Sita, filled with righteousness, spoke her words with unwavering conviction. Both Rama and the others present agreed with her, saying, “So be it.” At that moment, King Dasharatha addressed her with affection and admiration. He said, “You are truly the daughter of Janaka, wise in the knowledge of Brahman, not born from a womb, and the devoted wife of Rama. It is no wonder that you speak so fittingly.” Dasharatha continued, “None among you faces any real hardship here, though there is a small effort required in bathing the sage Gautami, making offerings, and performing the ritual of offering balls of food to the ancestors. Freed from the burden of three Brahmin-murders, I now ascend to heaven. What you have spoken, O daughter of Janaka, is indeed worthy of your noble lineage. Women of such distinguished families help others cross the vast ocean of existence by the grace of the sacred Godavari. Truly, what is difficult to attain here?” As the ritual of offering balls of food—pinda—was being performed, Shatrughna noticed there was no food or provisions available. He turned to Lakshmana and spoke of this lack. Lakshmana, with respect, replied, “There are fruits from the Ingudi tree, and flour made from them has been brought here almost instantly.” With this flour, Rama prepared to offer the pinda to his father on the banks of the sacred Ganga. Yet as he did so, his movements slowed, and sorrow overtook him. At that moment, a divine voice resounded in the air: “Abandon your grief, O prince! You have already lost your kingdom and entered the forest—what more can you lack? You are not deceitful, and you are devoted to righteousness; there is no cause for you to grieve. Only those who act righteously but harbor deceit regarding wealth are truly sinful.” The voice continued, “It is proclaimed in all the scriptures, O Rama, listen well: Whatever food a person eats, O king, that very food is enjoyed by the deities of his ancestors.” Yet, as Rama offered the ball of food, it fell to the ground, and he could not see his father, nor any remains at the supreme funeral site. In that moment, a powerful remembrance arose, one that destroys the weight of great sins. Then, the guardians of the worlds—the Rudras, Adityas, and Ashvins—arrived, each on their own celestial vehicle. Among them, one shone with extraordinary radiance, mounted upon the finest vehicle, and was praised by the heavenly Kinnaras. It was Dasharatha, Rama’s father, shining among the gods like the sun. Yet Rama did not see his father clearly; he saw only the gods in their resplendent vehicles. With hands joined in reverence, Rama addressed them, “Where is my father?” A divine voice answered him through Sita, saying, “Freed from three Brahmin-murders, King Dasharatha is now surrounded by the gods. See, O son,” the gods also spoke, “You are blessed and accomplished, Rama; your father has ascended to heaven. Praised is the son who lifts his ancestors from the multitude of hells.” The gods continued, “He is truly blessed, adorned by his meritorious deeds. See him, O mighty-armed one, shining like the sun, freed from sin, in all three worlds. Even if a man possesses all wealth, if he is sinful, he is like a tree burnt to ashes. But a virtuous man, even without possessions, shines as brightly as the moon-crested Lord.” Witnessing this, King Dasharatha spoke to Rama, blessing him and offering good wishes: “You have fulfilled your duty; may good fortune be yours. By your actions, O sinless one, I have been delivered. In this world, blessed is the son who delivers his fathers.” Then, the host of gods spoke, seeking the fulfillment of their own divine purposes: “O best of men, Rama, go as you wish.” Hearing these words, Rama turned to the gods and asked, “O gods, with my guru and father, what further duty remains for me?” The gods replied, “No river is equal to the Ganga; no son is like you; no god is equal to Shiva; no man equals the deliverer. By you, Rama, all duties to your elders have been fulfilled; you have delivered your ancestors. Let all return to their own places, and you too, go as you wish.” Emboldened by the words of the gods, Rama, the elder brother of Lakshmana, together with Sita, beheld the greatness of the Ganga with astonishment. He spoke in wonder, “Ah, such is the power of the Ganga—there is nothing like it in the three worlds. We are truly blessed to have seen the Ganga, the purifier of all creation.” Filled with great joy, Rama installed the image of Maheshvara, Lord Shiva, and worshipped Him with sixteen offerings, pouring out his devotion. Having worshipped the Lord—adorned with coverings and endowed with thirty-six energies—Rama, with hands joined, praised Shankara: “I bow to Shambhu, the ancient being; I bow to the all-knowing, boundless one. I bow to Rudra, the imperishable Lord; I bow with my head to Sharva. I bow to the supreme, imperishable god, the Lord of Uma, the teacher of the worlds. I bow to the destroyer of poverty, to the remover of disease. I bow to the auspicious one of inconceivable form, to the source-seed of the universe, to the cause of the world’s existence, to the one who brings about dissolution. I bow to the beloved of Gauri, the imperishable one, to the eternal—both perishable and imperishable—embodiment of consciousness, immeasurable, the three-eyed one. I bow to the compassionate one, who also brings fear to existence; I bow always. I bow to the giver of desired things, to Soma’s lord, to Uma’s lord from the very beginning. I bow to the one who is the eye of the three Vedas, to the one beyond the three forms, to the holy one beyond existence and non-existence, to the remover of sin. I bow to Him who delights in the welfare of the universe, who assumes many forms, the protector of all, the originator of existence and non-existence, the Lord of the universe. I bow to the Lord of sacrifice, who is both the recipient of offerings to gods and ancestors, who is the path, who is the ever-auspicious Shiva of the worlds, worshipped by all and the granter of all boons. I bow to the giver, beloved of gifts, the cherished deity. I bow to the Lord of Soma, who is not independent, to the victorious consort of Uma; I bow with my head to the Lord of obstacles, Nandinatha, beloved of his son. I bow to the God who destroys the suffering and sorrow of existence, who bears the moon, who holds the Ganga, the praiseworthy Lord, the consort of Uma, the best of gods—I bow.” Thus, Rama and Sita, immersed in devotion and gratitude, honored the gods, their ancestors, the sacred river Ganga, and above all, Lord Shiva, recognizing the blessings and fulfillment bestowed upon them in that holy place.