Uttara Kanda, Sarga 41

Meaning

After sending away the bears, the monkeys and the ogres, the mighty-armed Śrī Rāma, who was ever happy, intrinsically felt highly rejoiced alongwith his brothers. (1)

Meaning

After sometime in the afternoon the mighty Lord Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), heard, alongwith his brothers, a sweet voice coming from the sky as follows: “Dear Rāma, look on me with affection beaming from your face; know me, O Lord, to be the Puṣpaka, come from the mansion of Kubera. (2-3)

Meaning

“Obeying Your command, O best of men, I went home to wait on him (Kubera), but he said to me: (4)

Meaning

“ ‘Having killed in battle the unassailable Rāvaṇa, the king of the Rākṣasas, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), the high-souled king of men, has won possession over you. (5)

Meaning

“ ‘A great delight has fallen to my lot too on that wicked Rāvaṇa having been killed alongwith his hosts, with his sons and other relations. (6)

Meaning

“ ‘As such you have been won in Laṅkā by Śrī Rāma, who is the Highest Being. O gentle one! You carry Him indeed: I command you. (7)

Meaning

“ ‘It is my highest desire that you serve as a carriage of Śrī Rāma (the delight of Raghu’s race) who is the support of the entire world: go without qualms.’ (8)

Meaning

“I, who was ordered thus, have come to your presence abiding by the command of the high-souled Kubera; accept me kindly without any hitch. (9)

Meaning

“By virtue of my power I am unassailable by the entire range of created beings. By Kubera’s order I shall move through all the spheres carrying out your behest.” (10)

Meaning

Thus addressed by Puṣpaka, Śrī Rāma of great strength then spoke as follows, casting a benign look on the aerial car known as Puṣpaka, which had come back: (11)

Meaning

“If it is so, you are welcome, O Puṣpaka, the best of aerial cars! On account of this favour of Kubera, the charge of unfair dealing will not be laid at our doors.” (12)

Meaning

Having worshipped Puṣpaka after that with fried grains of rice and flowers as well as incenses and also sandal-pastes, the mighty-armed Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), spoke as follows: (13)

Meaning

“Depart for the present. You should come whenever I recall you. Vanishing in thin air, the dwelling place of the Siddhas, be not oppressed by grief at my separation. (14)

Meaning

“May no obstruction hinder you as you wander in all directions at your sweet will.” “So be it”, replied Puṣpaka. Then Puṣpaka, which had been asked to go, after having been worshipped by Śrī Rāma, proceeded from there in the direction of its choice. On Puṣpaka, an embodiment of virtues, having thus gone out of sight, Bharata, with joined palms, addressed Śrī Rāma, the delight of the Raghus, in the following words: “Beings which do not claim their descent in Adam’s line, speak again and again like men, under your reign, O valiant One, having a divine soul! Only more than a month has elapsed since you took the sceptre in your hand, O Rāghava! and mortals have become strangers to disease, death does not overtake even men worn out with age, women undergo no labour-pains during parturition and human beings are well-built indeed. (15—19)

Meaning

“An abundance of joy has fallen to the lot of every citizen dwelling in the town, O king! Pouring down nectarean water clouds rain at the proper time. (20)

Meaning

“Even the very winds which blow here are capable of giving a delightful touch, and are pleasing and healthful. People living both in the cities and in the country, arriving in the capital, declare, ‘May such a sovereign be our ruler for long’, O king!” (21)

Meaning

Hearing these exquisitely honeyed words beautifully uttered by Bharata, Śrī Rāma, the best of kings, became thrilled with joy. (22)