February 9 - Sargas 119 and 120 of Yuddha Kanda.
The supreme lord Shiva and King Dasharatha now shower their blessings on Sri Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita.
Sri Rama requests Lord Indra to restore life and full health to all the vanaras and bears killed in the battle, which Indra does gladly.
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एतत्श्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं राघवेणानुभाषितम् ।
इदं शुभतरं वाक्यं व्याजहार महेश्वरः ॥
"Hearing the auspicious words of Sri Rama, Lord Maheshvara Shiva spoke the following words, conferring even greater auspiciousness."
"Oh, Sri Rama, lotus-eyed, endowed with mighty arms, and a broad chest, you have fortunately completed your mission and you are the foremost among upholders of Dharma."
दिष्ट्या सर्वस्य लोकस्य प्रवृद्धं दारुणं तमः ।
अपावृत्तं त्वया सङ्ख्ये राम रावनजं भयम् ॥
"Sri Rama, fortunately, the utterly terrible darkness that had engulfed the whole creation and the great fear created by Ravana has been removed by you by winning this battle."
"Dear Sri Rama, go and console the grieving Bharata. Give joy to Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra by your return. Establish your rule well in Ayodhya, take care of good people, perform Rajasuya, donate generously to Brahmins, and thus complete your mission and then return to your eternal abode. Please see here, your dear father King Dasharatha is seated in this celestial vehicle. He was your glorious guru in this human birth. He reached Indraloka by the dint of your good deeds and your service to him. Bow down to him along with Lakshmana."
दीप्यमानं स्वया लक्ष्म्या विरजोम्बरधारिणम् "Sri Rama and Lakshmana saw their father, lustrous in his own divine radiance and dressed in a spotless garment.
"Dasharatha was gladdened beyond description after beholding Sri Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita. He embraced Sri Rama dearly and made him sit on his lap.
Dasharatha spoke: "Dear Rama, as I was separated from you, heavenly life and gods' reverence to me meant nothing to me. You have completed your mission of killing Ravana and have also completed your fourteen-year exile. This gives me immense joy. Dear Rama, I still remember clearly Kaikeyi's words that exiled you. But I am at peace after seeing you and Lakshmana well. You have uplifted me like sage Astavakra saved his father Kahola. I came to know only now from these gods that you are Purushottama who was born as Sri Rama to kill Ravana. Kausalya is blessed to be your mother and will be so happy on your return. The people of Ayodhya will be blessed to see you crowned. I wish to see you reunited soon with the righteous and devout Bharata. I bless you:
भ्रातृभिः सह राज्यस्थो दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुहि - "Along with your brothers, rule well and live long!"
Sri Rama bowed low to Dasharatha, and now made a plea.
कुरु प्रसादं धर्मज्ञ कैकेय्या भरतस्य च "Oh lord, you know Dharma well. Kindly be gracious to Kaikeyi and Bharata. You had disavowed them at the time of my exile. Please take back that terrible curse." Dasharatha was glad to revoke his curse. Now he embraced Lakshmana, standing with bowed head.
रामं शुश्रूषता भ्क्त्या वैदेह्या सह सीतया कृता मम महा प्रीतिः प्राप्तं धर्मफलं च ते "Dear Lakshmana, by serving Sri Rama and Sita so well, with devotion, you have made me extremely happy and also earned great merit by your Dharma. Your name will be renowned for this glory. Sri Rama's grace will confer heaven on you. Continue to serve Sri Rama well as he will cater to the welfare of all. Just see this - all the gods and rishis are bowing down to him. He is none other than Avinashi Brahman!"
Now Dasharatha addressed Sita, standing with reverence. He called her, "Dear daughter!"
In sweet and soft words, he spoke: "Dear Sita, the delight of Videha, please don't take Sri Rama's hard stance just now to heart. Forgive him. He had only your welfare at heart and considered what needed to be done to establish your glory and purity in the eyes of the whole world. Your completing the Agni-pariksha by the power of your glorious character is an act well-nigh impossible. Forever, you shall excel all other women. I need not tell you that serving Sri Rama is your foremost duty."
Dasharatha now departed to Indraloka, looking a picture of infinite joy, blessing Sri Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita.
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Lord Indra bowed to Sri Rama now and asked, "Please ask me for any boon. Our meeting should not be in vain."
Sri Rama was overjoyed. Look at what he asked!
मम हेतोः पराक्रान्ता ये गता यमसादनम् । ते सर्वे जीवितं प्राप्य समुत्तिष्ठन्तु वानराः ॥
"Oh, Lord! For my sake, all these vanaras and bears and golangulas forsook their wives and children and fought this deadly war. Many have died. Kindly bring them back to life. Give them health and restore their limbs completely. Be gracious and grant that they shall be provided with plenty of forest fare and river water always wherever they may be. "
Lord Indra was immensely pleased to fulfill Sri Rama's request.
All those vanaras and bears who had died in the battle now got up as if awakened from a deep sleep. Fully restored, they could only marvel at what might have happened.
मैथिलीं सान्त्वयस्वैनामनुरक्तां यशस्विनीं भ्रातरं भरतं पश्य त्वच्छोकाद्व्रतधारिणम्
"Sri Rama, please console this divine lady Sita, totally, lovingly, devoted to you. Also, go at once and cheer up Bharata, who has been engaged in hard austerities on account of the grief of separation from you."
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All the gods blessed Sri Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita again, and bid them a happy journey to Ayodhya. They then left in their divine vehicle.
Bidding the gods farewell, Sri Rama addressed all those around and requested them to take the much-needed rest for now.
Valmiki says that the huge army looked like the expansive night bathed in the moonlight of the gracious protection of Sri Rama and Lakshmana.
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॥ स्रीरामजयम् ॥
