Chapter CXXV: Section CXXVI

Having completed the fourteen years (of exile), the self-controlled elder brother of Lakshmana, arriving at the hermitage of Varadwaya on the fifth day, saluted the ascetic. And bowing unto Varadwaya, having asceticism for his wealth, he said,--"O thou gifted with six sorts of wealth, hast thou heard of the prosperity and well being (of my city)? Is Bharata still engaged (in guarding the people)? Are my mothers living?" Being thus addressed by Rama the great ascetic Varadwaya replied, delighted, and smiling, unto that foremost of Raghus,--"Abiding by thy command and with matted locks, Bharata is waiting for thee, always honoring thy sandals. And all others are well in thy house. O subduer of thy enemies, I was greatly pained, when I saw thee before entering the huge forest, wearing bark, three with thy wife,[489] deprived of thy kingdom for piety only, walking on foot, renouncing every thing, obeying the command of thy sire, deprived of all comforts, like a celestial banished from heaven, deprived of thy kingdom at the words of Kaikeyi, and living on wild roots and fruits; but beholding thee now of accomplished end, with all thy friends having vanquished the enemy, I have attained to highest delight. O Raghava, I am apprised of immense griefs and happinesses which befell thee when thou didst live in Janasthana. Thy blameless spouse was carried away stealthily by Ravana engaged as thou wert in the behoof of the Brahmanas, and in the protection of all the ascetics. The view of Maricha--the carrying away of Sita,--the beholding of the headless demon,--thy going to (the lake) Pampa,--thy friendship with Sugriva, where Vali was slain by thee,--the enquiry of Vaidehi undertaken by the son of Wind-god,--the construction of the bridge by Nala after the whereabouts of Vaidehi had been known--the conflagration of Lanka by the delighted and the leading monkeys--the destruction, in the conflict, of Ravana proud of his own strength, along with his sons, friends, courtiers, army and steeds--the arrival of the celestials on the destruction of Ravana, the thorn of gods and the grant of boon by them--I have known all these by virtue of my asceticism, O thou fond of virtue. My disciples used to go hence to that city to bring tidings. I shall even now grant thee a boon, O foremost of those using weapons. Do thou accept my _Arghya_[490] and then repair to Ayodhya to-morrow". And respectfully abiding by his words, that effulgent son of the king, delighted, begged of him the boon. "O thou gifted with six qualities, on my way while proceeding to Ayodhya, let all the trees, bearing fruits out of season, and producing honey, bear many a nectar-smelling fruit". No sooner he replied saying,--"Thy promise shall be fulfilled" than all the trees there became like those of heaven. Trees without fruits were filled therewithal and trees without flowers were covered with them. All the trees, whose leaves were dried up, were enveloped with foliage and all of them began to pour honey. The way to Ayodhya for three _yojanas_ was thus filled all over (with trees). Thereupon thousands of monkeys, living, at pleasure and delightedly, on various celestial fruits, thought as if they were in heaven.

[489] _i.e._ thyself, Lakshmana and Sita.

[490] A respectful oblation to gods or venerable men of rice, _durva_
grass, flowers &c with water in a small boat-shaped vessel.