Ram Asks Sita to Console Kausalya in His Absence
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 61
Doha 61 · Movement 1 of 2
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Near Kausalya, Ram hesitates, then speaks from the heart. If Sita seeks the good of both, she should remain in Ayodhya and receive his loving command without entertaining another thought.
Her highest service would be caring for Dasharatha, Kausalya, and every member of the household. When Kausalya remembers Ram and loses herself in grief, Sita can console her through sweet ancient stories.
Ram swears repeatedly that his request arises for Kausalya's sake. He does not treat Sita as incapable of forest courage; he sees a form of service only she can offer at home. His counsel places maternal grief within the centre of their decision.
Ram asks Sita to remain as the voice that can carry sacred stories into his mother's hours of grief.
Read the passage from the Manas
मातु समीप कहत सकुचाहीं। बोले समउ समुझि मन माहीं।। राजकुमारि सिखावन सुनहू। आन भाँति जियँ जनि कछु गुनहू।। आपन मोर नीक जौं चहहू। बचनु हमार मानि गृह रहहू।। आयसु मोर सासु सेवकाई। सब बिधि भामिनि भवन भलाई।। एहि ते अधिक धरमु नहिं दूजा। सादर सासु ससुर पद पूजा।। जब जब मातु करिहि सुधि मोरी। होइहि प्रेम बिकल मति भोरी।। तब तब तुम्ह कहि कथा पुरानी। सुंदरि समुझाएहु मृदु बानी।। कहउँ सुभायँ सपथ सत मोही। सुमुखि मातु हित राखउँ तोही।।
He hesitated to speak near his mother, but knowing the right moment, he spoke from the depth of his heart. Listen to my counsel, O Rajakumari, and do not weigh any other thought in your mind. If you truly desire what is good for you and for me, then accept my words and remain at home. This is my aayasu, my loving command: serve your mother-in-law, and in every way look after the welfare of this household, O Bhamini. There is no dharma higher than this: to worship with reverence the feet of one's saasu and sasur, mother-in-law and father-in-law. Whenever mother remembers me, her heart will grow restless with love and her tender mind will lose its way. At those times, O Sundari, tell her the old, sweet Puranic stories and console her with gentle words. I speak from my very nature, and I swear it to you a hundred times over, O Sumukhi: it is for mother's sake that I ask you to stay.