Chapter CX - Final extinction of sikhidhvaja

Argument:—Return of the Royal pair and retinue to their realm, their long reign therein until their ultimate extinction in the Divine source.

Vasishtha related:—

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Then rose the orient sun above the horizon, like a brilliant gem appearing out of its containing casket; and dispelled the darkness of the sky, as the blazing gem enlightens the room with its rays.

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His dawning rays pierced the eyes of sleeping men, and oped their eyelids, as they open the folia of the closed lotuses; and they roused the lazy world to activity, as if the sun beams gave the sound of the morning bell. (The arati bell is rung at dawn, like the matin cry of the Muezzin, to raise the sleeping men to their morning service).

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The loving pair rose from their bed of flowers, in the grotto of the mount brightened by its mineral gold; and sat on their soft and cool leafy seats, to make their morning prayers and discharge their matin functions.

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Then rose Chudala and stood before a golden urn of water, where she made the presence to take his solemn oath by the names of seven oceans of the earth. (This oath is more binding than swearing by the water of Ganges).

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She then made him sit by the sacred water pot, and facing towards the rising sun in the east; and performed the rite of his installation to his kingdom, in this sequestered retreat.

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After the solemnity of the ceremony was over, they both sat on the same bedding (vishtara), when the god like Chudala spoke to her husband in the following manner:—

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Now my lord, leave off your quiet character of a muni or hermit, and assume the vigour of the eight rulers of the upper skies and nether world. (These ruling powers are Indra, Varuna &c.).

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After Chudala had done speaking in this manner, the prince assented to what she said; and told her that he will do as she bade him, and return to my realm with you.

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He then said to the princess, who was standing at the post of the warder (i.e. who was in attendance); on her inaugurated lord. "Now will I, my dear, install you in the rank of the queen regent in my turn and return for yours.

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Saying so, he caused holy lavation in an adjacent pool, and inaugurated as the regnant Regina of his royalty and realm.

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Then the prince requested her to exert the powers, of her consummation in yoga meditation;and to produce and bring to their presence a large force and retinue, as they wanted and thought suitable to their royal dignity.

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Hearing these words of prince, the praiseworthy princess produced by the power of her yoga, a body of forces, as large and over-spreading as bodies of out-stretching clouds in the rainy season.

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They beheld their cloud like forces, to be composed of lines of horses and elephants, and flags flying in the air in the form of scattered clouds, while the forest land was covered over by the feet of foot-soldiers.

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The sound of music, resounded in the hollow caves of mountains and woods; and the flash of the coronets on the head of the soldiers, drove away the darkness of the sky.

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Then the royal pair mounted upon a royal elephant, which exuded with the perfume of its ichor; escorted by the army on both sides of their procession.

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The prince Sikhidvaja sat with the princess on the same seat, and was accompanied by a mighty force composed of foot-soldiers and chariots, that furrowed the ground as they drove on forward.

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The mighty force gushed out like a rolling mountain, and seemed to blow off and break down the rock and highlands, as the cyclone carries off every thing in its way.

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The prince then proceeded from the Mahendra mountain, seeing on both sides the mountains and flatlands, rivers, forests and habitations of men, as he went onward with his great array.

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He showed and pointed out to his royal consort, the places where he sojourned before, on his way from out of his city, which he now beheld in his heavenly brightness, upon his arrival there in a little time.

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All his chiefs and chieftains, advanced to meet their prince; and welcomed with shouts of his victory, from their heart felt joy or from the revival of their hopes; on the occasion of his happy return.

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The prince entered the city, accompanied by his two regiments on both sides, and attended by bands of musicians playing in concord with the singing and dancing party.

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He passed through the market place, and beheld the beauty of the shops one after the other; and was hailed by groups of the city women, who pelted their handfuls of flowers and fried rice at him, as he passed on by them.

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He saw numbers of flags and banners hoisted on every side, and beheld strings of pearls hung over the doorways of houses. The women of the city were singing and dancing in merriment all around, and giving it the appearance of Kailasa—the happy abode of gods.

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He entered his royal palace with all his retinue, and was welcomed by the congratulations of his courtiers and attendants. He gave due honors to all his servants, and then dismissed the train, as he entered the inner apartment.

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He ordered a festivity to be observed for a week, and then employed himself to the management of the state affairs, and in conducting his meditation in the inner apartment.

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He reigned over his realm, for the period of a thousand and ten rains; and desisted from bearing the burthen of their bodies, and expired together with his royal consort about the same time.

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Having quitted his mortal frame, he obtained his extinction like an oilless and extinguished lamp, and attained the state, whence the high minded soul, has no more to return and be reborn on earth.

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It was by his observance of equanimity, that he enjoyed the peaceful reign of above a thousand years; and had the good fortune to live and die together with the princess, with whom he became extinct in the deity at last.

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It was by his sama-drishti or view of all persons and things with an even sight and in the same light, and his avoidance of fear and sorrow, together with his want of pride, envy and enmity, and the dispassionateness of his disposition, also his observance of the duties to which he was bound by his birth, that made him put off his death for more than a thousand cold seasons (years), and a peaceful reign for all time, with the co-partner of his felicity.

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Now Rama, try to imitate this prince, and be like him in every thing; whose virtues had made him the crown of all other Kings on earth;who enjoyed all the enjoyments of life, and lived a long life until he attended his final state of immortality. Do you, O Rama! pursue your own callings, and never be sorry at any accident in life. Be ever prompt and vigilant in your duties, and enjoy the prosperity both of temporal enjoyments and spiritual liberations at once.