Now, Lord, consecrate your servant’s house by bathing there and refreshing yourself after the toil of the battle. Then inspect my treasure, my palace and my wealth and gladly bestow, my gracious Lord, whatever you please on the monkeys.

Lord, accept me as your own in every way and then take me with you when you go to the city of Ayodhya.’ When the All-merciful heard Vibhishana’s gentle speech, both his large eyes filled with tears.

‘Listen, brother,’ he said, ‘all you say is true: your treasure and your house and all you have are as my own, but when I think of Bharata’s plight, every moment that passes seems to me like an aeon.

Clad in ascetic garb, with emaciated body he is ever repeating my name in prayer. So, friend, I entreat you to make an effort that I may see him soon.

If I reach there on the expiry of the period of my exile, I may not find my brother still alive.’ And even as the Lord recalled his younger brother’s affection, his body quivered again and again with emotion.

‘May you reign, O Vibhishana,’ continued Rama, ‘for a full aeon, your thoughts fixed on me, and in the end enter my realm, where all good men go.’

When he heard Rama’s words, Vibhishana joyfully clasped the feet of the all-merciful Lord, and the monkeys and the bears all rejoiced, and clasping the Lord’s feet, began to praise his transcendent virtues.