Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 121

Meaning

Wishing victory to Śrī Rāma, the tamer of his enemies, who having reposed during the previous night, had risen fresh, Vibhīṣaṇa spoke to him with joined palms as follows: (1)

Meaning

“Various kinds of baths (such as hot and cold, perfumed etc.,) and cosmetics, garments and ornaments as also sandal-pastes and heavenly garlands of various kinds are ready for your use. (2)

Meaning

“Nay, these women with lotus-like eyes, who are well-versed in the art of decoration are at your service. They will duly assist you in bathing, O scion of Raghu!” (3)

Meaning

Spoken to in these words, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha) replied as follows to Vibhīṣaṇa: “Invite you the monkeys headed by Sugrīva to bathe. (4)

Meaning

“That mighty-armed prince, Bharata, for his part, whose mind is set on virtue, who is delicate of body and was used to bodily comforts and who takes his stand entirely on veracity is suffering on my account. (5)

Meaning

“In the absence of that son of Kaikeyī, Bharata, who is practising virtue, bathing, raiment and jewels are of no value to me. (6)

Meaning

“Ignoring everything else, ponder over the question as to how we may be able to reach Ayodhyā soon; for to anyone proceeding on foot to that city the route by which we have come is most difficult to tread.” (7)

Meaning

Requested in these words, Vibhīṣaṇa for his part replied as follows to Śrī Rāma, a scion of Kakutstha: “I shall enable you to reach that city in the course of a day, O prince! (8)

Meaning

“May prosperity attend you! There is a heavenly and excellent aerial car, Puṣpaka by name, brilliant as the sun and belonging to my brother, Kubera, the ruler of Yakṣas, which was borne away by the very mighty Rāvaṇa after conquering the former in combat and which moves according to the will of its rider. Nay, having been retained for your sake, it still continues with me, O warrior of unequalled prowess! (9-10)

Meaning

“The yonder aerial car, which closely resembles a cloud, stands here in Laṅkā, and by which transport you will reach Ayodhyā without any trouble. (11)

Meaning

“If I deserve to be treated with kindness by you, nay, if you think of any virtue in me and if there is any affection for me in your heart, remain here awhile, O sagacious prince, alongwith your younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa and with your consort, Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory. When you have been entertained by me with all kinds of luxuries, you shall then depart, O Rāma! (12-13)

Meaning

“In the meantime, O Rāma, pray, accept you with your entire army and host of friends my hospitality, which has been arranged for by me in accordance with the scriptures, full of affection as I am for you. (14)

Meaning

“I seek this favour of you out of affection, as well as with great esteem and a friendly feeling, O scion of Raghu! I am your servant and as such I am certainly not constraining you to do so.” (15)

Meaning

Requested, as aforesaid, Śrī Rāma thereupon replied as follows to Vibhīṣaṇa while all the ogres and monkeys present there listened: (16)

Meaning

“I stand honoured by you, O hero, by your most valued counsel as well as by your military efforts put forth with your whole soul and above all by your great friendship. (17)

Meaning

“Nevertheless I would never dare to turn down this request of yours either, O ruler of ogres! My mind, however, is impatient to see Bharata, that younger brother of mine, who came all the way to Citrakūṭa to take me back to Ayodhyā the other day, yet whose prayer was not granted by me even though he besought me with his head bent low—and my mother, Kausalyā as also (my stepmothers) Sumitrā and the illustrious Kaikeyī, as well as my friend, Guha, alongwith the people of Ayodhyā and the outlying districts comprised in the kingdom of Ayodhyā. (18—20)

Meaning

“Therefore, grant me leave to go, O gentle one! I have already been honoured by you in so many ways, O Vibhīṣaṇa. In no case should disappointment be felt by you, I beseech you, my friend! (21)

Meaning

“Place your aerial car at my disposal quickly, O ruler of ogres! How can my continued stay here be considered advisable now that my task has been accomplished!” (22)

Meaning

Requested in these words by Śrī Rāma, Vibhīṣaṇa, the ruler of ogres, for his part thereupon hastily invoked the presence of the aerial car, Puṣpaka, brilliant as the sun, whose parts were all made of gold and were picturesque, and seats made of cat’s-eye gems; which was full of attics and shone like silver on all sides; which was artistically decorated with whitish yellow pennons and flags with armorial bearings and graced with golden mansions adorned with lotuses of gold; which was hung with networks of tiny bells and contained eye-holes set with pearls and was surrounded on all sides with rows of bells giving forth a melodious sound. (23—26)

Meaning

Announcing to Śrī Rāma that the said aerial car—which resembled a summit of Mount Meru (the golden mountain) and was the workmanship of Viśwakarmā (the architect of gods); which was graced with stately palaces decked with pearls and silver and provided with pavements in-laid with crystal and furnished with excellent and costly seats of cat’s-eye gems upholstered with highly valuable coverings; and which could not be assailed and was swift as thought—was ready, Vibhīṣaṇa stood there awaiting Śrī Rāma’s further command. (27—29)

Meaning

The lofty-minded Śrī Rāma with Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā) felt astonished to see the aforesaid aerial car, Puṣpaka, which could go everywhere at will and closely resembled a mountain, present on that occasion. (30)