शाधि राज्यं च खल्वेतन्नान्यथा मे वचः कुरु
Rule this kingdom indeed; otherwise, do not disregard my command.
एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थो हनुमंतमथाब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus, the descendant of Kakutstha then addressed Hanuman:
यावल्लोका वदिष्यंति मत्कथां वानरर्षभ
As long as people speak of my story, O best of monkeys—
मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चैव अमृतप्राशनावुभौ
Mainda and Dvivida, both who had tasted the nectar—
पुत्रपौत्राश्च येऽस्माकं तान्रक्षन्त्विह वानराः मया सार्धं प्रयातेति तदा तान्राघवोऽब्रवीत् ।। 2.8.6.
Let the monkeys here protect our sons and grandsons, as we depart together—so said Rāghava to them at that time.
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्य्यां पृथुवक्षा महाभुजः
When the night had ended, the broad-chested, mighty-armed one—
अग्निहोत्राणि यांत्वग्रे दीप्यमानानि सर्वशः
First approached the blazing sacrificial fires, all burning brightly.
ततो वसिष्ठस्तेजस्वी सर्वं निश्चित्य चेतसा
Then the radiant Vasiṣṭha, having considered everything in his mind,
ततः क्षौमाम्बरधरो ब्रह्मचर्यसमन्वितः
Clad in linen garments, endowed with the practice of celibacy,
न व्याहरच्छुभं किंचिदशुभं वा नरेश्वरः
The lord of men uttered nothing auspicious or inauspicious.
रामस्य सव्यपार्श्वे तु सपद्मा श्रीः समाश्रिता
At Rāma's left side, Śrī, with her lotus, took refuge.
नानाविधायुधान्यत्र धनुर्ज्याप्रभृतीनि च
There were various kinds of weapons, including bows and bowstrings.
वेदो ब्राह्मणरूपेण सावित्री सव्यदक्षिणे
The Veda, in the form of a Brāhmaṇa, and Sāvitrī, were at his right and left.
ऋषयश्च महात्मानः सर्वे चैव महीधराः
The great-souled sages and all the mountains were present there.
तथानुयांति काकुत्स्थमंतःपुरगताः स्त्रियः 2.8.6.
Likewise, the women of the inner palace followed Kakutstha.
सान्तःपुरश्च भरतः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ
Bharata, accompanied by Śatrughna and the inner palace, set out.
ततो विप्रा महात्मानः साग्निहोत्राः समंततः
Then the great-souled Brāhmaṇas, with their sacrificial fires, went all around.
मंत्रिणो भृत्ययुक्ताश्च सपुत्राः सहबांधवाः
The ministers, attended by their servants, with sons and relatives, also went.
ततः सर्वाः प्रकृतयो हृष्टपुष्टजनावृताः
Then all the people, surrounded by joyful and prosperous citizens,
तथा प्रजाश्च सकलाः सपुत्राश्च सवबांधवाः
Likewise, all the subjects, with their sons and relatives,
स्नाताः शुक्लाम्बरधराः सर्वे प्रयतमानसाः
Having bathed, all donned white garments, with minds intent and pure.
न कश्चित्तत्र दीनोऽभून्न भीतो नातिदुःखितः
No one there was dejected, nor afraid, nor excessively sorrowful.
द्रष्टुकामाश्च निर्वाणं राज्ञो जनपदास्तथा
The people of the kingdom, desiring to witness the king’s liberation, also gathered.
ऋक्षवानररक्षांसि जनाश्च पुरवासिनः
Bears, monkeys, demons, and the city’s inhabitants as well,
तानि भूतानि नगरे ह्यन्तर्धानगतान्यपि 2.8.6.
Even those beings in the city who had become invisible,
यानि पश्यंति काकुत्स्थं स्थावराणि चराणि च
All creatures, both moving and unmoving, who beheld Kakutstha,
नासीत्सत्त्वमयोध्यायां सुसूक्ष्ममपि किंचन
There was not a single living being in Ayodhya, not even the subtlest one,
अथार्द्धयोजनं गत्वा नदीं पश्चान्मुखो ययौ
Then, having gone half a yojana, he proceeded westward to the river.
अथ तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते तु ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः आययौ तत्र काकुत्स्थं स्वर्गद्वारमुपस्थितम्
At that very moment, Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, arrived there, where Kakutstha stood at the gate of heaven.
विमानशतकोटीभिर्दिव्याभिः सर्वतो वृतः
He was surrounded on all sides by hundreds of millions of divine aerial chariots.