Rāma Farewell to Allies: Rāma's Last Words

After peace was made with the kings of the Soma dynasty, and before his ascent to Vaikuṇṭha, Rāmacandra held a great assembly on the bank of the Jāhnavī (the Gaṅgā). He bade farewell to every ally and gave each one an instruction for the future. In these scenes, told in the Pūrṇa Khaṇḍa of the Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Bhagavān Rāma also says who each of them will be in the coming Dvāpara Yuga. He sends Pushpaka back to Kubera, gives his own bow and the Cintāmaṇi to Kuśa, and tells the wives of Lakshmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna to go to svarga by entering the fire.

Farewell to Vibhīshaṇa

Vibhīshaṇa was the first to receive his instruction. Rāma said to him: “Vibhīshaṇa, as long as my auspicious story (śubha-kathā) stays on this earth, stay in Laṅkā, as I have said.” This had no set end. Vibhīshaṇa is to be one of the cirañjīvīs (the long-lived), guarding Laṅkā as long as the name of Rāma lasts on earth. Vibhīshaṇa agreed, bowed to Rāma, received the honour that suited his service, and left for Laṅkā.

Farewell to Jāmbavān

Rāma then spoke to Jāmbavān: “Stay on earth. In the coming Dvāpara you will see me again. In that age you will be known as my maternal uncle (māmā).” In the Dvāpara Yuga Jāmbavān is the father of Jāmbavatī, who marries Kṛshṇa, and so he becomes the māmā of Kṛshṇa, who is Rāma himself.

Jāmbavān agreed, bowed to both Sītā and Rāma, was honoured, and left.

Farewell to Hanumān

The farewell to Hanumān was the most moving. Rāma said: “My child (vatsa), live in happiness. In the Dvāpara, a wager will arise between you and Arjuna about the bridge (setu). When Arjuna builds his bridge of arrows, you will meet me again. Until then, go to the Himālaya and do tapas (austerity) remembering me.” The Manohara Khaṇḍa tells that wager, in the Arjuna and Dhanushkoṭi episode.

Hanumān bowed to Rāma and Lakshmaṇa, paid his respects to Sītā, and began to leave. At that moment Rāma took from his own neck a hāra (garland) set with the nine gems, and put it round Hanumān’s neck. Sītā gave Hanumān a pair of arm ornaments (bāhubhūshaṇas) from her own arms. Hanumān wept, with tears in his eyes, as he bowed to Rāmacandra. He walked round Rāma with deep respect and went quickly to the Himālaya to do tapas.

Farewell to Aṅgada and other allies

Rāma gave Aṅgada garments and ornaments and sent him to Kishkindhā. Guha was sent back to Śṛṅgaverapura. Makaradhvaja was sent to rule Pātāla.

The other kings who had fought beside Rāma also received garments, ornaments and honours, and were sent to their own kingdoms:

Yūpaketu to Vidiśā
Subāhu to Madhurā
Pushkara to Pushkarāvatī
Taksha to Takshaśilā
Aṅgada to Gajāśvapura
Citraketu to Dhanaratnapura

Lava’s farewell and the gift of Kāmadhenu

Lava was called forward. Rāma and Sītā honoured him together. Rāma told him to go back with his family and army to Uttara Kuru, where he had earlier been made king. Sītā, full of joy, gave Lava the divine Kāmadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow, as his own. Through this gift of Sītā to her son, Kāmadhenu is present in the realm of Uttara Kuru.

Kuśa’s farewell and the great gifts

Kuśa was the last of the sons to be sent off. Rāma gave him very great gifts:

Rāma’s own Kodaṇḍa bow, the divine bow that stayed with him through the whole of his avatāra
The Cintāmaṇi, the wish-fulfilling gem from Rāma’s own treasury
Vehicles and mounts of every kind
Sāketa Nagara (Ayodhyā) as his royal seat
The care of all the kings, as his lords under him

Before sending Kuśa away, Rāma spoke to all the kings gathered there: “Honour Kuśa in my place. Protect him always.” The kings answered warmly: “Your Kuśa shines with your tejas (radiance). He is a hundred times greater than you. We have no doubt. We will protect him just as we served you.”

Kuśa got into his chariot with tears in his eyes. He looked back again and again at Rāma and Sītā, who waved him on with their hands. He reached the empty Ayodhyā and took his seat on the throne. He gathered all the kings in a great embrace before they left for their own kingdoms. Afterwards those kings paid Kuśa tribute and accepted his rule.

The text declares that one who dies inside Sāketa Nagara is not born again.

Rajaka and Mantharā

Rāma called Rajaka, the washerman who had spoken ill of Sītā during Rāmarājya, and Mantharā, who had stirred Kaikeyī to ask for the varas (boons) that led to Rāma’s exile. He spoke to them without anger, and with respect, and sent them to Ayodhyā with Kuśa. He did not take them to Vaikuṇṭha, because of the old enmity.

The text then tells what followed from their karma. The two died outside the bounds of Ayodhyā, and so were born again. In the Kṛshṇa avatāra of the Dvāpara Yuga, Rajaka was born as Kaṃsa’s washerman, whom Kṛshṇa killed, and Mantharā was born as the rākshasī Pūtanā, whom Kṛshṇa also killed. In this way the old enmities of Rāma’s time ended in Kṛshṇa’s time, as both met death at the hands of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa in the next avatāra.

The promise to the vānaras

Rāma gathered all the vānara forces on the bank of the Gaṅgā and spoke to them together: “You have all suffered so much for my sake. So, O vānara heroes, in the Dvāpara Yuga you will be born among the gopas (cowherds) in Nanda’s community (Nanda-praja). I will share meals and every pleasure with you, with great joy.” By this the vānara army of the Tretā Yuga is joined with the gopas of Vṛndāvana.

The promise to Lakshmaṇa

Rāma turned to Lakshmaṇa and said: “Lakshmaṇa, you suffered greatly serving me in the Daṇḍakāraṇya. In the Dvāpara Yuga you will be the elder brother and I will serve you.” In the Kṛshṇa avatāra, Balarāma, who is a part of Lakshmaṇa, is Kṛshṇa’s elder brother, and Kṛshṇa, the avatāra of Rāma, is the younger brother.

Pushpaka goes back to Kubera, and the queens are told what to do

Rāma spoke to the divine flying vehicle Pushpaka: “From now on, carry Kubera with full honour. Go now.” Pushpaka had served Rāma since the conquest of Laṅkā. It bowed to Rāma, took leave of Sītā, received Rāma’s honours and flew quickly to Kubera.

Then, in front of Vālmīki Maharshi, Rāma called Ūrmilā, Māṇḍavī and Śrutakīrti, the wives of Lakshmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna. He told them: “Tomorrow, enter the fire together with your husbands’ bodies. By my word, reach svarga.” They agreed, bowed to Rāma and went to their own quarters. Rāma rested that night with Sītā.

Sources

Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Khaṇḍa, chapter 5
Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Manohara Khaṇḍa (the Arjuna and Dhanushkoṭi episode, mentioned only)