He was to inform Bharatha the news
about Rama and others, and bring back from Ayodhya news
of Bharatha. Hanuman left immediately. Rama, with Sita
and Lakshmana, and all who had come with him, moved into
the hermitage of
Bharadwaja
[RRV-15]
and accepted the hospitality and gratitude of that sage.
Hanuman found the residents of Ayodhya lean and famished,
despondent and depressed; they had not relished food or
drink during the absence of Rama. All over the town, one
could hear their grievous groans and wailing. No one
could move towards another to console or nurse, for
everyone was too weak to take a few steps nor had anyone
the desire or the capacity to nurse or console. But, rays
of hope had already been cast by the news he was
bringing. Bharatha had some welcome premonitions of the
happy event; his right eye twitched and his right arm
too. He anticipated the receipt of the good news of
Rama's entry into Ayodhya. He was grieving that one more
day was still to pass before the period of exile would
end. He was worried that Rama had not sent anyone to
communicate to him which place he had reached. He told
himself how fortunate Lakshmana was, since he was all the
time in the presence and serving the Lotus Feet of Rama.
"The Lord cast me into this City, for, I am a hypocrite.
My Lord is all softness and sweetness. He is the kind
kinsman of the downtrodden and the fallen. He is
compassion itself. He will certainly arrive tomorrow", he
consoled himself.
Just then, Hanuman was
within his sight as a Brahmin,
come with tiding. Hanuman was thrilled at the condition
of Bharatha. His body had been very much reduced; he was
worn down by anxiety. His hair had become matted. His
eyes had become perennial streams of tears. He was
repeating the name of Rama without intermission. Hanuman
was full of joy at the sight of such a dedicated soul.
The hairs of his body stood on end because of the
ecstasy. His thoughts ran in several directions. But, he
remembered his mission and poured the nectarine news he
had brought into the thirsty ears of Bharatha. "Bharatha!
The person from whom you have been separated and for whom
you have been pining without sleep or food all these
nights and days, whose virtues and powers you have been
extolling and reciting every moment of your life all
these years, who has guaranteed safety to the gods and
security to the sages, who fosters truth and
righteousness in all the worlds - He, Rama, has achieved
victory over all enemies, and the gods are singing his
glory".
Just as a man suffering
from acute thirst is rendered happy at the sight of
water, Bharatha was filled with joy when he listened to
Hanuman. He wondered whether he was actually listening to
some one actually speaking to him. But, he assured
himself that it was true. "How can this be an illusion?
Who is this person who has brought the good news? Where
did you come from?", he asked the visitor, embracing him
out of sheer gratitude. Hanuman replied, "O Bharatha! I
am Hanuman, the son of Vayu, the Wind-God. You seem to
have forgotten. I am the Vanara who fell on the ground,
before you, while I was carrying the Sanjeevi Hill
[RRV2-8a].
I am a servant of the Lotus Feet of
Rama."
Hearing this reply,
Bharatha rose most respectfully and was overwhelmed with
joy; he bowed his head in reverence. "O Leader of
Monkeys! You have demolished my sorrow. Your very sight
has ushered calm in my mind. Ah! How fortunate am I! I
could see a Messenger come from Rama today!" He continued
to repeat the same sentiments for a long time. "Is my
Rama hale and happy? My mother, Sita, how is she?
Hanuman! How am I to express my gratitude to you? What
shall I do for you in return? I cannot find anything of
equal preciousness which I can offer you in gratitude.
So, I will ever remain indebted; I do not know how to
repay the debt, or with what. Where is Rama now? At which
place is he staying? Relate to me the exploits he fought
unto victory", he said, with unbearable eagerness.
Hanuman was struck by the devotion and dedication that
Bharatha evinced and he fell at his feet to demonstrate
his admiration. He said, "Bharatha! Rama is very near the
city of Ayodhya itself. You can see him within a short
time. His achievements are indescribably wonderful. You
know this. He too was constantly remembering you. The
Lord of the Worlds, Rama, has said out of his own mouth
that in the whole world there is no brother equal to you
in purity of heart, sharpness of intellect, and equipped
so fully with all the virtues. How can those words be
negatived?"
Bharatha was overcome
with delight when he heard these words. "Has Rama spoken
of me thus? O! How fortunate am I!" he cried and embraced
Hanuman fondly. Hanuman declared that he could not delay
any longer; he took leave of Bharatha and reached the
Presence of Rama. He informed Rama about all that he had
seen and heard.
Now, Bharatha started
preparations; he seldom put both his feet down at the
same time on the ground! He was ever on the move, most
busy. He arrived at Ayodhya from
Nandigrama and
offering prostrations to the Preceptor, Vasishta,
communicated to him the news of Rama entering Ayodhya
soon. He rushed into the Queens' apartments and announced
to the three mothers that Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were
arriving. The mothers rose quickly and were filled with
joy. Bharatha ordered that the entire City be informed of
the good news through all media. The news reached all
ears with lightning speed. Children, the aged, men, and
women ran helter-skelter shouting the news at the top of
their voices.
Bharatha collected the
sages, the scholars, the preceptors, the leading citizens
and the four Sections of the Armed Forces, and with the
three Queens and Ministers led by Sumantra, he walked
forward with Satrughna by his side to meet Rama. Rama,
while nearing Ayodhya, was describing to the Vanaras and
others around him the beauty of the City: "O Sugriva,
Angada, Vibhishana! Ayodhya is a holy City. It is a
beautiful City." In the midst of Rama's enthusiastic
description of the City's charms, Bharatha appeared at
the head of the Armed Forces and with his brother and
queens. As the ocean heaves up in joy at the sight of the
autumn moon the vast populace heaved a breath of joy at
the sight of Ramachandra,
Rama the Moon. Their excitement reached the sky. The
mothers embraced Rama with ecstatic delight and forgot
themselves, caught in the flood of happiness. Sita, Rama
and Lakshmana fell at the feet of the mothers; the joy of
both parties knew no bounds. Rama drew Bharatha near him
and, pained at his weakened frame, he consoled and
counseled him lovingly. He praised aloud his brother for
his steadfast devotion and affection towards the people.
Sita, Rama and Lakshmana prostrated before Vasishta,
Jabali, Vamadeva and other sages, as soon as they were
sighted. Even the most ascetic among the sages could not
restrain his tears at the happy reunion with
Rama.
The Vedic scholars
raised their voices to the sky and showered their
blessing in traditional formulae: "Live victoriously for
hundreds of years. Live prosperously for hundreds of
years". Bharatha and Satrughna fell flat on the ground
before Rama in reverential homage. Though Rama pleaded
with them again and again to rise up, they found
themselves unable to rise and leave hold of the Lotus
Feet. Lakshmana and Rama had to exert jointly to lift
them. The brothers embraced each other in fervent
affection, and shed tears of joy and relief at sight of
each other's faces. The delight with which their minds
were filled gave their innate beauty a rare splendour.
They shone like embodiments of physical charm. The
sadness of separation gave place to the joy of
togetherness. They were now deep in the ocean of
bliss.
Sugriva,
Nala, Nela
[RRV2-7a]
Angada,
Hanuman and
others assumed beautiful bodies for the festive occasion.
The citizens were overjoyed at the sight of the entourage
of Rama. They extolled in various ways the austerities
that Bharatha went through and welcomed the result
thereof. They appreciated his sterling virtues. Rama
admired the faith and devotion of the people of the City.
He gathered around Him the
Vanaras and
Vibhishana;
he introduced them to his brothers and his preceptors.
When he took them near the queens and told them, "These
are my mothers", all of them fell at the feet of the
women, saying, "O, how fortunate we are. We see the
mothers who gave birth to God Himself. You are indeed
most worthy of worship. Bless us most
graciously".
Kausalya
addressed them thus, "O Vanaras! You are all as dear to
me as my son Rama himself. May Rama never forget you; may
He ever protect you". Then, deliberating among
themselves, they ascended the chariots brought for them
and entered the City.
In front of every home
were placed golden pots filled with auspiciously coloured
water. Flags were tied across the streets and on houses.
The faces of the people, which were faded and shrunken
with sorrow, like lotuses in moonlight, blossomed into
freshness and beauty, like the same lotuses at sunrise,
when Rama came before them. Their countenances shone with
attractive effulgence. The sky resounded with their
cheers and shouts of Victory. The chariot which bore Rama
entered the city streets. The streets were bursting with
excitement and delight. The auspicious flames of the
lamps that were held by devoted hands and waved as he
passed, shone like stars and gave the impression that the
firmament had fallen on the earth. The roads were soaked
with fragrant rosewater.
As the chariot passed,
showers of flowers were rained on it by the citizens from
the windows and the terraces. The ecstasy of the citizens
broke all bounds. With His three brothers and three
mothers, Rama with Sita by His side, gave immense joy to
the thousands packed on the sides of the roads. People
congratulated one another on their good fortune in being
alive and present on such a happy occasion. When they
reached the Palace, the women of the inner apartments and
the aides and servants of the household came forward and
received them with customary rituals, like washing the
feet.
contents
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