Saraswati Enters Ayodhya with a Sorrowful Heart
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 12
Doha 12 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hearing the gods, Saraswati stands still like a lotus grove struck by winter frost. They insist that no blame will touch her, for Ram's sovereignty exceeds ordinary joy and sorrow, and beings meet experience through their karma.
Reluctantly she clasps their feet and departs, judging their understanding shallow. Their dwellings are high, yet they cannot bear another's glory. Still, the work ahead must be served.
Saraswati enters Dasharatha's city like an adverse planetary hour carrying unbearable grief. Her heart does not share the cruelty of the task, but her presence begins its motion. Ayodhya's music continues while the goddess of speech searches for the mind through which words can wound a kingdom.
With remorse in her heart, Saraswati crosses into the city whose songs she is about to darken.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि सुर बिनय ठाढ़ि पछिताती। भइउँ सरोज बिपिन हिमराती।। देखि देव पुनि कहहिं निहोरी। मातु तोहि नहिं थोरिउ खोरी।। बिसमय हरष रहित रघुराऊ। तुम्ह जानहु सब राम प्रभाऊ।। जीव करम बस सुख दुख भागी। जाइअ अवध देव हित लागी।। बार बार गहि चरन सँकोचौ। चली बिचारि बिबुध मति पोची।। ऊँच निवासु नीचि करतूती। देखि न सकहिं पराइ बिभूती।। आगिल काजु बिचारि बहोरी। करहहिं चाह कुसल कबि मोरी।। हरषि हृदयँ दसरथ पुर आई। जनु ग्रह दसा दुसह दुखदाई।।
Hearing the gods' entreaty, Saraswati stood still, filled with remorse. She felt as though she had become a frost-bitten lotus grove on a winter night. Seeing her hesitation, the gods again spoke humbly: "Mother, no blame at all will fall upon you. The Lord of the Raghus is beyond both wonder and delight. You know the full extent of Rama's sovereign power. Living beings taste joy and sorrow according to their karma. Go to Ayodhya for the sake of the gods." Repeatedly she clasped their feet in reluctance, then departed, reflecting that the understanding of the gods was shallow. High is their dwelling, yet low are their deeds. They cannot bear to witness another's glory. But then, considering the work that lay ahead, Tulsidas prays: "May the gods wish well for this poet of mine." With a joyful heart she entered the city of Dasharatha, like the onset of an evil planetary phase bringing unbearable sorrow.