Kausalya Withers beneath Ram's Gentle Words
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 54
Doha 54 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram's voice remains gentle and cool, yet the message pierces Kausalya like arrows. She withers as a javasa plant beneath monsoon rain, and fear rises like a lion's roar before a doe.
Tears fill her eyes, her body trembles like a fish caught in a net, and only after summoning courage can she look again upon her son's face.
Dasharatha rejoiced daily in Ram and had chosen the coronation hour. Who then sends him away, and for what offence? Kausalya asks for the full truth and for the name of the fire consuming the solar dynasty. Love cannot yet reconcile the known father with the announced command.
Kausalya hears forest beneath a coronation morning and asks who has set fire to the house of the Sun.
Read the passage from the Manas
बचन बिनीत मधुर रघुबर के। सर सम लगे मातु उर करके।। सहमि सूखि सुनि सीतलि बानी। जिमि जवास परें पावस पानी।। कहि न जाइ कछु हृदय बिषादू। मनहुँ मृगी सुनि केहरि नादू।। नयन सजल तन थर थर काँपी। माजहि खाइ मीन जनु मापी।। धरि धीरजु सुत बदनु निहारी। गदगद बचन कहति महतारी।। तात पितहि तुम्ह प्रानपिआरे। देखि मुदित नित चरित तुम्हारे।। राजु देन कहुँ सुभ दिन साधा। कहेउ जान बन केहिं अपराधा।। तात सुनावहु मोहि निदानू। को दिनकर कुल भयउ कृसानू।।
Raghubar's words were gentle and sweet, yet they pierced his mother's heart like arrows. Hearing that cool voice, she withered and shrank, just as the javasa plant shrivels when the monsoon rain falls upon it. The sorrow in her heart was beyond all telling, like a doe who hears the roar of a lion. Her eyes filled with tears, her body trembled and trembled, like a fish thrashing when caught in a net. Summoning her courage and gazing upon her son's face, the mother spoke in a voice choked with emotion. "Dear son, you are dearer than life itself to your father. Every day he rejoices watching your noble ways. He had chosen an auspicious day to bestow the kingdom upon you. Who then has sent you to the forest, and for what offense? Tell me the whole truth, my child. Who has become the fire that would consume the solar dynasty?"