Lanka Kaanda
194 - The gods sing the Lordís praises; Indra rains down nectar on the dead
Chaupais
Description
That very moment King Dasaratha appeared on the scene (in his celestial form); his eyes were flooded with tears as he beheld his son (Sri Rama). The Lord and His younger brother (Laksmana) made obeisance and the father in his turn gave them his blessing. "Dear father, it was all due to your religious merit that I conquered the invincible demon king." Dasaratha was overwhelmed with emotion when he heard his son's words; tears rushed to his eyes again and the hair on his body stood erect. The Lord of the Raghus understood that His father bore the same affection for Him as he did before; He, therefore, looked at His father and bestowed on him solid wisdom. Uma, (continues Lord Siva,) Dasaratha did not attain final beatitude for this simple reason that he set his heart on Devotion while maintaining his separate identity. Worshippers of God in His embodied form spurn final beatitude: to them Sri Rama vouchsafes devotion to His own person. Having prostrated himself before the Lord again and again, Dasaratha joyfully returned to his abode in heaven.