Kausalya Draws Ram into Her Lap
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 52
Doha 52 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Ram joins his palms and bows at Kausalya's feet. She blesses him, draws him to her heart, offers ornaments and garments, kisses his face, and seats the grown prince once more upon her lap.
Tears of tenderness fill her eyes and milk flows through the force of maternal love. Her joy is like a pauper suddenly receiving Kubera's wealth.
She asks when the coronation hour will arrive and when Sita, boundary of virtue and happiness, will fulfil the deepest purpose of her life. Every gesture leans toward a future only Ram knows has vanished. He sits inside a mother's overflowing celebration carrying the forest in silence.
Kausalya cradles the son she expects to crown, while Ram quietly bears the road that will take him from her lap.
Read the passage from the Manas
रघुकुलतिलक जोरि दोउ हाथा। मुदित मातु पद नायउ माथा।। दीन्हि असीस लाइ उर लीन्हे। भूषन बसन निछावरि कीन्हे।। बार बार मुख चुंबति माता। नयन नेह जलु पुलकित गाता।। गोद राखि पुनि हृदयँ लगाए। स्त्रवत प्रेनरस पयद सुहाए।। प्रेमु प्रमोदु न कछु कहि जाई। रंक धनद पदबी जनु पाई।। सादर सुंदर बदनु निहारी। बोली मधुर बचन महतारी।। कहहु तात जननी बलिहारी। कबहिं लगन मुद मंगलकारी।। सुकृत सील सुख सीवँ सुहाई। जनम लाभ कइ अवधि अघाई।।
The jewel of Raghu's lineage joined both palms and joyfully bowed his head at his mother's feet. She blessed him, drew him to her heart, and scattered ornaments and garments as offerings of love. Again and again the mother kissed his face. Her eyes brimmed with tears of tenderness; her whole body thrilled with joy. She took him in her lap, then pressed him to her heart. Streams of love's nectar flowed from her breasts, beautiful beyond telling. The love, the delight: none of it can be captured in words. It was as though a pauper had received the rank of Kubera himself. Gazing reverently at his beautiful face, the mother spoke in sweet, measured words: "Tell me, dear son. Your mother is ready to give her very life for you. When is that auspicious, joy-giving moment to arrive? When will Sita, that lovely boundary-line of virtue, goodness and happiness, fulfill the deepest purpose of my life?"