Ayodhya Waits for Tomorrow while the Gods Seek an Obstacle
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 11
Doha 11 · Movement 1 of 2
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Music fills every market, street, house, and lane. Citizens long for Bharata's return and ask how many hours remain before Ram and Sita sit together upon the golden throne and the heart's desire is fulfilled.
Tomorrow seems unbearably slow to arrive. Yet while Ayodhya leans toward morning, the gods pray for an obstruction. The city's happiness troubles them like moonlight troubles a thief.
They summon Saraswati and fall repeatedly at her feet. Two worlds now gather around the same coronation: below, open longing and lamps; above, concealed fear and calculation. Celebration swells in sound while the first hidden hand reaches toward its interruption.
Ayodhya counts the hours until dawn, unaware that heaven is asking night to deepen.
Read the passage from the Manas
बाजहिं बाजने बिबिध बिधाना। पुर प्रमोदु नहिं जाइ बखाना।। भरत आगमनु सकल मनावहिं। आवहुँ बेगि नयन फलु पावहिं।। हाट बाट घर गलीं अथाई। कहहिं परसपर लोग लोगाई।। कालि लगन भलि केतिक बारा। पूजिहि बिधि अभिलाषु हमारा।। कनक सिंघासन सीय समेता। बैठहिं रामु होइ चित चेता।। सकल कहहिं कब होइहि काली। बिघन मनावहिं देव कुचाली।। तिन्हहि सोहाइ न अवध बधावा। चोरहि चंदिनि राति न भावा।। सारद बोलि बिनय सुर करहीं। बारहिं बार पाय लै परहीं।।
Musical instruments of every kind are sounding. The joy of the city cannot be described in words. All the people celebrate Bharat's arrival, saying, "May he come quickly, so our eyes may receive their blessed reward." In every market, street, home, and lane, men and women speak eagerly to one another. They say, "Tomorrow's auspicious hour is near. How long before the Creator fulfills our heart's desire? Rama, together with Sita, will be seated upon the golden throne, and our hearts will be at rest." All ask, "When will tomorrow come?" Meanwhile, the ill-scheming gods pray for obstacles. Ayodhya's celebration does not please them, just as a thief finds no comfort in a moonlit night. Summoning Saraswati with humble entreaty, the gods fall at her feet again and again.