Hari Om.
Let us begin the one hundred and twenty first sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The entry of sItA into the fire brought along dramatic consequences! It ensured all the gods were in attendance in lanka to reunite sItA with rAma as well as witness this glorious moment when their mission was fulfilled. The worlds were going to be peaceful again free from the terror that rAvaNa wreaked on the good. The high point was that the gods brought along rAma’s father daSaratha as well who found a place among them thanks to the redeeming vow that rAma took for him. While he grieved at parting with rAma, now the jigsaw puzzle fell in place and the king experienced great delight and acclaimed all three of them for an exceptional show of character in the face of adversities. Lord indra, who championed this mission of rAma in may ways from behind the scenes offered boons. A grateful rAma asked him that all the vAnaras who died fighting be revived! Usually such asks are struck down but coming from rAma, it had to be honoured! And so indra granted those boons and requesting rAma to get crowned soon in ayOdhyA, the happy gods left for their abodes. A peaceful night dawned on lanka after long and the armies retreated into their respective camps. Onwards…
rAma spent a good night in rest and when he woke up fresh that morning, vibhIshaNa stood there, hailed him with folded hands and submitted –
“O kAkutstha (rAma), here are the new clothes, jewellery, scents and other unguents, sandalpaste and a variety of garlands. Here are the lovely damsels who are experts in giving a traditional bath and getting you ready after that. Kindly accept these and bless me”.
rAma responded to vibhIshaNa and said – “please invite the key vAnara starting with sugrIva for this ceremonial bath. The youngman, son of kaikEyI, who is wedded to truth, embodiment of dharma, mighty and who deserves every comfort is being harsh on himself on account of dharma. Without bharata, the observer of dharma, I do not want any ablutions. My priority right now is to get to ayOdhyA as soon as possible and the path is quite long”.
तं विना केकयीपुत्रम् भरतं धर्मचारिणम् ।
न मे स्नानं बहुमतम् वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च ॥
तदिदं मेघसङ्काशम् विमानमिह तिष्ठति ।
येन यास्यसि यानेन त्वमयोध्यां गतज्वरः ॥
As rAma mentioned about the long journey back to ayOdhyA, vibhIshaNa said –
“O prince, I shall get you there just in a day with the help of the aerial car named pushpaka which is brilliant like the sun. This belongs to our brother kubEra and rAvaNa had usurped that from him after defeating him in the battle. This vimAna can move at the speed of thought and can take you anywhere that you wish. It shall be at your service soon using which you can go to ayOdhyA without a worry.
If I deserve your grace and you acknowledge my virtues, and if you have affection for me, then o wise one, please stay here for some time along with vaidEhI and lakshmaNa, accept our hospitality and then you can plan your return to ayOdhyA. Kindly accede to the request of this loving mate and well-wisher and give joy to me and my subjects. O rAma, out of my love for you, even being a servitor I am taking the liberty to make this request. This is my earnest and friendly request and by no means, a command”.
प्रणयाद्बहुमानाच्च सौहृदेन च राघव ।
प्रसादयामि प्रेष्योऽहम् न खल्वाज्ञापयामि ते ॥
As vibhIshaNa submitted thus, rAma replied affectionately and said in full attendance of the demons and vAnaras –
“O gentle one, I have been felicitated by you by your great assistance, soulful efforts and great friendship. There is no reason to deny your request, O vibhIshaNa. However, my mind is restless to see my brother bharata who had come to chitrakUTa along with the mothers, gurus and the subjects, to request me to go back to ayOdhyA. He fell at my feet and beseeched in many ways, but I didn’t fulfil his wish.
मां निवर्तयितुं योऽसौ चित्रकूटमुपागतः ।
शिरसा याचतो यस्य वचनं न कृतं मया ।
कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च कैकेयीं च यशस्विनीम् ।
गुहं च सुहृदं चैव पौरान् जनपदै सह ॥
O king of the demons, bring on the pushpaka. My stay here is not justified after accomplishing the mission. O friend, please do not be upset with me and permit me to go. I consider myself felicitated by you”.
अनुजानीहि मां सौम्य पूजितोऽस्मि विभीषण ।
मन्युर्न खलु कर्तव्यः सखे त्वां चानुमानये ॥
The king of the demons, vibhIshaNa summoned the pushpaka vimAna at once.
The imposing pushpaka vimAna that resembled the giant mEru mountain with large multi storied buildings in it. The vimAna was tastefully decorated with gold plated canvases, white flags, studded with golden lotuses, its rooms had large windows decked with gems and contained meshes. The tinkling of the bells tied to the vimAna gave rise to pleasant music. It contained many an opulent and luxurious couch for those who flew in it.
The pushpaka vimAna could move at the speed of thought. Offering the vimAna to rAma, vibhIshaNa stood there gracefully. Beholding the imposing and mountainous vimAna, rAma and lakshmaNa were astonished!
Here we conclude the one hundred and twenty first sarga of the yuddha kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 6.122. They too want to be in ayOdhyA
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
