Rama decides to return to Ayodhya

In the morning, Vibhishana came to Rama. He said  - You have faced many hardships. Let the people serve you. I wish to have you anointed with oils and musk and dressed as a king. I will be sending servants who will be coming to help you.

Rama said I want to Bharata first. Only once I have met Bharata and embraced him, will I agree to your demands. if you want to help me, then do this for me. For fourteen years, I have lived the life of a hermit. I wish to return to Ayodhya. Please arrange for that.

Vibhishana said Kubera has a chariot called Pushpaka. That chariot will take you to Ayodhya in a day.

Rama then asked Vibhishana to help the vanaras to get ready. The oils and musk was given to the vanaras who enjoyed themselves bathing and the decking themselves. They then had choicest foods, which was served to them. The vanaras then went to sleep and served by beautiful women who had been captured by Ravana.

The vanaras in the morning went to Rama and said they wanted the women to leave with them, when they left Lanka. Rama asked Vibhishana to agree to their demands. After all it was because of the vanaras, that he had become king. Vibhishana gladly agreed and gave many gifts to the vanaras along with the women.

The Pushpaka was arranged. Swans were yoked to the chariot. It was huge in city and an entire city could easily fit in it. If needed, it could be extended further. Rama and Sita climbed up on the chariot. Sita covered her face with a cloth. Lakshmana climbed next with his weapons.

Vibhishana, Sugriva and Hanumana wanted to go to Ayodhya and see the coronation of Rama. Rama was overjoyed and said he would be very happy to have them. Rama said, All who wanted to come along should climb up on the chariot.

The vanaras and rakshasas the started climbing up on the chariot. When all were in, the chariot started.

Sita comes out of the fire

While all were crying, Brahma appeared before Rama. He said - Do not grieve. Sita will not be touched by fire. You will soon be united with her. You are Vishnu and Sita is Lakshmi. Please remember that.

Rama said I am born human, and I act like one.

Brahma said - Remember who you are. As the fish, you saved the vedas. As the tortoise you saved the world. As a the boar, you lifted the world on your tusks. As the half lion and half man, you killed Hiranyakashipu, who tormented the whole world. As the dwarf, you tricked Bali in giving away his land, and you became his door man. As Parashurama, you killed off the kshatiyas. Now you are born as Rama, born to kill the rakshasas.

Rama was not listening to this. He kept crying for Sita.

Brahma said - You are Vishnu and Sita is Lakshmi. Why do you keep Lakshmi in the fire?

Rama kept lamenting.

Brahma then said to Agni - Rise and give away Sita to Rama.

Agni came out with Sita in his lap. She was as she had entered the fire, Not one thread of her dress had burnt.
Agni said to Rama - I am witness to all the sins that people commit. Sita is pure.

Agni went away and and the fire went off.

To Rama, Brahma said - Take care of Sita. Do not trouble her. Go back to Ayodhya and rule the land along with your brothers. See, Dashratha has come to see you. Rama, Lakshmana and Sita bowed down to Dashratha.

Dashratha said - I was hurt by Kaikeyi's words. I died not seeing you, Rama. I have seen all that you have done till now. I have forsaken Bharata and Kaikeyi.

Rama said - Bharata is deeply sad and your anger should not be directed towards him.

To Sita, Dashratha said - You have been purified by fire. Please return back to Ayodhya with Rama.
Saying this Dashratha left.

Indra then said to Rama  - Ask for a boon. You have helped us by killing Ravana and many other rakshasas.

Rama said If you want to give me something, then let all the vanaras who died in the war, come back to life. They all left their families and came with me to the forest. I am united with my wife. Why should their wives be sad?

The dead vanaras were brought back to life. Cut limbs became whole again. The dead vanaras, thinking they were in the war, started shouting out for Kumbhakarna and Indrajit. The other vanaras then told them what had happened. The vanaras then went bowed down before Rama and Sita.

Rama said to Indra - I have a question. I saw you sprinkling amrita on the battlefield. There were dead rakshasas also. How is it, they even with the touch of the divine nectar, the rakshasas did not come to life and only the vanaras were revived?
Indra said - The rakshasas were always taking the name of Rama. When they died then too they had the name of Rama on their tongue. They have all reached Vaikuntha. The vanaras were taking the names of the rakshasas all the time.

Taking leave of Rama and Sita, the Gods left.

Vibhishana then erected a wonderful palace of gold with satin and velvet and precious gems studded in the palace. Flowers were strewn everywhere, and the palace smelt heavenly. Seats were made with flowers.
Vibhishana and the vanaras stood guard and Rama and Sita entered the palace.

Rama and Sita spent the night in the palace. 

Sita enters the fire

The vanaras rushed to have a glimpse of Sita. The palanquin of Sita stopped at a point and from then on, one needed to walk. The vanaras prepared umbrellas to protect Sita from the sun, while she walked towards Rama.
Soon Sita spotted Rama seated on a spot. On his right was Sugriva and on his left was Lakshmana.
Vibhishana tried to push aside the vanaras to make way for Sita, but Rama said this was not correct. Sita was mother of all, and all had the right to see her.
Hanumana then realized that Rama wanted to test Sita.
Sita bowed down to Rama's feet. Lakshmana bowed down at Sita's feet.
Rama was thinking of the people. Did they have any doubts about Sita's character? Would he have to leave Sita?
Rama then said - I have helped you leave Ravana's prison. I do not know what you did for ten months. Choose a place and go there. Choose any one here and go with that person. If I had not rescued you, I would have been blamed. You are now free. Free to go wherever you want.

With tears in her eyes, Sita slowly said - You know me well and still you have a doubt about my character. Not one person had touched me so far, other than the wicked Ravana. You sent Hanumana to me. Why did you not forsake me then? I would have consumed poison and entered the fire. I would not have been insulted. I am not a low caste woman that you give me away to anyone. Lakshmana, help me. Please prepare a pyre of wood. I will enter the fire.

Lakshmana looked at Rama and Rama asked him to do as Sita said.

Lakshmama prepared the wood and lit it. When the flames of the pyre touched the sky, Sita decided to enter the pyre. She went around Rama seven times. When went around the fire three times and then with folded hands, she said - If I am pure, then fire will protect me.
Site entered the pyre.

Pitchers of clarified butter were poured on the flames, the fire started burning fiercely.

Rama tried to search for Sita, but he could not see her. All was dark in front of his eyes. Rama said - What have I done. Sita, please come out of the fire. I killed Ravana to get you back and now with you in the fire, what use is my life? 

Mandodari curses Sita

Rama then asked Hanumana to give Sita the news of the death of Ravana and to fetch her.
Hanumana entered the city and the rakshasas wondered who was the unfortunate one, who would die in Hanumana's hands.

Hanumana went to the Ashoka garden and bowed down before Sita with folded hands. He said - The one who had tormented you, is dead. I have been sent by Rama to give you this news.

Sita was elated. She kept quiet.

Hanumana said - Mother, why do you not reply? Say something.

Sita said - The news that you have given me has given me such great amount of joy, that I am speechless. I have nothing to reward you with.

Hanumana said , Mother, if you really want to reward me, then please let me kill these female guards who were with you all the time, mentally torturing you.

The rakshasis fearing their lives, appealed to Sita to save them.

Sita said to Hanumana - You are a learned person. This kind of behavior does not befit you. You will get the sin of killing women. Also, till Ravana was alive, they did torment me, but now they serve me, Ravana is no more.

Hanumana went to Rama and told him about his meeting with Sita. He said Sita was very frail and had been reduced to skin and bones.

Rama then asked Vibhishana to fetch Sita.

Vibhishana went to Sita and with folded hands asked her to climb onto the golden palanquin that he had brought, to take her to Rama.

Sita said she wanted to go the way she was, but Vibhishana requested his wife to prepare Sita.

Sarama, Vibhishana's wife, came with ornaments and clothes. They bathed and decked up Sita. Sita then sat in the palanquin.

All the rakshasas came out to see Sita and her beauty.

Mandodari came towards Sita. She said It is because of you that I lost my husband and sons. You are lost in the thoughts of Rama. This joy is short lived. Rama will not look towards you. If I am pure at heart, this will come true. 

Vibhishana crowned

With the war over, Matali took leave of Rama. Rama thanked Indra and Matali for their help.
Rama then approached Sugriva and hugged him. He thanked Sugriva for all the support given, that resulted in the death of Ravana.

Rama then decided it was time to crown Vibhishana as the king of Lanka.

All items necessary for the coronation were arranged for. The vanaras and rakshasas all together worked to gather gems and jewels. Bards began singing.

Seeing the right moment, Rama declared Vibhishana the king. Lakshmana poured water on Vibhishana's head. Many instruments began playing.

Rama placed the crown on the head of Vibhishana and handed him the royal scepter. He asked him to take care of Mandodari. 

Mandodari's grief

Mandodari was heart broken. She cried - Please get up My Lord. Lanka is empty. One who slept on royal beds, now sleeps in dust. I have nothing to look forward to. All this happened because you got Sita over. You should not have listened to your sister, Surpanakha.

Vibhishana asked Mandodari to control herself. He said I had asked Ravana to return Sita but he did not listen.

Mandodari, holding Ravana's head in her lap said I want to see that person who killed my lord.

With her clothes flying around, hair unkempt, Mandodari went to have a glimpse of Rama.
She bowed down at the feet of Rama. Rama thinking Sita had come, blessed the queen.

Mandodari said Why do you bless me thus? I am the daughter of the demon Maya. I am Mandodari, who was wedded to Ravana. That Ravana, who had subdued all the Gods. I ma the mother of Indrajit, who had captured Indra. You are blessing me with long life, after my husband is no more. You are Narayana. How could you thus bless me?

Rama said Stop grieving. Ravana is in heaven. You will live long, in hearts of people.

Rama then asked Vibhishana to arrange for the last rites of Ravana.

Ravana was bathed in the waters of the river and sandal paste was applied to his body. He was clad in wonderful clothes. A pyre was placed on the banks of the ocean and Vibhishana had Ravana placed on the pyre.

With tears in his eyes, Vibhishana lit the pyre.

Vibhishana's grief

Gods were celebrating the fall of Ravana. The vanaras rushed to see the great Ravana from close. Sugriva and Vibhishana came to see Ravana. Rama was sad to see the great warrior lying in the dust.
Vibhishana hugged the body of Ravana. With tears in his eyes, he said - Your pride has been the cause of your fall. You did not recognize who Rama was. You got Sita forcibly into Lanka. I asked you to return Sita, but you did not listen. You died and the world will curse me.

Turning to Rama, Vibhishana said - Rama, you please help me. Ravana worshiped Shiva all through his life. When he was dying, Shiva did not look towards him.

Rama said Do not grieve. Ravana is at peace now. Killed by my arrow, Ravana is in heaven.