After the great victory over Rāvaṇa, Rāma met with the foremost of the gods—Indra, Yama, Varuṇa, Mahādeva, and Brahmā—as well as his own father, Daśaratha. Each of these divine beings, along with the assembled sages and celestial seers, bestowed their blessings and granted boons to the illustrious Kakutstha, the mighty Rāma, who had scorched his foes. Thus blessed, Rāma, surrounded by the joyful monkeys, began his journey back to Kiṣkindhā, riding in the wondrous aerial chariot, Puṣpaka. On their way, they reached the banks of the sacred Gaṅgā, where sages dwelled. It was foretold that, under the auspicious Puṣya constellation, Rāma would arrive without hindrance, and those gathered would be worthy to behold him the next day. When Hanūmān relayed these sweet tidings, Bharata was overcome with delight. With joined palms, he spoke words of deep joy: “At last, my heart’s desire is truly fulfilled.” As the narrative continues, Bharata, steadfast in truth and valor, heard this supreme joy and promptly commanded Śatrughna, the destroyer of foes. He instructed that all the gods and city shrines be worshipped by pure men, adorned with fragrant garlands and accompanied by music. He ordered that bards skilled in praise and ancient lore, minstrels, musicians, and courtesans all assemble together. Bharata called for the royal wives, ministers, soldiers, women of the army, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, guild leaders, and all groups to go forth, so that all might behold Rāma’s radiant face, shining like the moon. Śatrughna, following Bharata’s command, acted swiftly. He dispatched thousands of workers in groups to level the roads, making all smooth from Nandigrāma onward, sprinkling the earth with cool, icy water to remove any obstacles. Others scattered parched grain and flowers everywhere, and the main streets of the great city were adorned with raised banners. Houses were decorated to face the rising sun, with garlands, strings of pearls, flowers, and golden ornaments of five colors. Hundreds of men made the royal road spacious, and all rejoiced upon hearing Śatrughna’s command. Dhṛṣṭi, Jayanta, Vijaya, Siddhārtha, Arthasādhaka, Ashoka, Mantrapāla, and Sumantra set out, accompanied by thousands of elephants adorned with banners and splendid ornaments, golden girdles, female elephants, and tuskers. Great charioteers departed, mounted on horses and chariots, bearing spears, javelins, nooses, and banners, with standards flying high. They were joined by thousands of foremost horses and foot soldiers, all proceeding with heroic determination. The wives of Daśaratha mounted their vehicles, with Kausalya at the forefront, and Sumitra too set out. Together with Kaikeyi, all reached Nandigrāma. Bharata, righteous-souled, was surrounded by leading brāhmaṇas, heads of guilds with their followers, and ministers holding garlands and sweets. Amidst the sounds of conches and drums and the praises of bards, Bharata, the knower of righteousness, bowed his head and took hold of the noble feet. He took up a white parasol, adorned with white garlands and yak-tail fans fit for a king, decorated with gold. Emaciated from fasting, dejected, and clad in bark and black antelope skin, Bharata was nevertheless filled with joy upon hearing of his brother’s imminent arrival. When Bharata, accompanied by his ministers, went forth to meet Rāma, the earth resounded with the hoofbeats of horses and the rumbling of chariot wheels. The sounds of conches and drums, the trumpeting of elephants, and the blaring of instruments made the earth seem to tremble. The entire city reached Nandigrāma, and seeing this, Bharata spoke to Hanūmān, son of the wind: “Surely, O descendant of Kapi, you are not indulging in fickleness of mind, for I do not see Kakutstha, the noble Rāma, the subduer of foes. Nor do I see the monkeys of changing forms.” Hanūmān replied, making his request known to Bharata of true valor: “Having reached trees always bearing fruit, blossoming, and exuding honey—by the grace of Bharadvāja, with the humming of intoxicated bees, and by the boon granted by Indra, hospitality for the entire army has been performed, endowed with all virtues. A mighty, joyful sound is heard from the delighted forest dwellers. I think that army of monkeys is crossing the river Gomati; see the cloud of dust rising toward the grove of śāla trees. I think the monkeys are shaking the lovely śāla forest; there, from afar, that aerial chariot, shining like the moon, is seen. That divine aerial chariot, Puṣpaka, created by Brahmā’s mind, was obtained by the great-souled one after slaying Rāvaṇa and his kin. Radiant as the rising sun and swift as thought, it became Rāma’s vehicle by the favor of Kubera. Within it, the two heroic Rāghavas, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, together with Vaidehī, the mighty Sugrīva, and the rakṣasa Vibhīṣaṇa, are present.” Then, as the chariot drew near, a sound of joy arose, reaching up to the heavens, as people—women, children, youths, and elders—cried out in delight: “This is Rāma!