In this wise, the monkeys, bears and Rākshasas spent their days in
Ayodhyā. Thereupon the highly effulgent Rāma, the descendant of Raghu
said to Sugriva:—"O gentle one, proceeding to the city of Kishkindhā,
hard to be got at by the celestials and Asuras, do thou reign there
undisturbed with thy councillors. O thou having long arms, always look
towards Angada, with loving eyes. Do thou, O Sugriva, protect lovingly
the highly powerful Hanumān, Nala, thy father-in-law Sushena, the mighty
Tāra, irrepressible Kumada, the powerful Neela, the heroic Satabali,
Mainda, Dwivida, Gaya, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sarava, the irrepressible and
powerful king of bears Jamvaban, Gandhamādana, valiant Rishava,
Supatala, Keshan, Sarabha and Sumbha—these and other heroic monkeys who
dedicated their lives to my service. Do thou never act to their
displeasure." Having said this and embraced Sugriva again and again Rāma
addressed Bibhishana with sweet accents. "I know thou art cognizant of
piety; the citizens, thy councillors and thy brother Kuvera also love
thee; do thou therefore go and govern Lankā piously, O king; never
cherish any vile intention; the honest kings always enjoy the earth. And
my only request to thee, O king, is that thou mayst with love remember
me and Sugriva. Do thou now proceed, divested of sorrow." Hearing the
words of Rāma, the bears, monkeys and Rākshasas repeatedly exclaimed
glory unto Rāma and said "O Rāma, having long arms, thy understanding
resembleth that of the Self-Sprung, thy prowess is equally wonderful and
thy beauty is also _par excellence_." The monkeys and Rākshasas having
said this, Hanumān bowing, said unto Rāma "May my loving reverence be
always in thee, O king; may my devotion unto thee remain unshaken, O
hero; and may my mind be not attached unto any other thing. May my life
remain in my body as long as the stories of Rāma shall be in currency on
earth. Let not this prove otherwise. O foremost of men, O descendant of
Raghu, may the Apsarās make me always hear of thy themes. O hero, as the
winds scatter the clouds so I shall remove my anxiety by listening to
thy nectar-like themes." After Hanumān had said this, Rāma rose up from
his throne and having embraced Hanumān affectionately said, "O foremost
of monkeys, what thou hast said, shall undoubtedly be carried out into
action. As long as my stories shall be current on earth thy fame shall
exist and life shall be in thy body. And as long as the world shall
exist my themes shall be related. I cannot, even at the sacrifice of my
life, release myself from the debts of one good service out of the many,
thou hast done for me, monkey; and I shall for ever remain indebted to
thee for thy last benefaction. Or let them wear out in me, for men, at
the time of danger, become worthy of having their benefits returned."
Having said this, Rāma took off from his neck a chain set with sapphires
brilliant as the rays of the moon and placed it round the neck of
Hanumān. Like unto the mountain Sumeru beautified by the rising of the
moon on its summit, Hanumān, the foremost of monkeys, appeared graceful
with the chain placed on his breast. And hearing the words of Rāghava,
the highly powerful monkeys, one by one, saluted Rāma, touching his feet
and went away. Both Sugriva and the virtuous-souled Bibhishana embraced
Rāma and three of them were beside themselves with tears. And other
monkeys and Rākshasas were all moved with tears and sorrow to take leave
of Rāma. Having received favours thus from the high-souled Rāghava the
monkeys went away to their own houses like-unto bodied creatures leaving
off their bodies. Thereupon the Rākshasas, bears, monkeys, having bowed
unto Rāma, the glory of the Raghu family and with their eyes full of
tears consequent upon his separation, went away to the countries from
which they had hailed.