p. 1705

Kaxurstna, knowing himself, being thus duly installed, the first night,enhancing the delight of the citizens, was spent. At dawn, the prisoners, to wake up the king, arrived at the palace. And those songsters, well trained and having a musical voice like the Kinnaras, began to eulogize the heroic king, to the increase of his joy. ‘Awake, O gentle hero, increasing Kausalya’s joy, O foremost of men. Thyself being asleep the whole universe will be laid up with sleep. In prowess thou art like Vishnu,in beauty thou art like two Aswins, in intellect thou art like Vrihaspati and in the capacity of governing thou art like the Patriarch Brahma. Thy patience equals that of earth, thy effulgence equals that of the sun, thy velocity equals the wind and thy gravity resembles the deep. | Thou art stable like a stake, gentle like the moon, No king like thee had flourished before—no other shall follow. O 214 :

p. 1706

foremost of men, thou art irrepressible, ever pious and engaged in bringing about welfare unto thy subjects. Fame and wealth shall never renounce thee. O Kakutstha, in thee are perpetually stationed grace and wealth.” Thus did the panegyrists eulogise him in various sweet accents and Raghava got up. Like unto Hari rising up from the bed of serpents Rama, thus eulogized, rose up from his bed covered with a a white coverlet. Taking white vessels full of water, thousands of well-trained survitors stood waiting before the high-souled (Rama). Washing his mouth, being purified and offering oblation unto fire, he entered the holy room of the tutelary deity much honored by the Ikshwakus. And there having worshipped duly the celestials, manes and the Brahmins, he, encircled by men,came to the outer appartment. And there arrived the leading priests headed by Vasishtha and ministers all resplendant like unto fire. And there sat around Rama the Kashatrya kings hailing from various provinces as the celestials sit encircling their lord Indra. The illustrious Bharata, Lakshmana and Satrughna began to worship him and he appeared like a sacrifice conducted by Vedic hymns. And the servants, with their eyes shut, sat around him. The twenty heroic monkeys headed by the highly powerful Sugriva also began to worship him. As the Guhyakas worship Kuvera so Bibhishana, accompanied by four Rakshasas, waited upon him. All those who were advanced in the study of Vedas, born in respectable families, and. learned, bowed unto the king lowering their heads. Like unto the celestial-king Indra worshipped by the saints the king Rama was being perpetually honored by the effulgent saints, kings, monkeys, and Rakshasas. He appeared more beautiful than Indra at that time. And religious themes were recited in that assembly by persons conversant with the knowledge of Puranas.

p. 1707

Tavs 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, { 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,Bharat 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 be be inexhaustible with thee.” Thereugon, Rima, 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 Vitra. Having bade adieu unto his maternal uncle Rama embraced his friend Pratardana, the undaunted king of Kashi and said :—‘“Thou hast displayed thy brotherly feelings and delight by making arrangements for my installation in

p. 1708

the company of Bharata. O king, do thou now leave for thy city Baranushi, 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 Kausaly4a’s delight, the king of Kashi, with his followers; fearlessly and speedily proceeded to his own city. Having bade adieu to the king of Kashi, Rima, 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 : © “Q Rama, it is by thy good fortune that thou hast come off victorious and been installed on the throne; it is by thy good luck that thou hast got back Sita and the enemy Daganana hath been vanquished. That we behold thee, O Rama, victorious and freed from all enemies, is our great benefit and delight. The encomiums, thou hast showered upon us, are natural with thee. Thou art Rama, who always pleases people. Thou art worthy 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 heart.” Whereto

p. 1709

Rama replied saying “‘so be it.’ Thereupon the kings, highly delighted and desirous of going, bade farewell unto Rama, with folded palms and being honored by him, left for their respective kingdoms.