Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 112 of 128 · 26 verses
Vibhishana Crowned King of Lanka
Having seen Ravana’s death, the gods, gandharvas and danavas go away in their own aerial chariots telling auspicious stories: of Ravana’s terrible death, Raghava’s valour, the monkeys’ fine fighting, Sugriva’s counsel, the devotion and valour of the son of the Wind and of Lakshmana, Sita’s faithfulness and Hanuman’s prowess; telling these, the fortunate ones go joyfully as they came. Raghava honours Matali and takes leave of the heavenly, fire-bright chariot Indra gave; dismissed, Matali, Shakra’s charioteer, mounts it and flies back to heaven. When he has gone, Raghava, greatly pleased, embraces Sugriva; saluted by Lakshmana and honoured by the monkey hosts, he comes to the camp. Then Kakutstha tells strong, radiant Lakshmana, standing near: gentle one, consecrate this Vibhishana in Lanka, devoted, loyal, who helped me before; this is my greatest wish, to see Vibhishana, Ravana’s younger brother, consecrated in Lanka. Delighted, Saumitri agrees and takes a golden pot, gives it into the hands of the monkey lords, swift as thought, and orders them to bring seawater; they go very quickly and return with water from the ocean. Taking one pot and seating Vibhishana on a fine throne, Saumitri consecrates him with it as king in Lanka among the rakshasas, at Rama’s command, by the rite seen in the mantras, surrounded by his friends; all the rakshasas and monkeys consecrate him, and in boundless joy they praise Rama. His ministers and the rakshasas loyal to him rejoice. Seeing Vibhishana consecrated as rakshasa king in Lanka, Raghava with Lakshmana is supremely pleased. Having received that great kingdom from Rama, Vibhishana reassures his subjects and comes to Rama; the night-wandering citizens, delighted, bring him curds, unbroken grain, sweets, parched grain and flowers, and he offers all these auspicious things to Raghava and Lakshmana. Seeing Vibhishana successful and prosperous, Rama accepts it all to please him.
Then Rama says to the heroic monkey Hanuman, like a mountain, standing bowed with joined palms: gentle one, with the leave of this great king Vibhishana, enter the city of Lanka and ask after Maithili’s welfare. Tell the Vaidehi, best of speakers, that I am well, and Sugriva with Lakshmana, and that Ravana has been killed in battle. Tell the Vaidehi this good news, lord of monkeys, take her message and come back.
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ते रावणवधं दृष्ट्वा देवगन्धर्वदानवाः । जग्मुः स्वैः स्वैर्विमानैस्ते कथयन्तः शुभाः कथाः ॥ १ ॥
Having seen Ravana’s killing, those gods, gandharvas and danavas went in their own aerial chariots, telling auspicious stories:
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रावणस्य वधं घोरं राघवस्य पराक्रमम् । सुयुद्धं वानराणां च सुग्रीवस्य च मन्त्रितम् ॥ २ ॥
the terrible killing of Ravana, the valour of Raghava, the good fighting of the monkeys, and the counsel of Sugriva,
अनुरागं च वीर्यं च मारुतेर्लक्ष्मणस्य च । पतिव्रतात्वं सीताया हनूमति पराक्रमम् ॥ ३ ॥
the devotion and valour of the son of the Wind and of Lakshmana, the faithfulness of Sita, and the prowess in Hanuman:
कथयन्तो महाभागा जग्मुर्हृष्टा यथागतम् । राघवस्तु रथं दिव्यमिन्द्रदत्तं शिखिप्रभम् ॥ ४ ॥
telling these, the very fortunate ones went, delighted, as they had come. But mighty-armed Raghava, the heavenly chariot given by Indra, bright as fire,
अनुज्ञाप्य महाबाहुर्मातलिं प्रत्यपूजयत् । राघवेणाभ्यनुज्ञातो मातलिः शक्रसारथिः ॥ ५ ॥
taking leave of it, honoured Matali. Permitted by Raghava, Matali, Shakra’s charioteer,
दिव्यं तं रथमास्थाय दिवमेवोत्पपात ह । तस्मिंस्तु दिवमारूढे सरथे रथिनां वरः ॥ ६ ॥
mounting that heavenly chariot, flew up to heaven itself. When he had gone up to heaven with the chariot, the best of chariot-fighters,
राघवः परमप्रीतः सुग्रीवं परिषस्वजे । परिष्वज्य च सुग्रीवं लक्ष्मणेनाभिवादितः ॥ ७ ॥
Raghava, greatly pleased, embraced Sugriva; and having embraced Sugriva, saluted by Lakshmana,
पूज्यमानो हरिगणैराजगाम बलालयम् । अथोवाच स काकुत्स्थः समीपपरिवर्तिनम् ॥ ८ ॥
honoured by the monkey hosts, he came to the camp of the army. Then Kakutstha said to him who stood near,
सौमित्रिं सत्त्वसम्पन्नं लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम् । विभीषणमिमं सौम्य लङ्कायामभिषेचय ॥ ९ ॥
to Saumitri, full of strength, Lakshmana of blazing energy: “Gentle one, consecrate this Vibhishana in Lanka,
अनुरक्तं च भक्तं च तथा पूर्वोपकारिणम् । एष मे परमः कामो यदिमं रावणानुजम् ॥ १० ॥
“devoted and loyal, and who helped me before. This is my greatest wish, that this younger brother of Ravana,
लङ्कायां सौम्य पश्येयमभिषिक्तं विभीषणम् । एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्री राघवेण महात्मना ॥ ११ ॥
“Vibhishana, I should see consecrated in Lanka, gentle one.” Spoken to so by great-souled Raghava, Saumitri,
तथेत्युक्त्वा सुसंहृष्टः सौवर्णं घटमाददे । तं घटं वानरेन्द्राणां हस्ते दत्त्वा मनोजवान् ॥ १२ ॥
saying “So be it”, greatly delighted, took a golden pot. Giving that pot into the hands of the monkey lords, swift as thought,
व्यादिदेश महासत्त्वान् समुद्रसलिलं तदा । अतिशीघ्रं ततो गत्वा वानरास्ते मनोजवाः ॥ १३ ॥
he ordered those of great strength to bring the water of the ocean then. Then those monkeys, swift as thought, going very quickly,
आगतास्तु जलं गृह्य समुद्राद् वानरोत्तमाः । ततस्त्वेकं घटं गृह्य संस्थाप्य परमासने ॥ १४ ॥
those best of monkeys came back, taking water from the ocean. Then, taking one pot and setting him on a fine seat,
घटेन तेन सौमित्रिरभ्यषिञ्चद् विभीषणम् । लङ्कायां रक्षसां मध्ये राजानं रामशासनात् ॥ १५ ॥
with that pot Saumitri consecrated Vibhishana as king in Lanka, in the midst of the rakshasas, at Rama’s command,
विधिना मन्त्रदृष्टेन सुहृद्गणसमावृतम् । अभ्यषिञ्चस्तदा सर्वे राक्षसा वानरास्तथा ॥ १६ ॥
by the rite seen in the mantras, surrounded by the band of his friends. Then all the rakshasas and likewise the monkeys consecrated him,
प्रहर्षमतुलं गत्वा तुष्टुवू राममेव हि । तस्यामात्या जहृषिरे भक्ता ये चास्य राक्षसाः ॥ १७ ॥
and, going to boundless joy, they praised Rama himself. His ministers rejoiced, and the rakshasas devoted to him.
दृष्ट्वाभिषिक्तं लङ्कायां राक्षसेन्द्रं विभीषणम् । राघवः परमां प्रीतिं जगाम सहलक्ष्मणः ॥ १८ ॥
Seeing Vibhishana consecrated as king of the rakshasas in Lanka, Raghava with Lakshmana went to supreme joy.
स तद् राज्यं महत् प्राप्य रामदत्तं विभीषणः । सान्त्वयित्वा प्रकृतयस्ततो राममुपागमत् ॥ १९ ॥
Having obtained that great kingdom given by Rama, Vibhishana, having reassured his subjects, then came to Rama.
दध्यक्षतान् मोदकांश्च लाजाः सुमनसस्तथा । आजह्रुरथ संहृष्टाः पौरास्तस्मै निशाचराः ॥ २० ॥
Curds, unbroken grain and sweets, parched grain and flowers, the delighted citizens, night-wanderers, brought to him.
स तान् गृहीत्वा दुर्धर्षो राघवाय न्यवेदयत् । मङ्गल्यं मङ्गलं सर्वं लक्ष्मणाय च वीर्यवान् ॥ २१ ॥
Taking them, the unassailable, valiant one offered all the auspicious things to Raghava and to Lakshmana.
कृतकार्यं समृद्धार्थं दृष्ट्वा रामो विभीषणम् । प्रतिजग्राह तत् सर्वं तस्यैव प्रतिकाम्यया ॥ २२ ॥
Seeing Vibhishana successful, his purpose prospered, Rama accepted all that, out of wish to please him alone.
ततः शैलोपमं वीरं प्राञ्जलिं प्रणतं स्थितम् । उवाचेदं वचो रामो हनूमन्तं प्लवङ्गमम् ॥ २३ ॥
Then Rama said these words to the heroic leaper Hanuman, like a mountain, standing bowed with joined palms:
अनुज्ञाप्य महाराजमिमं सौम्य विभीषणम् । प्रविश्य नगरीं लङ्कां कौशलं ब्रूहि मैथिलीम् ॥ २४ ॥
“Having taken leave of this great king Vibhishana, gentle one, enter the city of Lanka and ask Maithili of her welfare.
वैदेह्यै मां च कुशलं सुग्रीवं च सलक्ष्मणम् । आचक्ष्व वदतां श्रेष्ठ रावणं च हतं रणे ॥ २५ ॥
“Tell the Vaidehi, best of speakers, that I am well, and Sugriva with Lakshmana, and that Ravana has been killed in battle.
प्रियमेतदिहाख्याहि वैदेह्यास्त्वं हरीश्वर । प्रतिगृह्य तु संदेशमुपावर्तितुमर्हसि ॥ २६ ॥
“Tell this good news here to the Vaidehi, lord of the monkeys; and receiving her message, you should come back.”