Chapter CXXVII: Section CXXVIII

"I hear the tidings of my brother affording me great delight who hath been living in the huge forest for many a year. The saying of the people appeareth to me as instinct with well meaning that a man, if alive, may attain to joy even after a century. Do thou relate truly unto me, how and in what country the union between Raghava and the monkeys was brought about". Being thus accosted by the prince and seated on Kuca, he, thereupon, began to describe Rama's life in the forest. "How Rama was exiled, the two boons conferred upon thy mother, how king Dacaratha died in consequence of (his) son's grief, how by emissaries, O lord, thou wert brought up from the house of thy maternal uncle, how thou didst not wish for the kingdom having entered Ayodhya, how thy brother, the repressor of enemies, was solicited by thee for accepting the kingdom, reparing to the mount Chitrakuta, who hast ever wended the track of the pious, the renouncement of kingdom (by him) abiding by the words of the king, thy return after taking the sandals of thy revered (brother)--all these, O thou of long-arms, are known to thee. I shall relate unto thee all that happened after thy return. Thyself having returned thence, all the birds and animals were overwhelmed with terror and that forest appeared as if distressed. Thereupon he entered the solitary and huge and dreadful forest Dandaka distressed by the elephants and abounding in lions, tigers and deer. And they entering the dense forest there appeared before them the powerful Biradha[494] emitting a dreadful sound. And taking him up roaring aloud like an elephant Rama threw him with his arms upwards and face downwards into a pit. Having accomplished that difficult work the two brothers Rama and Lakshmana, arrived in the evening at the pleasant hermitage of _Sarabhanga_. And _Sarabhanga_ having attained to heaven, Rama, having truth for his prowess, saluting all the ascetics, repaired to Janasthana. And by the high-souled Raghava, living there, fourteen thousand inhabitants of Janasthana were slain. In the company of one person only and at the commencement of the fight, by Rama, within the one fourth part of a day, were exterminated all the highly powerful and valiant inhabitants of the forest of Dandaka always putting obstructions in the way of the ascetics. All the Rakshasas were grinded (to death) by Raghava. Khara was slain in the conflict; Dushana being slain first Trishira was slain thereafter by him. Thereafter (a she-demon) named Surpanakha, came to the side of Rama. Thereupon being commanded by Rama, the highly powerful Lakshmana rose up all on a sudden and taking a dagger chopped off her ears and nose. Being thus insulted by him that she-demon came to Ravana. Thereupon a dreadful Rakshasa named Maricha--an attendant of Ravana, assuming the shape of a jewelled deer, allured Vaidehi. And beholding it, Vaidehi spake unto Rama, saying,--'Do thou catch it; with it when caught our hermitage shall be more charming.' Thereupon Rama, with bow in his hand, pursued that deer and with one shaft destroyed it. O gentle one, Raghava going out on hunting, and Lakshmana having issued out of the hermitage, the Ten-necked (demon) entered therein. And he speedily got hold of Sita, like unto Rohini possessed by the planet in the sky. Thereupon slaying the vulture Yatayu in the conflict desirous of rescuing her and getting hold of Sita that Rakshasa speedily repaired (to his capital). Thereupon some monkeys resembling mountains, stationed on the summit of a mountain, stricken with wondrous fear and astonishment, beheld Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas proceed with Sita. Ascending the car _Puskpaka_, going at will, with Vaidehi and hastening his course that highly powerful Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas entered Lanka. And entering the huge and excellent golden palace Ravana consoled Maithili with (diverse) words. But she regarded that foremost of Rakshasas and his words as straw. And Vaidehi was placed in the forest of Asoka. Thereupon returned Rama after having slain the deer in the forest. Having returned and seen the vulture, dearer than his father, slain, Rama, the descendant of Kakutstha was pained. And searching Vaidehi and ranging at the banks of Godaveri and forest-lands covered with flowers, Rama with Lakshmana, met in that huge forest a Rakshasa named Kavandha. Thereupon at the words of Kavandha, Rama, having truth for his prowess, repairing to the mount Rishyamuka, was united with Sugriva. There had grown mutual love in them before they were known to each other. Sugriva was driven away by his angry brother Vali. And informed of each other's affairs their friendship grew closer. There-upon slaying the huge-bodied and highly powerful Vali in the conflict by virtue of the strength of his own arms Rama obtained (for Sugriva) his own kingdom. And being placed on the throne with all the monkeys, Sugriva promised unto Rama the enquiry of the Princess (Sita). Being commanded by the high-souled Sugriva, the lord of monkeys, ten _kotis_ of monkeys repaired to (various) quarters. Among them some of us lost our way in a cavity of the Vindhya mountain, and were striken with great terror--and accordingly much time was lost. The powerful brother of the king of vultures named Sampati communicated unto us the residence of Sita in the palace of Ravana. Thereupon removing the grief of my relatives stricken with sorrow and resorting to my own prowess, I jumped over a hundred _yojanas_ and beheld her placed in the forest of Asoka, wearing a red cloth, pale, deprived of all joy and observing strict penances. And then nearing her and beholding her of a perfectly blameless person I bestowed upon her an ensign a ring with Rama's name engraven on it. And obtaining a jewel as an ensign, I, with my object accomplished, returned. And having returned I presented Rama of unwearied actions with that ensign of a brilliant gem. And hearing (of the news of Vaidehi) Rama regained his life like one on the verge of death regaining his being after drinking nectar. And exciting (his soldiers) for making preparations like unto Fire about to destroy all people he made up his mind for the devastation of Lanka. Thereupon arriving at the banks of the ocean he had a bridge constructed by Nala by which the army of monkey-heroes crossed (the deep). Nala destroyed Prahasta, Raghava slew Kumbhakarna, Lakshmana killed the son of Ravana and Rama himself slew Ravana. He was then met by Sakra, Yama, Varuna, Siva, Brahma and Dacaratha. And that graceful descendant of Kakutstha, the slayer of foes, obtained the boon from them as well as from the saints assembled there--(celestial and otherwise). Having obtained the boon he, delighted, met the monkeys and in the car _Pushpaka_ reached Kishkindha. Again reaching the Ganges he is living with the ascetic; it becometh thee to behold him to-morrow under the auspices of of Pushya,[495] without any hindrance". Thereupon being delighted with the sweet accents of Hanuman, Bharata addressed him, with folded hands, with words affording delight, saying,--"After a long time my desire hath been fulfilled".

[494] A demon of that name.

[495] The lunar asterism comprising three stars of which one is the
Cancer.