The Trees on the Road Home

In the years that followed, Rāvaṇa, king of the rākṣasas of Laṅkā, carried Sītā off. Rāma made friends with the monkey Sugrīva, killed Sugrīva's brother Vālin, the king of the monkeys, and made Sugrīva king in his place; Hanumān, a monkey of Sugrīva's, found Sītā in Laṅkā; and the monkeys built a bridge across the sea, and Rāma killed Rāvaṇa and won Sītā back.

When the fourteen years were complete, on the fifth day of the lunar month, Rāma came back from Laṅkā and stopped at the hermitage of Bharadvāja and bowed to the sage. Sir, he said, have you heard whether all is well in the city, whether there is food and no sickness? Is Bharata firm in his duty? Are my mothers alive?

Bharadvāja smiled and answered with great joy. Bharata is waiting for you, smeared with mud and wearing matted hair, with your sandals set before him as king, and all is well at home. When I saw you go into the great forest in bark garments, with Sītā, on foot, having given up everything, my heart was full of pity for you. Now I see you with your enemies conquered, among your friends and kin, and my joy is beyond measure. By my austerity I know everything you have suffered and done: the battles with the rākṣasas at Janasthāna for the sake of the ascetics, the stealing of your wife, the meeting with the rākṣasa Kabandha and with Sugrīva, the killing of Vālin, the search for Sītā and the deed of Hanumān, the bridge, the burning of Laṅkā, and the death of Rāvaṇa. I too will give you a boon. Take this water of welcome today, and tomorrow go on to Ayodhyā.

Rāma bowed his head to the words, and asked: Let the trees on the road to Ayodhyā bear fruit out of season, and run with honey, many kinds of fruit, sweet as nectar.

So be it, said the sage. And at his word the trees there became like the trees of heaven. Trees without fruit bore fruit, trees without flowers bloomed, dry trees put out leaves, and every tree ran with honey, for three yojanas on every side.