Ram Smiles within as Kaikeyi Reveals the Exile
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 41
Doha 41 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kaikeyi speaks boldly, her tongue like a bow and her countless words like arrows striking the gentle king. Cruelty itself seems embodied and trained upon an unguarded target.
She tells Ram the whole affair. Yet the sun of the solar dynasty, treasury of spontaneous bliss, only smiles within his heart and answers with words as soft and flawless as flowers.
Blessed is the son who treats the word of mother and father as sacred, Ram says. Rare is the child who brings joy to both. The demand intended to dispossess him meets no resistance because Ram receives it first as an opportunity to serve.
Kaikeyi releases the arrow of exile, and Ram receives it with an inward smile of filial joy.
Read the passage from the Manas
निधरक बैठि कहइ कटु बानी। सुनत कठिनता अति अकुलानी।। जीभ कमान बचन सर नाना। मनहुँ महिप मृदु लच्छ समाना।। जनु कठोरपनु धरें सरीरू। सिखइ धनुषबिद्या बर बीरू।। सब प्रसंगु रघुपतिहि सुनाई। बैठि मनहुँ तनु धरि निठुराई।। मन मुसकाइ भानुकुल भानु। रामु सहज आनंद निधानू।। बोले बचन बिगत सब दूषन। मृदु मंजुल जनु बाग बिभूषन।। सुनु जननी सोइ सुतु बड़भागी। जो पितु मातु बचन अनुरागी।। तनय मातु पितु तोषनिहारा। दुर्लभ जननि सकल संसारा।।
She sits boldly and speaks her bitter words. Hearing such harshness, even cruelty itself would flinch. Her tongue is a bow, her words are arrows beyond counting, and the gentle king is their soft, unguarded target. It is as if hard-heartedness has taken a living body and this great warrior is practising the science of the bow. She tells the whole affair to Raghupati, sitting there as though cruelty itself has put on flesh. But the Sun of the Solar Dynasty, Rama, the treasury of spontaneous bliss, only smiles within his heart. He speaks words free of every flaw, soft and lovely, like ornaments adorning a garden. "Listen, Mother. That son alone is truly blessed who holds his father's and mother's word as sacred. A child who brings joy to both mother and father is rare, dear Mother, in all this world."