Dharma and Love Besiege Kausalya's Heart
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 55
Doha 55 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kausalya can neither hold Ram back nor tell him to go. Fate promised a moon and placed Rahu upon the page, leaving love and dharma to besiege the same heart.
If she pleads for him to remain, a father's command is broken and conflict may divide the brothers. If she sends him away, the loss is beyond endurance. She is like a snake unable either to swallow or release what it has seized.
Then wisdom recalls a wife's dharma and sees Ram and Bharata as equal sons. Gathering immense courage, Kausalya blesses Ram's choice and calls the father's command the crown jewel of righteousness.
Between holding and releasing, Kausalya finds the narrow path where love bows without ceasing to ache.
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राखि न सकइ न कहि सक जाहू। दुहूँ भाँति उर दारुन दाहू।। लिखत सुधाकर गा लिखि राहू। बिधि गति बाम सदा सब काहू।। धरम सनेह उभयँ मति घेरी। भइ गति साँप छुछुंदरि केरी।। राखउँ सुतहि करउँ अनुरोधू। धरमु जाइ अरु बंधु बिरोधू।। कहउँ जान बन तौ बड़ि हानी। संकट सोच बिबस भइ रानी।। बहुरि समुझि तिय धरमु सयानी। रामु भरतु दोउ सुत सम जानी।। सरल सुभाउ राम महतारी। बोली बचन धीर धरि भारी।। तात जाउँ बलि कीन्हेहु नीका। पितु आयसु सब धरमक टीका।।
She could neither keep him nor bring herself to say, "Go." Either way, a terrible fire blazed in her heart. She had begun writing the moon, but Rahu appeared on the page instead. The ways of fate are ever contrary for everyone. Dharma and love both besieged her mind. Her plight became like that of the snake who has seized a mole: it can neither swallow the creature nor release it. "If I hold my son back and plead with him, dharma will be lost and strife will arise between brothers. If I tell him to depart for the forest, the loss will be unbearable." The queen was overcome with anguish and helpless worry. Then that wise woman remembered a wife's sacred dharma and regarded Rama and Bharata as equal sons. Rama's mother, simple and noble by nature, gathered great courage and spoke these steady words: "My child, I offer myself in blessing. You have done well. A father's command is the crown jewel of all dharma."