Lakshmana Gathers Every Sacred Bond into Ram
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 72
Doha 72 · Movement 1 of 2
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Lakshmana honours Ram's counsel but says it exceeds his small understanding. Ram alone is the pillar of dharma; Lakshmana is only the child raised by his love.
A swan cannot lift Mandara or Meru. Likewise Lakshmana cannot carry an abstract web of duties apart from the beloved in whom guru, father, mother, kinship, devotion, and trust are all gathered.
Teach ethics to one who seeks fame, wealth, or heaven, he says. But can the Ocean of Mercy forsake one devoted to his feet in thought, deed, and word? Lakshmana's answer is radical single centredness: every sacred relation converges in Ram.
For Lakshmana, all roads of dharma meet at Ram's feet, and no separate road home exists.
Read the passage from the Manas
दीन्हि मोहि सिख नीकि गोसाईं। लागि अगम अपनी कदराईं।। नरबर धीर धरम धुर धारी। निगम नीति कहुँ ते अधिकारी।। मैं सिसु प्रभु सनेहँ प्रतिपाला। मंदरु मेरु कि लेहिं मराला।। गुर पितु मातु न जानउँ काहू। कहउँ सुभाउ नाथ पतिआहू।। जहँ लगि जगत सनेह सगाई। प्रीति प्रतीति निगम निजु गाई।। मोरें सबइ एक तुम्ह स्वामी। दीनबंधु उर अंतरजामी।। धरम नीति उपदेसिअ ताही। कीरति भूति सुगति प्रिय जाही।। मन क्रम बचन चरन रत होई। कृपासिंधु परिहरिअ कि सोई।।
You have given me excellent counsel, O Lord, but it lies beyond my small understanding. You are the noblest among men, steadfast, the very pillar of dharma; You alone hold authority over Vedic wisdom and right conduct. I am only a child raised by Your love. Can a swan lift Mount Mandara or Mount Meru? I know no guru, no father, no mother apart from You. I speak my true nature, O Lord; please believe me. All the bonds of worldly love and kinship, all the devotion and trust the Vedas themselves have praised: for me, these are gathered in You alone, O Master, friend of the lowly and knower of every heart. Dharma and ethics should be taught to one who still longs for fame, for riches, for heaven. But one who is devoted to Your feet in thought, deed, and word: O Ocean of Mercy, would You truly forsake such a soul?