Sita's Anklets Plead with Her Feet Not to Leave
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 58
Doha 58 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kausalya blesses Sita but grows distressed by her extreme tenderness. Sita sits bowed, beauty purified by sacred love, wondering who could accompany the lord of her life if he enters the forest.
Can body and life breath separate, or must breath follow the body? Her toenails trace lines upon the earth while anklets ring as though pleading with Sita's own feet not to abandon them.
Tears fall. Kausalya turns to Ram and speaks of the princess beloved by mother in law, father in law, and the whole family. Sita's silence has already answered inwardly, but the household still beholds only the delicacy they fear the wilderness will wound.
Sita traces the earth toward exile while even her anklets seem to beg the faithful feet to remain.
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दीन्हि असीस सासु मृदु बानी। अति सुकुमारि देखि अकुलानी।। बैठि नमितमुख सोचति सीता। रूप रासि पति प्रेम पुनीता।। चलन चहत बन जीवननाथू। केहि सुकृती सन होइहि साथू।। की तनु प्रान कि केवल प्राना। बिधि करतबु कछु जाइ न जाना।। चारु चरन नख लेखति धरनी। नूपुर मुखर मधुर कबि बरनी।। मनहुँ प्रेम बस बिनती करहीं। हमहि सीय पद जनि परिहरहीं।। मंजु बिलोचन मोचति बारी। बोली देखि राम महतारी।। तात सुनहु सिय अति सुकुमारी। सासु ससुर परिजनहि पिआरी।।
The mother-in-law blessed her in gentle words, but seeing Sita's extreme tenderness, she became distressed. Sita sat with her face bowed, lost in thought: a treasury of beauty, purified by sacred love for her husband. The lord of her life wishes to go to the forest. With which fortunate soul will he find companionship there? Will body and life-breath go together, or will the breath alone follow him? The Creator's ways cannot be fathomed. Her lovely toenails traced lines upon the earth, and her anklets sounded, sweet and clear, as poets have described. As though overcome by love, those anklets seemed to plead: 'O feet of Sita, do not abandon us!' Tears fell from her beautiful eyes. Seeing this, Rama's mother spoke: 'Dear son, hear me. Sita is exceedingly delicate, and she is beloved of her mother-in-law, her father-in-law, and the whole family.'