By the power of the great sage Bharadvāja, wondrous sights unfolded at Prayāga. The garlands that adorned the gods and the Citraratha forest appeared there, filling the hermitage with celestial fragrance and beauty. At Bharadvāja’s command, trees such as Bilva, Mārdaṅgika, Śamyāgrāha, and Vibhītaka, along with the Aśvattha dancers, performed in joyous celebration. Other trees—Sarala, Tāla, Tilaka, and Naktamāla—gathered together, delighted, taking on hunchbacked and dwarfish forms as if to amuse and serve. The forest was alive with Śiṃśupā, Āmalakī, Jambu, and many other trees, entwined with creepers like Mālatī, Mallikā, and Jāti, all present in abundance. In the hermitage, the gods themselves, transformed into beautiful women, offered food and drink, inviting all who desired to partake of the purest meats and nectar-like beverages. On the lovely riverbanks, groups of women bathed and anointed each man, their eyes charming and their hands gentle as they massaged and wiped one another. Noble ladies served drinks to each other, creating an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie. The animals—horses, elephants, donkeys, camels, and the calves of Surabhi—were fed with care, their proper food given by these divine attendants. Sugarcane and honeyed grains were distributed to the animals, urging on the mighty warriors of the Ikṣvāku dynasty. There was no need to bind horses or restrain elephants; intoxicated with joy, the animals and men alike moved freely, none bowing or subdued, for all were caught up in the exuberant scene. The soldiers, their every desire satisfied, smeared with red sandalwood and joined by groups of apsarases, raised their voices in delight. They proclaimed, “We will not return to Ayodhyā, nor will we go to the Daṇḍaka forest; let Bharata be well, and may Rāma also be happy.” Foot soldiers, charioteers, elephant and horse riders, and attendants, all blessed with such fortune, echoed these joyful cries. Thousands of men, overwhelmed with happiness, exclaimed, “This is heaven!” as they followed Bharata. They danced, laughed, and sang, adorned with garlands, running about in all directions by the thousands. Having eaten food as sweet as nectar and gazing upon divine delicacies, their minds turned again to further enjoyment. The attendants, women, and thousands in the army became exceedingly proud, all dressed in splendid garments. Elephants, camels, oxen, horses, wild animals, and birds—all were well provided for; none lacked anything. No one was seen in soiled white clothes; none were hungry, dirty, or with hair disheveled by dust. Dishes made from goat and wild boar, with the finest cuts, and soups prepared from fragrant fruit extracts were served. Thousands of iron vessels, adorned with flowered banners and heaps of pure white rice, amazed the men who beheld them. By the forest edges, wells filled with creamy rice and milk appeared, along with wish-fulfilling cows and trees dripping with honey. Ponds brimming with mead were surrounded by heaps of well-cooked meat, and hot dishes of peacock and jungle fowl lined the paths. Thousands of bowls, tens of thousands of pots, and hundreds of millions of golden vessels were present. Pots, jars, and dishes filled with curds from young, fragrant cows and kapittha fruits were set out. Pools of sweet mango juice, thick white milk, rice pudding, and sugar delighted all. On the riverbanks, vessels held various medicinal pastes, powders, decoctions, and bathing substances. Heaps of white, shining tooth-cleaning sticks and sandalwood pastes were arranged for all to use. Polished mirrors, heaps of garments, pairs of sandals and shoes by the thousands were available. Cosmetic boxes, combs, brushes, weapons and bows, ornate armor, beds, and seats were all present in abundance. Lakes filled with drinks for camels, oxen, elephants, and horses, as well as bathing ponds with lotuses and water-lilies, added to the splendor. Pools with water the color of the sky, clear and pleasant for bathing, and heaps of soft barley colored like blue beryl, were seen. All the animals needed for sacrificial offerings were prepared. The people marveled, regarding the sage’s wondrous hospitality to Bharata as if it were a dream. As the night passed at Bharadvāja’s hermitage, the people delighted like the gods in Nandana. At dawn, the rivers and Gandharvas departed as they had come, with the lovely women, having received Bharadvāja’s permission. The intoxicated men, anointed with divine aloe and sandalwood, remained, while splendid garlands lay scattered, trampled by the joyous crowd. Thus ended the ninety-first sarga in the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the ancient and sacred Rāmāyaṇa composed by sage Vālmīki. After that magical night, Bharata, with his retinue, duly honored, approached Bharadvāja as he wished. Seeing Bharata, the tiger among men, arrive with joined palms, the sage Bharadvāja, having completed his fire rituals, addressed him.