Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 23 Aug 2011 11:50 and updated at 23 Aug 2011 11:50
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 7: UTTARA KANDA
SECTION 48
Thus did the long armed Rama spend his days looking into all administrative works relating to the city and provinces.
Some days having elapsed, he, with folded hands, said to Janaka, the king of Mithila, "Thou art our only refuge we have been reared by thee and by the help of thy dreadful prowess we have been able to destroy Ravana. O king, the relation between the families of Ikshwaku and Mithila, is unequalled and delightful. Taking the jewel, do thou proceed to thy own city and Bharata as a help shall follow thee.
Saying "so be it" the king Janaka bespoke Rama "O king, I have been delighted with seeing thee and thy courteous manners. The jewels collected for me, I do confer upon my two daughters." The royal saint Janaka having gone away, Rama, with folded hands and humbly said to his maternal uncle Kaikeya "O king, this kingdom, myself, Bharata and Lakshmana are all at thy disposal.
The old king might have been grieved for thy long absence. It therefore behoveth thee, O king, to go there to day. With immense wealth and various jewels let Lakshmana follow thee.
Agreeing with his request Yudhajit said, "O Raghava, let jewels and wealth inexhaustible be with thee." Thereupon, Rama, at first saluted and went round him and then Yudhajit, the son of Kekaya, went away to his kingdom in the company of Lakshmana like unto Indra (leaving for home) in the company of Vishnu on the destruction of the Asura Vritra. Having bade adieu unto his maternal uncle Rama embraced his friend Pratardana, the undaunted king of Kasi and said "Thou hast displayed thy brotherly feelings and delight by making arrangements for my installation in the company of Bharata.
0 king, do thou now leave for thy city Varanasi, highly picturesque, well guarded, girt by strong walls on all sides and having well decorated gateways." Saying this, Rama, the descendant of Kakutstha rose up from his seat and embraced him cordially. Having taken farewell from Rama enhancing Kausalya s delight, the king of Kasi, with his followers, fearlessly and speedily proceeded to his own city.
Having bade adieu to the king of Kasi, Rama, with a smiling countenance and sweet accents, said to the three hundred assembled kings: "Being well protected by your own prowess, you have all displayed your great love for me. By your piety, truthfulness, sagacity and strength, the vicious souled Ravana hath been slain. Forsooth, I am merely the instrument in the destruction of Ravana he hath been slain by your strength.
Hearing that Sita, the daughter of Janaka, had been stolen away from the forest the high minded Bharata did bring you all but fortunately you were not constrained to go through miseries. High minded as you are, you were all prepared for this work. Long since you have come here.
I think it better that you should proceed to your respective habitations." Whereto the kings, greatly delighted, replied: "O Rama, it is by thy good fortune that thou hast come of victorious and been installed on the throne ;it is by thy good luck that thou hast got back Sita and the enemy Dasanana hath been vanquished. That we behold thee, O Rama, victorious and freed from all enemies, is our great benefit and delight.
The encomiums, thon hast showered upon us, are natural with thee. Thou art Rama, who always pleases people. Thou art wothy of being praised but we do not know how to praise thee.
With thy permission we shall now leave for our respective provinces but thou shalt always reside in our hearts. O thou having long arms, O great king, mayst thou have that love for us perpetually that we may find place in thy heat." Whereto Rama replied saying "so be it.
Thereupon the kings, highly fighted and desirous of going, bade farewell unto Rama, with folded palms and being honored by him, left for their pective kingdoms.
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