Ram Sends Lakshmana to Seek Sumitra's Leave
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 73
Doha 73 · Movement 1 of 2
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Go to your mother, receive her permission, and return swiftly, Ram says. We will enter the forest together. What seemed total loss becomes sudden gain for Lakshmana.
He goes like a blind man newly given sight, bows at Sumitra's feet, and tells the whole account, though his mind already travels beside Ram and Janaki.
Sumitra hears the harsh news like a doe surrounded by wildfire. Lakshmana sees maternal love rising as a possible barrier and hesitates to ask. His joy now waits upon another sacred consent, uncertain whether fate will open or close the road.
Lakshmana reaches Sumitra with the forest already in his heart and waits for a mother's word to unlock the path.
Read the passage from the Manas
मागहु बिदा मातु सन जाई। आवहु बेगि चलहु बन भाई।। मुदित भए सुनि रघुबर बानी। भयउ लाभ बड़ गइ बड़ि हानी।। हरषित ह्दयँ मातु पहिं आए। मनहुँ अंध फिरि लोचन पाए। जाइ जननि पग नायउ माथा। मनु रघुनंदन जानकि साथा।। पूँछे मातु मलिन मन देखी। लखन कही सब कथा बिसेषी।। गई सहमि सुनि बचन कठोरा। मृगी देखि दव जनु चहु ओरा।। लखन लखेउ भा अनरथ आजू। एहिं सनेह बस करब अकाजू।। मागत बिदा सभय सकुचाहीं। जाइ संग बिधि कहिहि कि नाही।।
'Go and seek your mother's leave, then return swiftly. Come, brother, we shall set out for the forest together.' Hearing Raghubara's words, Lakshmana was filled with joy. What had seemed the greatest loss had become the greatest gain. With a delighted heart he went to his mother, like a blind man who has suddenly recovered his sight. He bowed his head at his mother's feet, though his mind was already with Raghunandan and Janaki. Seeing her son's troubled face, his mother asked what had happened. Lakshmana told her the whole story in detail. Hearing those harsh tidings she was stricken, like a doe who sees wildfire blazing on every side. Lakshmana saw that misfortune had arrived. Her love, he feared, would become an obstacle. Asking for permission, he hesitated, afraid. Would fate permit him to go, or would it refuse?