Ram Asks Lakshmana to Keep Ayodhya from Becoming Orphaned
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 71
Doha 71 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Ram asks Lakshmana to serve their parents. Bharata and Shatrughna are absent, Dasharatha is aged, and the grief of exile already weighs upon him.
If both brothers leave, Ayodhya will become orphaned. Guru, parents, citizens, and family will carry a burden too heavy unless Lakshmana remains to comfort them.
A king whose subjects suffer is destined for ruin, Ram says. He therefore places civic and filial duty before personal companionship. The counsel is righteous, yet it touches Lakshmana like frost upon a lotus. To protect Ayodhya, he is being asked to lose the one presence by which he lives.
Ram places orphaned Ayodhya before Lakshmana, and the brother withers beneath the duty of remaining behind.
Read the passage from the Manas
अस जियँ जानि सुनहु सिख भाई। करहु मातु पितु पद सेवकाई।। भवन भरतु रिपुसूदन नाहीं। राउ बृद्ध मम दुखु मन माहीं।। मैं बन जाउँ तुम्हहि लेइ साथा। होइ सबहि बिधि अवध अनाथा।। गुरु पितु मातु प्रजा परिवारू। सब कहुँ परइ दुसह दुख भारू।। रहहु करहु सब कर परितोषू। नतरु तात होइहि बड़ दोषू।। जासु राज प्रिय प्रजा दुखारी। सो नृपु अवसि नरक अधिकारी।। रहहु तात असि नीति बिचारी। सुनत लखनु भए ब्याकुल भारी।। सिअरें बचन सूखि गए कैंसें। परसत तुहिन तामरसु जैसें।।
"Knowing this in your heart, hear my counsel, brother. Devote yourself to serving at the feet of our mother and father." "Bharata is away from the palace, and the slayer of foes (Shatrughna) is also absent. The king is aged, and the weight of my sorrow lies heavy on his mind." "If I go to the forest and take you with me, Ayodhya will be left orphaned in every way." "Guru, father, mother, subjects, and family. On every one of them will fall a burden of grief too heavy to bear." "Stay, and bring comfort to all. Otherwise, dear brother, a grave wrong will follow." "The king in whose reign his beloved subjects suffer is surely destined for hell." "Stay, dear brother, reflecting on this principle of dharma." Hearing these words, Lakshmana became utterly distraught. His limbs withered at that chilling counsel, like a lotus touched by frost.