Having agitated the earth with thousands of elephants and horses the
kings proceeded to various quarters. And being prepared to help Rāma
many Akshauhini soldiers with many steeds waited at Ayodhyā at the
command of Bharata. Those kings, proud and powerful, spoke to one
another—"We did not face Rāvana—the enemy of Rāma; Bharata did uselessly
invite us after the destruction of Rāvana. Had they brought us earlier,
we would, forsooth, have slain him. We would have, on the other side of
the ocean, well protected by the prowess of Rāma and Lakshmana, and
freed from all disturbances, fought at pleasure." Being thus delighted,
all those assembled princes proceeded to their respective kingdoms,
dwelling on these and various other topics. And having arrived at their
celebrated cities, unscathed, abounding in delighted people, wealth,
crops and jewels they sent various presents of jems to Rāma for his
satisfaction. Besides this they made over to him innumerable horses,
conveyances, infuriated elephants, sandal, excellent ornamants, jewels,
pearls, corals, beautiful female servants and various cars. And taking
all those jewels, the highly powerful Bharata, Lakshmana and Satrughna
returned to their own city. Having arrived at the picturesque city
Ayodhyā those foremost of men, made presents of various jewels unto
Rāma. Having delightedly accepted those gifts Rāma in return made
presents of them unto the successful king Sugriva, Bibhishana and other
Rākshasas and monkeys by whose help he had achieved victory. And those
highly powerful monkeys and night-rangers wore on their heads and arms
those jewels conferred on them by Rāma. Having placed on his lap the
long-armed Angada and Hanumān, the mighty car-warrior—the lotus-eyed
Rāma said to Sugriva "Angada is thy good son and Hanumān is thy wise
councillor. O Sugriva, these are always engaged in my well-being and in
giving me good counsels. For thee, therefore, O king of monkeys, I
should honor them in various ways." Having said this, the illustrious
Rāma took off from his arms valuable ornaments and adorned Angada and
Hanumān therewith. Thereupon having welcomed and casting loving looks
upon the highly powerful and leading monkeys such as Neela, Kesarin,
Kumuda, Gandhamādana, Sushena, Panasa, Mainda, Dwivida, Jāmbavān,
Gabāksha, Dhumra, Baleemukha, Prajaghna, Saunāda, Dareemukha, Dadbimuka,
Indrajānu and others, he addressed them all in sweet accents,
saying:—"You are all my friends like unto my limbs and brothers. O ye
inhabitants of forests, you have saved me from the ocean of danger.
Blessed is the king Sugriva and blessed are the friends like
yourselves." Saying this Rāma, the foremost of men, conferred upon them
duly many precious clothes and ornaments and embraced them all. The
monkeys lived there all happily feasting on fragrant honey, well-cooked
meat and various fruits and roots. In this way they spent more than a
month—but it appeared to them as a moment on account of their devotion
unto Rāma. He, too also spent his time happily with monkeys assuming
shapes at will, the highly powerful Rākshasas and the mighty bears. In
this way the delighted monkeys and Rākshasas spent the second winter
month. Enjoying delight they thus spent their days happily in the city
of Ayodhyā working to the welfare of Rāma.