Kausalya Remembers How Sita Never Touched the Hard Earth
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 59
Doha 59 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kausalya tells Ram how Sita became the cherished daughter in law for whose sake she clung to life. Like a wish fulfilling vine, Janaki was watered with affection until flower and fruit appeared.
Sita left bed, couch, lap, and gentle swing without ever placing her foot upon hard earth. Kausalya guarded her like the very root of life and would not ask her even to trim a lamp wick.
Now that same princess wishes to walk into the forest. How can a chakori nourished by moonbeams endure the harsh sun? Kausalya places Sita's delicacy before Ram and asks what command could protect both love and duty.
Kausalya looks from Sita's untouched feet toward the stony forest road and asks Ram to decide.
Read the passage from the Manas
मैं पुनि पुत्रबधू प्रिय पाई। रूप रासि गुन सील सुहाई।। नयन पुतरि करि प्रीति बढ़ाई। राखेउँ प्रान जानिकिहिं लाई।। कलपबेलि जिमि बहुबिधि लाली। सींचि सनेह सलिल प्रतिपाली।। फूलत फलत भयउ बिधि बामा। जानि न जाइ काह परिनामा।। पलँग पीठ तजि गोद हिंड़ोरा। सियँ न दीन्ह पगु अवनि कठोरा।। जिअनमूरि जिमि जोगवत रहऊँ। दीप बाति नहिं टारन कहऊँ।। सोइ सिय चलन चहति बन साथा। आयसु काह होइ रघुनाथा। चंद किरन रस रसिक चकोरी। रबि रुख नयन सकइ किमि जोरी।।
I then received a beloved daughter-in-law, a treasure of beauty, virtue, and gentle grace. Making her the apple of my eye, I cherished her more and more; for Janaki's sake alone I clung to life. Like a kalpa-beli, a wish-fulfilling vine, I tended her with every loving art, watering her with the sweet waters of affection. She was flowering, she was bearing fruit, when Vidhi turned against us. Who can know what the end will be? Leaving the bed, the couch, the lap, the gentle swing, Sita never once set her foot upon the hard earth. As one guards the jiwan-muri, the very root of life, so I watched over her; I would not even ask her to trim the lamp's wick. That same Sita now wishes to walk with you into the forest. What is your command, O Raghunatha? She is a chakori, a moon-bird who lives on the nectar of moonbeams. How can her eyes bear to gaze upon the harsh sun?