Dawn Whitens the Banyan Milk
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 94
Doha 94 · Movement 1 of 2
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Lakshmana completes his teaching by asking Guha to leave delusion and give his heart to the feet of Sita and Raghuvir. While Ram's virtues are still being spoken, the eastern darkness thins. Birds stir along the Ganga, and the giver of joy to the world awakens beneath the shinsupa tree.
Ram attends to purification, bathes, and asks for the milk of the banyan. He and Lakshmana draw their hair into matted locks, accepting outwardly the discipline of forest life. Sumantra watches the pale sap touch their hair. Tears fill his eyes because the exile, once perhaps imagined as reversible, has taken visible form.
With face drained and heart burning, the old minister folds his hands. He repeats Dasharatha's desperate command: take the chariot with Ram, show him the forest, bathe him in the Ganga, then bring Ram, Lakshmana, and Sita quickly home. Morning has arrived, but hope speaks as though the road might still turn back.
As dawn reveals the brothers' newly matted hair, Sumantra sees the forest vow become real before his streaming eyes.
Read the passage from the Manas
सखा समुझि अस परिहरि मोहु। सिय रघुबीर चरन रत होहू।। कहत राम गुन भा भिनुसारा। जागे जग मंगल सुखदारा।। सकल सोच करि राम नहावा। सुचि सुजान बट छीर मगावा।। अनुज सहित सिर जटा बनाए। देखि सुमंत्र नयन जल छाए।। हृदयँ दाहु अति बदन मलीना। कह कर जोरि बचन अति दीना।। नाथ कहेउ अस कोसलनाथा। लै रथु जाहु राम कें साथा।। बनु देखाइ सुरसरि अन्हवाई। आनेहु फेरि बेगि दोउ भाई।। लखनु रामु सिय आनेहु फेरी। संसय सकल सँकोच निबेरी।।
O friend, understand this truth, set aside your delusion, and become devoted to the feet of Sita and Raghuvira. While Rama's virtues were still being spoken of, dawn broke, and the One who bestows joy and blessing upon the world awakened. Having completed all the purifications, Rama bathed. Pure and wise, He asked for the milk of the banyan tree. Together with His younger brother Lakshmana, He matted His hair into jata. Seeing this, Sumantra's eyes filled with tears. With a burning heart and a face gone pale, he spoke with folded hands in the most piteous words: 'My Lord, the king of Kosala has commanded thus: Take the chariot and go with Rama. Show him the forest, bathe him in the sacred Ganga, and then bring both brothers back quickly. Bring back Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita, setting aside all doubt and hesitation.'