We had seen Sita coming out of the fire unharmed as she underwent the test of character after Rama suspected her fidelity. The fire God restored Sita as she is after the divine mother entered a pyre of fire as a litmus test. Agni, the fire God vindicates the common belief that Sita never sinned nor she had seen, heard or thought about any other man with desire except Rama. The strength of a woman or Sita is her strict characteristic adherence, single minded devotion and harshest loyalty for the married husband or Rama. She proved it in the captivity of Ravana and she proved it in the test administered in front of Rama. Once she was declared as pure as fire, the reunion is completed to set off a cycle of happy tidings. The purpose of this book on battle and the purpose of Ramayana itself is served with the death of Ravana and the reunion of Rama and Sita. What happens henceforth in this book is a short episode of good events after a mammoth villain is slayed. All the dead and injured vanaras are restored to life and they ask Rama to travel along with him for the coronation in the great flight vehicle Pushpaka offered to him by Vibhishana. We are at the flag end of the book and can look at the events before the coronation of Rama as a ruling king in the following chapters after the end of the war.
In chapter 126, Rama shows to Sita all the places along their flight to Ayodhya - the whole City of Lanka, the battle-field where Ravana and other demons were killed, Nala-Setu the bridge which was built across the ocean, Mount Mainka, Setu-bandha (where the construction of the bridge was started), Mount Rishyamuka, Pampa River, Janasthana-forest, Panchavati, Godavari river, the hermitage of sage-Agastya, the hermitage of Atri and Anasuya, Mount Chitrakuta, Yamuna-river, the hermitage of Bharadwaja, Ganga-river, Sarayu-river and finally the City of Ayodhya.
Flying over Lanka, Rama said, "Sita, look at Lanka which rests on the summit of Trikoota, lofty as mount Kailash. Because of you, Ravana lies dead and Lanka is soaked with the blood and flesh of the rakshasas." He went on to show her the many places where great rakshasas like Kumbhakarna, Indrajit, Prahastha and others had fallen; the place where Mandodari had wept for Ravana along with his one thousand other wives; and the heaving, trashing sea which Hanuman had crossed and which they had later bridged. Later, while flying over Kishkinda Sita gently suggested that she would like Tara and the wives of all the great vanaras should come with them. This was done.
"O Sita, here is a great mountain resembling a cloud rent by lightning, abounding in gold and other metals. It is here that I met that Indra among Monkeys, Sugriva, and entered into an agreement with him to slay Bah. Here is the Pampa Lake with its marvellous fields of blue lotuses and here separated from you, out of the depth of mine affliction, I wept 1 It was on its banks that beheld the virtuous Shabari.
“Here I slew Kabandha, whose arms extended for four miles! O Sita, in Janasthana, I came upon that magnificent tree, the Ashvatta, near which Jatayu, the renowned and valiant Monarch of Birds perished under Ravana’s blows on thine account, O Lovely One. And there is our hermitage, O Lady of Brilliant Complexion, where our enchanting leafy hut may be seen. It is there that you were borne away by force by the King of the Titans.
“There is the ravishing Godavari of transparent waters and there, the retreat of Agastya can be seen, that is covered with palms, as also Sharabhanga’s hermitage where the God of a Thousand Eyes, the Destroyer of Cities, entered in secret. O Goddess of slender waist, behold the ascetics with Atri at their head, the equal of Surya and Vaishnava; in that place the Giant Viradha fell under my blows and there, O Sita, you didst visit the virtuous Sage. See, O Lady of beautiful form, the King of Mountains, Cittrakuta, appears; it is there that the son of Kaikeya came to crave my forgiveness. Here is the enchanting Yamuna with its ravishing woods and here the retreat of Bharadvaja looms into view, O Maithili. Now we are in sight of the Ganges, that three-branched sacred river. There is the City of Shringavera where my friend, Guha, dwells, and there, the River Sarayu with rows of stone pillars on its banks commemorating the Kings of the House of Ikshvaku! Behold there the royal abode of my Sire! O Vaidehi, bow down to Ayodhya, we have returned!”
As they neared Ayodhya, Rama said, "There is Ayodhya! Let us pay our respects to that beautiful city."
During this time the monkeys and the titans were leaping about in delight on seeing that city and, with the palaces with which it abounded, its wide spaces and the elephants and horses that filled it, Ayodhya appeared to the monkeys and titans to resemble Amaravati, the city of the mighty Indra.
In chapter 127, Rama, travelling in the aerial car towards Ayodhya, lands at the hermitage of Bharadwaja the sage. When Rama enquires of Bhardwaja about the welfare of Ayodhya-City, Bharata and his mothers. Bharadwaja informs Rama about their welfare. Further, the sage informs that by virtue of his asceticism, he could know everything about the exploits of Rama from the day he left Ayodhya, till he destroyed Ravana. Then, Rama seeks a boon from Bharadwaja, asking him to make the trees on the route to Ayodhya, to bear fruit in the off-season for which the sage grants the boon. Thereupon, the troops of monkeys feasted on those fruits at will.
The day Rama left Ayodhya to go into exile was Chaitrasuddha Panchami. Fourteen years later, again on such a day, Rama stood before Bharadwaja asking him about the welfare of everyone in Ayodhya. The sage said that all was well, except that Bharatha lived with matted locks, ungroomed and unmindful of his body, as he ruled the country with Rama's sandals on the throne on his behalf. When Bharadwaja asked what boon he would like to ask, Rama said, "May all the trees all along the way to Ayodhya bear the most divinely sweet fruit regardless of seasons. The moment his words were out, even trees that had not borne fruit for years sprang to life to bear the most exotic of fruit to the delight of the vanaras."
In chapter 128, Rama asks Hanuman to proceed to Shringaberapura and communicate to Guha about his welfare and also to know the appropriate path to Ayodhya. Rama also asks Hanuma to go to Ayodhya and communicate to Bharata about his welfare and also the previous happenings at the forest and at Lanka, including the abduction of Sita and her restoration, by killing Ravana in battle. Rama also asks Hanuman to inform Bharata, about their arrival at the proximity of Ayodhya, along with Sugreeva and Vibhishana. Accordingly, Hanuman approaches Guha and Bharata in Nandigrama and informs the pleasant news about the welfare of Rama as well as his impending return to Ayodhya. Bharata is overjoyed on hearing the glad tidings from Hanuman and offers him a number of valuable gifts, for having communicated the agreeable news to him.
At a distance of one league from Ayodhya, he observed Bharata, clad in a black antelope skin, sad, emaciated, wearing matted locks, his limbs besmeared with dust, dwelling in a hermitage, afflicted on account of his brother’s misfortune. Living on fruit and roots, practising penance, self-controlled, his hair knotted, dressed in bark and a black antelope skin, disdplined, pure of soul, like unto a Brahmarishi in radiance, he, having placed Rama’s sandals before him, ruled the earth by protecting the four castes from every peril with the aid of his ministers, and virtuous priests and senior officers wearing red robes surrounded him. And his subjects, faithful to their duty, had resolved not to neglect the welfare of their king, who resembling, righteousness itself, seemed to be the God of Dharma incarnate.
Then Hanuman, paying obeisance with joined palms, said to that loyal prince:
“Your brother, Kakutstha, for whose exile to the Forest of Dandaka in robes of bark and matted locks, you grievest, enquires as to your welfare. I bring you good tidings, O Prince, abandon your despair; the moment has come when you will be re-united with your brother Rama. Having slain Ravana and recovered Maithili, Raghava is returning with his valiant friends, his purpose accomplished. The mighty Lakshmana too is coming and the illustrious Vaidehi, Rama’s devoted companion, as Saci is to Mahendra.”
Overwhelmed with joy, Bharatha fell into a faint. Coming back to his senses, he embraced Hanuman and said, "I do not even know if you are human or divine who in your compassion tell me of Rama. I shall reward you for this wonderful news. I give you a hundred thousand cows, a hundred villages, jewels and the most beautiful of women worth marrying from the best of homes."
In chapter 129, Hanuman tells Bharata of all that befell Rama and Sita during their exile. Hanuma recounts to Bharata, broad details relating to the soujourn of Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana in the forest from the day Bharata takes wooden sandals of Rama, till the day Ravana is killed.
"Verily it is with joy that I learn these tidings of my protector after the innumerable years that he has passed in the forest. How felicitous is the well-known saying, ‘Happiness comes to man even if it be after a hundred years!’ How did Raghava and the monkeys conclude an alliance and for what purpose? Answer my questions candidly!”
Thus interrogated by the prince, Hanuman, seating himself on a heap of Kusha Grass, began to describe Rama’s life in the forest and said:
“O Lord, you knowest how he was exiled on account of the two boons bestowed on your mother; how the King Dasaratha died in consequence of his son’s banishment; how the messengers, O Lord, brought you back from Rajagriha; how, returning to Ayodhya, you didst refuse the crown; how you didst go to Cittrakuta to appeal to your brother, the scourge of his foes, begging him to accept the throne, thus conforming to the way of virtuous men; how Rama renounced the kingdom and how, on returning, you didst bring back the sandals of that illustrious hero; all this, O Long-armed Warrior is well-known to you but what happened subsequent to your departure, now hear from me.
“After your return, distress seized the denizens of the forest, creating a great turmoil. Thereupon Rama, Sita and Lakshmana entered the huge, dreadful and lonely Dandaka Forest that was trodden down by elephants and formidable with its lions, tigers and deer. Having penetrated into its depths, the powerful Viradha appeared before them emitting fearful cries. Lifting him up, as he was roaring like a great elephant, those two warriors threw him headlong into a pit and having accomplished that difficult exploit, the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, at dusk reached the enchanting hermitage of Sharabhanga. That Sage having ascended to heaven, Rama, a true hero, paid obeisance to the ascetics and thereafter went to Janasthana.
“Fourteen thousand titans, who dwelt in Janasthana, were slain during the time that the mighty Raghava resided there. For having fallen into the hands of the only Rama, during the fourth watch, those demons were wholly exterminated. Taking advantage of their great power, in order to harass the ascetics, those demons, inhabitants of the Dandaka Forest, were slain by Rama in combat. The demons slain and Khara also, Rama then despatched Dushana and subsequently Trishiras. Thereafter a female demon, named Shurpanakha, accosted him and, bang ordered to do so, Lakshmana, rising, took up his sword and instantly cut off her ears and nose. Thus mutilated, that titan woman took refuge with Ravana. This started the battle with Ravana.
Reaching the shores of the sea after gathering vanaras headed by Sugriva, the Prince commanded Nala to construct a causeway and the army of valiant monkeys crossed the ocean on that bridge.
“Prahasta fell under the blows of Nila, Kumbhakarna under those of Raghava, Lakshmana slew Ravana’s son and Rama, Ravana himself. Having been received by the Granter of Boons, Shakra, as also Yama, Varuna and Mahadeva, Svyambhu and Dasaratha, Rama was showered with favours by all the Rishis. The glorious Kakutstha, Scourge of His Foes, was rendered happy by obtaining these boons and returned to Kishkindha accompanied by the monkeys in the Chariot Pushpaka.
“He has reached the Ganges once more and is dwelling with the Sage (i.e., Bharadvaja), where without hindrance, you should behold him to-morrow, when the Pushya Star is in an auspicious aspect I”
Thereupon, hearing Hanuman’s delightful words, Bharata, full of joy, paid obeisance to him and, in accents pleasing to the heart, said: “After a long time my desires are at last fulfilled!”
This concludes chapters 126, 127, 128 and 129 of Yuddha Kanda where we had seen Rama ascending the aerial chariot Pushpaka along with Sita, Lakshmana, Vanaras; travelling all the way back till Ayodhya over the places they visited in their exile; reaching the place of Sage Bharadwaja and receiving boons from him; Hanuman conveying the happy tidings and the entire story in the exile to Bharata. Thus Rama reached back to Ayodhya and brings the happy news to the person desperately waiting for it - Bharata. We can look at the preparations in Ayodhya and his coronation in last two chapters of the book.
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