The Wild Forest Becomes Sita's Delight
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 98
Doha 98 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sita sets the full splendor of her two royal houses before Sumantra. At Janaka's court, jeweled crowns of kings meet the footstool. Dasharatha's majesty is renowned through the fourteen worlds, and even Indra receives him with honor. Ayodhya offers a loving family and mothers-in-law tender as her own mother.
She has known these treasuries of comfort from within, yet without her beloved they cannot please her even for a moment. Without the pollen dust of Raghupati's lotus feet, no luxury enters her heart as happiness, not even in a dream.
Then her vision turns the feared wilderness luminous. Trackless paths, mountain forests, elephants and lions, immeasurable lakes and rivers, tribal folk and hunters, deer and birds all become delightful in the company of the lord of her life. Ram's presence does not merely compensate for hardship. It changes the felt nature of the world through which she walks.
Where others see a trackless wilderness, Sita sees a vast living garden because Ram walks beside her.
Read the passage from the Manas
पितु बैभव बिलास मैं डीठा। नृप मनि मुकुट मिलित पद पीठा।। सुखनिधान अस पितु गृह मोरें। पिय बिहीन मन भाव न भोरें।। ससुर चक्कवइ कोसलराऊ। भुवन चारिदस प्रगट प्रभाऊ।। आगें होइ जेहि सुरपति लेई। अरध सिंघासन आसनु देई।। ससुरु एतादृस अवध निवासू। प्रिय परिवारु मातु सम सासू।। बिनु रघुपति पद पदुम परागा। मोहि केउ सपनेहुँ सुखद न लागा।। अगम पंथ बनभूमि पहारा। करि केहरि सर सरित अपारा।। कोल किरात कुरंग बिहंगा। मोहि सब सुखद प्रानपति संगा।।
I have seen my father's grandeur and splendour, where the jewelled crowns of great kings rest upon his footstool. Yet my father's home, that treasure-house of every comfort, holds no appeal for my heart, not even for an instant, without my beloved. My father-in-law is the sovereign emperor of Kosala, whose majestic power is renowned throughout the fourteen worlds. Before him even Indra, king of the gods, walks in attendance and offers him half his own throne. Such is my father-in-law, with Ayodhya as his abode, a cherished family, and mothers-in-law as tender as my own mother. Yet without the dust of Raghupati's lotus feet, nothing brings me happiness, not even in a dream. The trackless paths, the forest lands and mountains, the elephants, lions, lakes, and rivers beyond measure; the tribal folk, the hunters, the deer and the birds: all of these are delightful to me in the company of my life's lord.