Ram Calls the Forest Command a Small Matter
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 45
Doha 45 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha is willing to lose fame, heaven, and every comfort, even to enter hell, if Ram will not pass from his sight. Yet his lips remain silent and his mind trembles like a pipal leaf.
Ram understands that love has overwhelmed his father. Reading place, time, and occasion, he speaks humbly and asks pardon for a child's boldness.
Why should Dasharatha grieve over so small a matter, and why was Ram not told earlier? Having learned the account from Kaikeyi, his body grew cool with relief. The forest command that destroys the king's world enters Ram as clarity, purpose, and release from uncertainty.
What shakes Dasharatha like a leaf settles upon Ram as the cool relief of a duty clearly known.
Read the passage from the Manas
अजसु होउ जग सुजसु नसाऊ। नरक परौ बरु सुरपुरु जाऊ।। सब दुख दुसह सहावहु मोही। लोचन ओट रामु जनि होंही।। अस मन गुनइ राउ नहिं बोला। पीपर पात सरिस मनु डोला।। रघुपति पितहि प्रेमबस जानी। पुनि कछु कहिहि मातु अनुमानी।। देस काल अवसर अनुसारी। बोले बचन बिनीत बिचारी।। तात कहउँ कछु करउँ ढिठाई। अनुचितु छमब जानि लरिकाई।। अति लघु बात लागि दुखु पावा। काहुँ न मोहि कहि प्रथम जनावा।। देखि गोसाइँहि पूँछिउँ माता। सुनि प्रसंगु भए सीतल गाता।।
Let infamy come upon me in the world and let my good name perish. Let me fall into hell rather than ascend to heaven. Make me endure every unbearable suffering, only let Rama never pass from my sight. Thinking thus in his heart, the king could not speak. His mind trembled like the leaf of a pipal tree. Raghupati, knowing his father was overcome by love, and judging that his mother would speak again, considered the place, the time, and the occasion, then spoke words that were thoughtful and humble. 'Father, I speak with some boldness. Forgive what is improper, knowing it comes from your child. You have suffered grief over so small a matter. Why did no one tell me of this beforehand? Seeing my lord distressed, I asked Mother. Hearing the whole account, my body grew cool with relief.'