Kama Makes the Bees and Birds His Army against the Separated Rama
Aranya Kanda, Doha 38
Doha 38 · Movement 2 of 2
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Kama beholds Rama agitated by separation and imagines him weak, utterly alone within the forest of spring. Bees, birds, fragrance, color, and the whole woodland seem to gather into alliance beneath the command of the bodiless god of desire.
The assault is not made with iron. Sound, pairing, blossom, and memory close around the separated Lord. What is gentle to the forest becomes a formation directed toward the place where Sita is absent.
Yet Rama does not travel alone. Lakshmana walks beside him. Kama's scout sees the brother, returns, and carries the report. Manmatha halts his army and makes camp, as though the host that advanced confidently has recognized a resistance it cannot lightly cross.
Spring gathers as Kama's army, then pauses when it sees Lakshmana walking beside Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
बिरह बिकल बलहीन मोहि जानेसि निपट अकेल। सहित बिपिन मधुकर खग मदन कीन्ह बगमेल।।37(क)।। देखि गयउ भ्राता सहित तासु दूत सुनि बात। डेरा कीन्हेउ मनहुँ तब कटकु हटकि मनजात।।37(ख)।।
Knowing me to be utterly alone, weak and distressed by separation, the bees, birds, and Kamadeva in the forest have formed an alliance against me. Seeing this, he departed with his brother, and hearing the messenger's words, Kamadeva's army then encamped, as if withdrawing its forces.