Part 3: Reunion of Rāma and Sītā

After hearing that, Kumbhakarṇa, Indrajit, Meghavāhana and others, Mandodarī and others, took the vow at that time. After bowing to the muni, his road shown by Bibhīṣaṇa, stooping, going ahead like a door-keeper, with blessings bestowed by Vidyādharīs, with great magnificence like Indra, Rama with Saumitri and the lord of the Kapis entered the city Laṅkā.

Kākutstha went to the garden on the top of Mt. Puṣpagiri and saw there Maithilī just as described by Hanūmat. Lifting her up on his lap like a second life, considering her then (his) life, Rāghava held her. “Hail to this noble wife Sītā,” the Siddhas, Gandharvas, et cetera sang joyfully in the air at that time. Sumitrā’s son bowed with joy at Queen Sītā’s feet, as if washing them with uninterrupted tears. “Long live! Long rejoice! Long be victorious with my blessing!” With these words Vaidehī smelled Lakṣmaṇa’s head.^[1] Bhāmaṇḍala bowed to Sītā and Sītā delighted him joyfully with a blessing which resembled the speech of munis. The lord of the Kapis and Bibhīṣaṇa, Hanumat, Aṅgada, and the others bowed to Janaka’s daughter together with announcement of their names. Sītā with Rāma looked like a night-blooming lotus which has bloomed from a full moon after a long time. Rāghava and Sītā mounted the elephant, Bhuvanālaṅkāra, and went to Rāvaṇa’s dwelling, surrounded by Sugrīva and the others.

Wishing to worship, he entered the shrine of Śrī Śāntinātha, the Lord Jina, marked with a thousand jeweled pillars, inside the palace. Kākutstha, together with Sītā and Saumitri, worshipped Śānti with articles, flowers, et cetera delivered there by Bibhīṣaṇa. At Bibhīṣaṇa’s request Rāma with Sītā and Saumitri, accompanied by Sugrīva and the others, went to Bibhīṣaṇa’s house. There Rāghava with his retinue performed the worship of the gods, bath, food, et cetera, honoring Rāvaṇa’s younger brother. Bibhīṣaṇa, seated before Rāma who was seated on the lion-throne, put on both his garments and spoke, his hands joined:

“Take this treasure of jewels, gold, et cetera, these elephants, horses, et cetera, and this island of Rākṣasas. I am your footman. Now we shall make your coronation at your command. Purify the city of Laṅkā. Be gracious. Favor me.”

Rāma said: “Noble sir, have you, confused by devotion, forgotten now that I gave the kingdom of Laṅkā to you formerly?”

Restraining him in this way, Padma himself, delighted, observer of promises, installed him at that very time in the kingdom of Laṅkā. Surrounded by Sītā, Saumitri, Sugrīva and the others, Rāma went to Rāvaṇa’s house, like Adribhid to Sudharmā. There at Rāma’s command the chief Vidyādharas brought the daughters of Siṃhodara, et cetera, who had been promised before, to be married. Then the two Rāghavas, auspicious songs being sung by Khecarīs, married properly the girls premised to each one. Enjoying pleasures there unhindered, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, served by Sugrīva and the others, spent six years. In the meantime Indrajit and Meghavāhana attained emancipation on the Vindhya plateau and the tīrtha Megharatha came into existence. Kumbhakarṇa went to emancipation at the river Narmadā and the tīrtha named Pṛṣṭharakṣita arose.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A method of showing affection. See II, p. 347.