‘It is all due, father,’ said Rama, ‘to your religious merit that I have conquered the invincible demon king.’ Upon hearing his son’s words, his affection increased still more; tears rushed to his eyes again and he trembled with emotion.

Remembering the affection that his father had borne him in life and looking at him, Raghunatha bestowed upon him absolute knowledge. Dasharath had set his heart on devotion while maintaining his separate identity, and that, Uma, is why he had not received the boon of liberation.

Worshippers of God in his embodied form do not in fact accept final beatitude to them Rama vouchsafes faith in his own person. Making obeisance to the Lord again and again, Dasharath returned with joy to his abode in heaven.

Beholding the beauty of the Lord, the all-wise king of Kosala, and of his brother and Janaki, Indra, the lord of the celestials, joyfully intoned this hymn of priase:

‘Glory to Rama, the home of beauty, the bestower of peace on the suppliant, bearer of the beauteous quiver, bow and arrows, glorious and mighty of arms!

Glory to the foe of Dushana and Khara, annihilator of the demon host! Now that you have slain this wretch (Ravana, the demon king), my lord, all the gods feel secure again.

Glory to the reliever of earth’s burden, of unbounded and surpassing majesty! Glory to Ravana’s foe, the all-merciful, who made the demons bite the dust!