66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

Epilogue
Rama entered Ayodhya, after fourteen years of exile, a time
during which he rid this world of evil forces that had
tormented it for centuries. It was a happy reunion at the
capital. The coronation festivities interrupted fourteen years
before were resumed. All Rama’s friends and supporters
were around him. Hanuman and Sugreeva and all the rest
from Kiskinda were there in human form, in order to conform
to the physical features of their hosts. Vibishana, Ravana’s
successor at Lanka, also was an honoured guest. Rama
was surrounded by his mother and stepmothers, even
Kaikeyi having shed her harshness by now. The kings of the
earth were there and also all the gods in human form. For
Bharatha it was a time of supreme satisfaction; his vow to
see his brother on the throne was after all being fulfilled. The
time of trials and sacrifices had ended for everyone.
At an auspicious hour of a chosen day Rama was
crowned as the emperor. He sat on the throne with Sita
beside him under the “white umbrella of the state” (as
described by Dasaratha), holding in his right hand his
Kodanda, the bow which had served him so well all these
years. Lakshmana stood one step behind him, devoted and
watchful, and Hanuman knelt at his feet, looking up, with his
palms pressed in worship, ready to spring into action at the
slightest command.