with presents of jewels and gems, dismissed them one after another.  And after all the monkey-chiefs, and the apes with bovine tails, and the bears, had gone away, Rama re-entered Kishkindhya with Sugriva.  And accompanied by both Vibhishana and Sugriva, Rama re-entered Kishkindhya riding on the Pushpaka car and showing the princess of Videha the woods along the way.  And having arrived at Kishkindhya, Rama, that foremost of all smiters, installed the successful Angada as prince-regent of the kingdom.  And accompanied by the same friends as also by Sumitra’s son, Rama proceeded towards his city along the same path by which he had come.  And having reached the city of Ayodhya, the king despatched Hanuman thence as envoy to Bharata.  And Hanuman, having ascertained Bharata’s intentions from external indications, gave him the good news (of Rama’s arrival).  And after the son of Pavana had come back, Rama entered Nandigrama.  And having entered that town, Rama beheld Bharata besmeared with filth and attired in rags and seated with his elder brother’s sandals placed before him.  And being united, O bull of Bharata race, with both Bharata and Shatrughna, the mighty son of Raghu, along with Sumitra’s son, began to rejoice exceedingly.  And Bharata and Shatrughna also, united with their eldest brother, and beholding Sita, both derived great pleasure.  And Bharata then, after having worshipped his returned brother, made over to him with great pleasure, the kingdom that had been in his hands as a sacred trust.  And Vasishtha and Vamadeva then together installed that hero in the sovereignty (of Ayodhya) at the eighth Muhurta[64] of the day under the asterism called Sravana.  And after his installation was over, Rama gave leave to well-pleased Sugriva the king of the monkeys, along with all his followers, as also to rejoicing Vibhishana of Pulastya’s race, to return to their respective abodes.  And having worshipped them with various articles of enjoyment, and done everything that was suitable to the occasion, Rama dismissed those friends of his with a sorrowful heart.  And the son of Raghu then, having worshiped that Pushpaka chariot, joyfully gave it back unto Vaisravana.  And then assisted by the celestial Rishi (Vasishtha), Rama performed on the banks of the Gomati ten horse-sacrifices without obstruction of any kind and with treble presents unto Brahmanas.’”

[64] Abhijit is lit. the eighth muhurta of the day, a muhurta being equal to an hour of 48 minutes, i.e. the thirtieth part of a whole day and night.  The Vaishnava asterism is as explained by Nilakantha, the Sravava.

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