Markandeya said : Having killed the mean-minded Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas and the enemy of the gods, great indeed was the joy of Rama and the son of Sumitra.

The ten-necked being slain, the celestials with the Rishis at their head eulogised the mighty-armed one by uttering blessings indicative of victory,

All the gods together with the Gandharvas and the inhabitants of the celestials regions delighted Rama gifted with eyes resembling lotus-petals by (chanting) hymns (in his praise) and showering flowers (over his head).

Having thus worshipped Rama, they returned to their respective abodes. And O being of everlasting fame, it then appeared as if a great carnival was being held in the firmament.

Then the highly-renowned lord Rama, the destroyer of his enemy's cities, having slain Ravana, gave Lanka to Vibhishana.

Then Avindhya, the wise and old adviser of Ravana, preceded by Sita who was herself preceded by Vibhishana, set out from Lanka.

And he (Avindhya) with great humility said to the high-souled descendant of Kakustha, “O high-souled one, accept this divine lady, the daughter of Janaka, of spotless character."

Hearing these words, Rama, the descendant of Kakustha got down from that excellent car and saw Sita weeping profusely.

And beholding her of faultless proportions, seated in the vehicle weighed down with grief, covered all over with dirt, having matted locks and wearing a dirty cloth.

Rama, suspecting the loss of her virtue, addressed the daughter of the king of Mithila thus, "O Princess of Videha, go (wheresoever you like)! You are now liberated (from your captivity). I have done my duty.

O gentle creatures, I have killed that nightranger thinking that myself being your husband you should not grow old in the abode of the Rakshasa.

How can men like us, well acquainted with moral duty, accept for even a moment, a woman carried off by another?

O daughter of the king of Mithila, whether you are of pure or impure character, I dare not enjoy you, who are now like sanctified butter lapped by a dog?"

That divine lady, hearing these cruel words (of Rama) was sorely afflicted with grief and suddenly fell down (to the ground) like a plantain tree torn up by the roots.

And the lively colour of her face sprung from her delight (at seeing Rama) as quickly disappeared as breath on a mirror.

Then, hearing these words of Rama all the monk ys together with Lakshmana became motionless as death itself.

Then the pure-souled and the four-faced god (Brahma) the creator of the universe, who sprang from a lotus (on the nave of Vishnu), appeared before the descendant of Raghu on a chariot.

(Then) Shakra, Agni, Vayu, Yama, Varuna, the divine lord of the Yakshas, the seven holy sages (whom Brahma created first of all).

And king Dasharatha also in his celestials appearance and robes and mounted on a highly-resplendent and bright car (appeared on the scene).

Then the firmament crowded with the gods and the Gandharvas shone like the autumnal sky studded with stars.

Then rising in the midst of them, the blessed and renowned princess of Videha spoke these words to the broad-chested Rama.

"O prince, I do not blame you; (for) you are conversant with the ways of men and women. (Yet) listen to these my words.

The air which is always in motion, moves within (the hearts of) all the creatures. If I have sinned, let it forsake my life.

And not only let air, but let fire, water, space and earth forsake my life if I have erred.

As, O hero, I have thought of no other person than you even in my dreams, so you only be my husband as ordained by the gods."

Then a sacred and auspicious voice, joyful to the high-souled monkeys, was heard in the firmament which made the whole universe bear testimony to it.

Vayu said: O descendant of Raghu, (what Sita has said) is true. I am the wind (god) and ever in motion. O king, the princess of Mithila is pure. Be united with your wife.

Agni said: O scion of Raghu's race, I am in the body of every creature. O descendant of Kakustha, the princess of Videha is thoroughly guiltless.

Varuna said: O descendant of Raghu, the humours in animal bodies owe their existence to me. (Therefore) I ask you to accept the princess of Mithila.

Brahma said: O descendant of Kakustha, O son of good character, this (behaviour) is not surprising on your part, (because) you are honest and know the duties of the royal sages: (Now) hear these my words.

O hero, this enemy of the gods, the Gandharvas, the Uragas, the Yakshas, the Danavas and the Maharshis has been destroyed by yol.

Formerly, he was made, through my favour, indestructible of all the creatures. And for some reason I spared that sinful wretch for sometime.

It was for his own destruction that Sita was carried off by that wicked-souled (wretch). (But) I protected her (from being violated) through Nalakubera's curse.

For, he (Ravana) was formerly cursed by that person (Nalakubera) to the effect that if he would enjoy any woman against her will, his head should surely be split into a hundred fragments.

O highly-resplendent one, O creature of divine effulgence, you need not entertain any doubt on this point. You have, (indeed) done a great service to the gods (by slaying Ravana).

Dasharatha said: My son, I am pleased with you. May you be blessed. I am your father Dasharatha. O foremost of men, I command you to govern your kingdom.

Rama said : O king of kings, if you are my father I bow down to you. I will repair to the beautiful city of Ayodhya at your command.

Markandeya said : O best of the Bharatas, well pleased with Rama, the corners of whose eyes were red, his father again said to him "O highly resplendent one, now that the fourteen years (of your exile) are complete, repair to Ayodhya and reign there."

Then, bowing down to the gods and congratulated by his friends, he was united with his wife like Mahendra with the daughter Pauloma.

That tormentor of foes then conferred a boon on Avindhya. He then honoured and gave riches to the Rakshasa woman Trijata.

Then Brahma together with (all) the celestials headed by Shakra said to him, “O son of Kausalya, what desirable boons shall we bestow on you today"?

(Thereupon) Rama asked for these boons viz., devotion to virtue, victory over his enemies and the revival of those monkeys killed by the Rakshasas.

And when Brahma had said "be it so," O mighty monarch, the monkeys brought back to life, rose up.

And the highly fortunate Sita also, conferred on Hanuman this boon, saying “My son, you will live as long as Rama's achievements.

And through my favour, O yellow-eyed Hanuman, celestials dishes and drinks will over be within your reach.

Then in the very sight of those heroes of untiring achievements, all the gods with Shakra at their head vanished away.

Then the charioteer of Shakra seeing Rama united with the daughter of Janaka was well pleased and addressed him, in the midst of friends, these words. “O truly-powerful one, as you have done away with this distress of the gods, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the mortals, the Asuras and the serpents.

Therefore always the Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas and the Punagas and all the world will speak (well) of you so long as the world will exist.

Saying these words to Rama, the foremost of the wielders of weapons and taking leave of and paying his respects to him (matali) set out (for the celestials regions) on that car of sunlike splendour.

Then Rama with Sita in this front and accompanied by the son of Sumitra and by all the monkeys with Sugriva at their head and preceded by Vibhishana and taking steps for the protection of Lanka and one that selfcontained (Rama) surrounded by his chief advisers in order of precedence rode on that sky-ranging car Pushpaka, moving anywhere at will re-crossed the abode of the Makaras (i.e. the ocean) by means of the same bridge.

Then that virtuous lord of the earth together with all the monkeys took up his (temporary) quarter son that portion of the sea-shore where had lain down before (on a bed of Kusha grass to invoke the aid of the ocean).

Then the descendant of Raghu bringing all those (monkeys) together at the due time worshipped them all. He then dismissed them all after having satisfied them with gifts of gems.

Those foremost of monkeys, the apes with tails like cows and the bears having departed, Rama reentered Kishkindha with Sugriva.

(And on his way from the sea-shore to Kishkindha) Rama in company with Vibhishana and Sugriva, riding on the car Pushpaka showed the princess of Videha all the woods. Having reached Kishkindha, Rama, the most efficient of all smiters, made the successful Angada prince-regent.

(He) then, together with all these and accompanied by the son of Sumitra, set out for his capital by the same route by which he had come.

Having reached Ayodhya the king sent Hanuman as his messenger to Bharata.

(Hanuman) then communicated to him the happy news on having observed his external signs and (gestures). And the son of the windgod having come back, (Rama himself) went to Nandigrama.

He there saw Bharata covered with dirt, attired in barks of trees and seated on the throne with (Rama's) shoes before him.

Then, O best of the Bharatas, the mighty descendant of Raghu together with the son of Sumitra experienced a great delight on being joined with Bharata and Shatrughna.

And Bharata and Shatrughna too being united with their eldest brother and beholding the princess of Mithila rejoiced exceedingly.

Having paid his respects to Rama who had returned (from exile) Bharata with great pleasure made over the kingdom, to him, which he governed as a trustee (for Rama).

Then Vasishtha together with Vamadeva installed that hero, at the eighth muhurta (a muhurta is equal to two dandas that is 4 minutes), of day under the constellation Shravana.

Being installed (on the throne) Rama gave his permission to that foremost of monkeys, Sugriva together with his friends and also to Vibhishana, the son of Pulastya to return to their homes.

Having entertained those two (friends) Sugriva and Vibhishana who were well pleased and exceedingly glad, with various sorts of foods and drinks and having done his duty suitable to the occasion he dismissed them with a heavy heart.

And having worshipped the car Pushpaka, the descendant of Raghu, gladly gave it back to Kubera.

Then assisted by that divine sage (Vasishtha) he safely celebrated ten horse sacrifices on the banks of the (river) Gomati by offering to the Brahmanas presents thrice (as much as usual).