Part 4: Cure of Lakṣmaṇa

Now, a certain Vidyādhara approached Bhāmaṇḍala, who was guard at the east gate of the wall in Padma’s army, and said: “Show me the honored Padma, if you are indeed a friend of his. I shall be able to tell you a restorative for Lakṣmaṇa. I am your benefactor.” Bhāmaṇḍala took hold of his arm and led him to Padma’s, lotus-feet. He bowed and explained: “I am the son, Praticandra, of King Śaśimaṇḍala, lord of Saṅgītāpura, by his wife Suprabhā. For amusement one day I set out in the air with my wife and was seen by the Vidyādhara, Sahasravijaya. Then he fought me for a long time from hostility arising from my marriage and I was made to fall to the ground by the spear Caṇḍarava which struck me. Falling to the ground in the garden Māhendrodaya in the city Sāketa, I was seen by your brother Bharata, very compassionate. At once the king sprinkled me with perfumed water and the spear went away from me like a thief from another man’s house. I, astonished by the immediate healing of the blow, asked him about the power of the perfumed water and your younger brother related:

‘A caravan-leader, named Vindhya, came here from Gajapura. One of his buffaloes, worn out by an excessive burden, fell on the road. The people of the city walked over him, stepping on his head, and the buffalo died from the great injury. From involuntary destruction of karma he became a god, a Vāyukumāra, named Pavanaputraka, lord of the city Śvetāṅkara. Knowing his former death by clairvoyance, angered, he made various and numerous diseases in this city and district. But there was no disease in the territory and house of my uncle, King Droṇamegha, though living in my country. I asked him about the reason for the freedom from disease and Droṇaghana said:

“My wife, Priyaṅkarā, was formerly severely afflicted by disease. By the power of the embryo which developed she was freed from disease and in time bore a daughter, named Viśalyā. A plague of diseases developed in my country, as in yours, and the people became healthy sprinkled by Viśalyā’s bath-water. One day I asked Muni Satyabhūtaśaraṇa and he said:

‘The fruit of penance in a former birth of Viśalyā is the curing of wounds, the removal of darts, and the destruction of disease of people by her bath-water; and Lakṣmaṇa will be her husband.’

Because of the muni’s speech the power of Viśalyā’s bath-water was ascertained by myself from right belief and experience, also.”

After telling this, Droṇamegha gave me Viśalyā’s bath-water and because of it my country became free of disease. I sprinkled you, also, with her bath-water and look! at once the dart became powerless and the wound healed.’

So friendship between Bharata and me arose, lord. Before dawn bring Viśalyā’s bath-water. So, hurry! Hurry! What will you do at dawn? When the cart is broken, indeed, what can the owner do?”

Raghūdvaha assigned Bhāmaṇḍala, Hanūmat, and Aṅgada to get Viśalyā’s bath-water from Bharata. They went by car with the speed of the wind to Ayodhyā and saw King Bharata lying on the palace-roof. They sang to awaken Bharata, while in the air. For kings are aroused by some device even in the case of royal business. Bhāmaṇḍala was noticed by Bharata, who had awakened, and was questioned. Bowing before him, Bhāmaṇḍala told his business. For there is no preliminary praise of a friend from a friend.

Then Bharata said, “I shall go there and accomplish that,” and got into his aerial car and went to the city Kautukamaṅgala. Asked by Bharata for Viśalyā, Droṇaghana gave her accompanied by a thousand women to be married at the same time. Bhāmaṇḍala dismissed Bharata in Ayodhyā and came eagerly with Viśalyā and his retinue. Standing in his chariot with blazing lights, observed instantly by his own people terrified by the appearance of sunrise, he deposited Viśalyā near Lakṣmaṇa. The great spear left Lakṣmaṇa immediately when he had been touched by her hand, like a large serpent by a dub. As the spear flew up, it was seized with violence by Hanūmat, who had flown up, like a quail seized in the air by a hawk. It, having the form of a goddess, said; “It was not my fault at all; for I, a sister of Prajñapti, was given to him by Dharaṇa. Unable to endure the brilliance of the penance in Viśalyā’s former birth, I shall go. Release me, innocent because of a servant’s rank.”

So addressed, Māruti, long-armed, released the spear and the spear, as soon as released, went away, as if ashamed. Viśalyā touched Saumitri again with her hand and anointed him gradually with gośīrṣa-sandal. Then Saumitri, his wound healed, got up soon as if from sleep and was embraced by Rāmabhadra weeping from joy. Rāma told him the whole story of Viśalyā and he quickly sprinkled his own men and the others with her bath-water. At that very time at Rāma’s command Saumitri married with due ceremony Viśalyā together with the thousand maidens. The Vidyādhara-kings held a great festival originating from joy at Saumitri’s restoration to life and marriage, which was a source of astonishment to the world.