A Jeweled Ring Cannot Pay the Boatman
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 102
Doha 102 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sita, Ram, Lakshmana, and Guha step onto the sand of the farther shore. Kevat follows and falls full length before the Lord. Ram feels the delicacy of having received service without offering payment, and Sita reads the wish within her beloved's heart before it is spoken.
She slips a jeweled ring from her finger. Ram offers it as fare, but Kevat clutches his feet instead. What has he not received today? Sin, sorrow, and the burning poverty of his life have been extinguished. After long labor for small wages, providence has given him wealth beyond measure.
He needs nothing more from the friend of the humble. If Ram chooses to give something on the return journey, Kevat will receive that gift upon his head. The refusal leaves a promise shining across fourteen years: the ferryman will remember this crossing and await another.
The ring remains with Sita, while Kevat reserves his only fare for the day Ram comes home.
Read the passage from the Manas
उतरि ठाड़ भए सुरसरि रेता। सीयराम गुह लखन समेता।। केवट उतरि दंडवत कीन्हा। प्रभुहि सकुच एहि नहिं कछु दीन्हा।। पिय हिय की सिय जाननिहारी। मनि मुदरी मन मुदित उतारी।। कहेउ कृपाल लेहि उतराई। केवट चरन गहे अकुलाई।। नाथ आजु मैं काह न पावा। मिटे दोष दुख दारिद दावा।। बहुत काल मैं कीन्हि मजूरी। आजु दीन्ह बिधि बनि भलि भूरी।। अब कछु नाथ न चाहिअ मोरें। दीनदयाल अनुग्रह तोरें।। फिरती बार मोहि जे देबा। सो प्रसादु मैं सिर धरि लेबा।।
They alighted and stood upon the sandy bank of the holy Ganga. Sita, Rama, Guha and Lakshmana were all together. The boatman stepped ashore and fell prostrate before them. A pang of shyness touched him, for he had given nothing to the Lord. Sita, who always knows the heart of her beloved, joyfully slipped a precious jeweled ring from her finger. The compassionate Lord said, 'Take this as your fare.' But the boatman, overcome with feeling, clasped His feet instead. 'O Lord, what have I not received today! All my sins, all my sorrows, all the fires of poverty have been extinguished.' 'For a long time I have labored for meager wages. Today, Providence has bestowed upon me abundant and beautiful fortune.' 'Now I need nothing more, O Lord. By Your grace, O friend of the humble, I am complete.' 'Whatever You choose to give me on Your return journey, that blessing I shall receive and place upon my head with reverence.'