|
When Indra the lord of celestials asks Rama for a boon, Rama requested Indra to bring back to life, all the monkeys who had lost their life in the battle. Indra grants the boon and all the dead monkeys are restored to life. The celestials disperse and the whole army of monkeys enjoy their well-earned rest. |
When Dasaratha returned, the Lord Indra, the destroyer of Paka the demon, was very much pleased and spoke to Rama, who stood there with his joined palms.
"O Rama, the foremost among men! Your sight of us, should not go in vain. Therefore, tell us whatever is desired by you."
Hearing the words of the great souled Indra the lord of celestials, after having been pleased, Rama with the most placid mind spoke the following words with rejoice: "O the foremost among the eloquent! O Indra! If you have affection in me, I shall speak out my words. Make my words real. Let all the monkeys, who reached the abode of death, after displaying their energy for my sake restore their life and get up. O the bestower of honour! I wish to see all those monkeys, who for my sake, were removed from their sons and wives, be delighted at heart."
"They were all valiant, proving their energies and did not take their death into account. They made their strenuous efforts and died. O Indra! Restore their lives to them."
"Those monkeys - who counted death as nothing and who were fond of doing favour to me - let them get re-united with their near and dear ones by your grace. I seek this boon of you. O bestower of honour! I wish to see the monkeys and bears, free from wounds and pains, with augmented strength and valour. Wherever the aforesaid monkeys live, let there be rivers with crystal-clear water, flowers, roots and fruits even in an off-season."
Hearing the words of that great-souled Rama, Indra the lord of celestials endowed as he was with delight, again spoke the following words: "O beloved Rama! This boon, which has been sought by you is hard to grant. No offer has, however, been revised by me in the past. Therefore this will come to be. Let all those monkeys and bears along with long-tailed monkeys, who have been killed in battle, by the demons and whose heads and arms have been severed, be alive and active again."
"Without any ill-health and wounds and with boosted strength and valour, the monkeys will rise again, as those fallen asleep would do at the end of their sleep. All of them, full of delight, will get re-united with their friends, relatives, kinsmen and family members. O the wielder of a great bow! The trees will look colourful with flowers and fruits even in the off-season. Rivers too will remain constantly with water."
Thereupon, all those monkey-warriors got up, as if from a sleep, with all their limbs completely healed of wounds. All the monkeys felt surprised, saying to one another "What miracle is this?" Seeing Rama, whose wish has been fully realized, all the foremost of celestials, with a great delight, spoke praisingly to Rama and Lakshmana:
"O monarch! Proceed to Ayodhya from here and disband the monkeys. Reassure this illustrious and devoted Seetha. O destroyer of adversaries! See Bharata, your brother, who is practicing austerities through grief caused by separation from you, the great-souled Shatrughna and all your mothers. Get yourself consecrated on the throne. Bring rejoice to the citizens, by going there."
Thus speaking to Rama and Lakshmana, Indra the thousand-eyed god of celestials, having been pleased, returned to heaven with other gods in their aerial cars, shining like the sun. Having respectfully saluted all those celestials, Rama along with Lakshmana his brother, then instructed all the monkeys to take rest in their respective places.
Thereupon, that illustrious and mighty army of rejoiced troops, for its part, which as protected by Lakshmana and Rama, and was blazing with splendour on all sides, shone brightly like the might, illumined by the moon.
Thus, this is the 120th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© September 2009, K. M. K. Murthy