Chapter 101 - Installation of Rāmeśvara in the Middle of the Setu

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Sūta said:

1-4. Thus Raghūttama spent that night there after being duly attended upon with great devotion by all the excellent monkeys.

When the day dawned and the solar disc rose up in all its splendour, he concluded his religious rites of the morning and summoned Puṣpaka. He got into Puṣpaka along with the ten monkeys, viz. Sugrīva, Suṣeṇa, Tāra, Kumuda, Aṅgada, Kunda, the intelligent son of Vāyu, Gavākṣa, Nala and Jāṃbavān.

5. Then at the proper time, Rāma started towards Laṅkā in that highly resplendent aerial chariot having the velocity of mind.

6. Instantly he reached the great city named Laṅkā and saw all those places where the battle had taken place before.

7. On seeing the remarkable splendour of Puṣpaka, Vibhīṣaṇa knew that Rāma had arrived. He joyously came to receive him along with all the ministers, servants, and sons.

8. Even as he saw Lord Rāma from a great distance, Vibhīṣaṇa prostrated on the ground like a log of wood and uttered the words “Be victorious.”

9. He (Rāma) closely embraced Vibhīṣaṇa with great eagerness even as he arrived. Later accompanied by him, he entered Laṅkā.

10. After entering the abode of Vibhīṣaṇa, he sat on the splendid throne with the monkeys surrounding him.

11. Then Vibhīṣaṇa dedicated unto him everything—the kingdom, his sons, wives etc., and everything else.

12-13. Then he stood with palms joined in reverence and humility and said: “O Lord, let the command be given. Tell me, what work I shall carry out. O Lord, say why you came all of a sudden. Why did the son of Sumitrā not come with you? Nor Jānakī?

Sūta said:

14. Rāghava heaved a sigh with his face covered by tears and told everything to him in faltering words.

15. Raghunandana addressed Vibhīṣaṇa who was also highly distressed and spoke to him truthful words conducive to his good:

16. “O most excellent one of the Rākṣasas, soon I will also leave the kingdom and go to heaven where Lakṣmaṇa has already gone.

17. O tiger among the Rākṣasas, I am not eager to stay behind even for a short while in the mortal world without my noble-souled brother.

18. It is with the intention of advising you that I have come to you, O Vibhīṣaṇa. Hence listen without excitement in the mind and carry it out.

19. This prosperity and power arising from the rulership of the kingdom may generate arrogance in men of meagre intellect like liquor. So it shall not be adopted by you.

20. All the immortal ones including Śakra are worthy of being honoured and venerated by you always, so that your own kingdom will be always intact.

21-23. My statement should remain true. Therefore, I have come. Although your exceedingly mighty brother was well entrenched in his kingdom, he suddenly met with destruction. Hence Suras should always be honoured. If somehow a human being comes over here, he should be seen as one with my physical form by all the night-stalkers (Rākṣasas). O Vibhīṣaṇa, all the demons should be kept restrained by you. No one should proceed to the mainland transgressing my bridge.”

Vibhīṣaṇa said:

24. Undoubtedly, I shall carry out your directions, O Lord. But when the mortal world is abandoned by you my very life may depart.

25. So, it behoves you, O Lord, to take me too along with you where Lakṣmaṇa having departed earlier is present.

Śrī Rāma said:

26. O most excellent one among Rākṣasas, an everlasting kingdom has been already promised for you by me. Hence it does not behove you to make me one with false conduct (untrue utterance).

27. For the sake of my lasting reputation, I will install three idols (or Liṅgas) of splendid features on my own Setu (Bridge). They should be worshipped by you always with great devotion and determination as long as the moon, the sun and the stars shine.

28. After saying thus to Vibhīṣaṇa, the Lord of the Rākṣasas, the most excellent one among the descendants of Raghu stayed there in Laṅkā for ten days along with the monkeys.

29. He spoke about the diverse incidents of the battle that had been fought already and visited the different sites of the battle.

SO. He praised those heroic Rākṣasas of superior strength such as Kuṃbhakarṇa, Indrajit and others who met him face to face in the, battle.

31. On the, eleventh days, Raghunandana got into that Puṣpaka and proceeded towards his city.

32. He was accompanied by those monkeys and Vibhīṣaṇa went ahead. Then he installed Maheśvara on the Setu at the end.

33-34. With the mind sanctified by faith, he installed the deity in the middle and in the beginning too. Thus he came actually to the site of the Setubandha and then proceeded towards his own home. Then Vibhīṣaṇa bowed down to him repeatedly and said:

Vibhīṣaṇa said:

35. Men will be coining along this Setu with a desire to visit Rāmeśvara either out of curiosity or keenly endowed with faith.

36. The community of the Rākṣasas is considered cruel, O great king. On seeing a man coming, they may feel a desire for human flesh.

37. If any Rākṣasa begins to eat any human being it will necessarily be disobedience and breaking of the command on my part, although I continue my devotion.

38-40. In Kali age, mankind in general may be poor. They will be coming here everyday under the pretext of visiting the deity but really motivated by the greed of gold. They may not be afraid of the Rākṣasas.

If any one among the Rākṣasas were to kill him it will be an act of disloyalty to my Lord on my part, O Lord. Hence think of some way out, lest I should incur the sin of disobedience.

41. On hearing his words, the most excellent one among the descendants of Raghu said: “Of course, it may be so.” Then he got his bow ready with string.

42. Then Raghūttama cut off with sharp arrows the monumental form of his renown in the middle region extending to ten Yojanas.

43. Thereby the peak where Śaṅkara had been installed by himself fell into the waters of the ocean along with the Liṅga.

44. In this manner the pathway over the Setu was rendered impassable. He then went home along with the monkeys and Rākṣasas.