Ram, Sita, and Lakshmana Return to the Fallen King
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 76
Doha 76 · Movement 1 of 2
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Lakshmana finds Ram and Sita, bows at their feet, and joins them on the way to Dasharatha's palace. The three now move together toward the final leave taking.
Citizens say fate fashioned everything beautifully only to destroy it. Faces lose colour, bodies thin with sorrow, hands wring, heads are struck, and people flutter like birds whose wings have been torn.
A vast crowd fills the court. Ministers raise Dasharatha and help him sit. When the king sees both sons together with Sita, anguish overwhelms him. The forest party stands complete before the father who cannot bear to release it.
Three forest-bound figures enter the crowded court, and Dasharatha sees his whole heart preparing to walk away.
Read the passage from the Manas
गए लखनु जहँ जानकिनाथू। भे मन मुदित पाइ प्रिय साथू।। बंदि राम सिय चरन सुहाए। चले संग नृपमंदिर आए।। कहहिं परसपर पुर नर नारी। भलि बनाइ बिधि बात बिगारी।। तन कृस दुखु बदन मलीने। बिकल मनहुँ माखी मधु छीने।। कर मीजहिं सिरु धुनि पछिताहीं। जनु बिन पंख बिहग अकुलाहीं।। भइ बड़ि भीर भूप दरबारा। बरनि न जाइ बिषादु अपारा।। सचिवँ उठाइ राउ बैठारे। कहि प्रिय बचन रामु पगु धारे।। सिय समेत दोउ तनय निहारी। ब्याकुल भयउ भूमिपति भारी।।
Lakshmana went to where Janaki's Lord was. His heart grew joyful on finding his beloved companion. Bowing at the beautiful feet of Rama and Sita, they set off together and arrived at the royal palace. The men and women of the city say to one another, 'Vidhi fashioned everything so well, then spoiled it all.' Their bodies are thin with sorrow, their faces drained of light. They are as wretched as bees robbed of their honey. They wring their hands, beat their heads, and grieve. They flutter like birds whose wings have been torn away. A vast crowd filled the king's court. The grief there was boundless, beyond all telling. The ministers lifted the king and helped him sit. Speaking tender words, Rama then stepped forward. Seeing both sons together with Sita, the lord of the earth was overcome with anguish.