Ram Leaves Tamasa while the Citizens Sleep
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 85
Doha 85 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Ram sees the people helplessly bound by love and feels their suffering before they speak. Gentle counsel and teachings on dharma cannot make them turn back.
Exhaustion and grief finally draw them into sleep beneath the veil of divine maya. After two watches, Ram tells Sumantra to hide the chariot's tracks and drive swiftly away.
Compassion must now wound in order to protect. If the people wake beside him, they will follow until bodies fail and duties collapse. Ram leaves not to escape their love but to return that love toward the city that needs them.
While Ayodhya sleeps around him, Ram quietly departs so devotion may be returned to duty before dawn.
Read the passage from the Manas
रघुपति प्रजा प्रेमबस देखी। सदय हृदयँ दुखु भयउ बिसेषी।। करुनामय रघुनाथ गोसाँई। बेगि पाइअहिं पीर पराई।। कहि सप्रेम मृदु बचन सुहाए। बहुबिधि राम लोग समुझाए।। किए धरम उपदेस घनेरे। लोग प्रेम बस फिरहिं न फेरे।। सीलु सनेहु छाड़ि नहिं जाई। असमंजस बस भे रघुराई।। लोग सोग श्रम बस गए सोई। कछुक देवमायाँ मति मोई।। जबहिं जाम जुग जामिनि बीती। राम सचिव सन कहेउ सप्रीती।। खोज मारि रथु हाँकहु ताता। आन उपायँ बनिहि नहिं बाता।।
Seeing the people bound helplessly by love, Raghupati felt deep sorrow in his tender heart. The compassionate Lord Raghunath, Master of all, feels the suffering of others before they speak it. Speaking gentle, loving, beautiful words, Rama tried in many ways to console the people. He gave abundant teachings on dharma, yet the people, bound by love, would not turn back. Their devotion and affection could not be set aside. Raghurai found himself caught in a painful dilemma. Overcome by grief and exhaustion, the people at last fell asleep, their awareness gently veiled by divine maya. When two watches of the night had passed, Rama spoke lovingly to his minister Sumantra. "Cover our tracks and drive the chariot swiftly, dear friend. No other plan will resolve this."