Travellers Offer to Guard the Forest Road
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 112
Doha 112 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sita, Ram, and Lakshmana join their palms to Yamuna once more, then move ahead praising the daughter of the Sun. Travellers encounter them along the way and are troubled by the sight of unmistakably royal figures walking barefoot through dust.
Every mark upon the brothers suggests princely destiny, so the strangers declare astrology false before this present hardship. Mountains and dense forest lie ahead, difficult even for elephants and lions, and a tender young woman walks with them into that severity.
Love makes the passersby offer their own bodies as escort. With permission, they will accompany the three as far as the chosen destination, then bow and return. No prior bond connects them to Ram. A single sight is enough to turn concern into service and the public road into a place of spontaneous allegiance.
Strangers meet Ram for a moment and immediately offer to place their strength between Sita and the dangers ahead.
Read the passage from the Manas
पुनि सियँ राम लखन कर जोरी। जमुनहि कीन्ह प्रनामु बहोरी।। चले ससीय मुदित दोउ भाई। रबितनुजा कइ करत बड़ाई।। पथिक अनेक मिलहिं मग जाता। कहहिं सप्रेम देखि दोउ भ्राता।। राज लखन सब अंग तुम्हारें। देखि सोचु अति हृदय हमारें।। मारग चलहु पयादेहि पाएँ। ज्योतिषु झूठ हमारें भाएँ।। अगमु पंथ गिरि कानन भारी। तेहि महँ साथ नारि सुकुमारी।। करि केहरि बन जाइ न जोई। हम सँग चलहि जो आयसु होई।। जाब जहाँ लगि तहँ पहुँचाई। फिरब बहोरि तुम्हहि सिरु नाई।।
Then Sita, Rama, and Lakshmana joined their palms and offered reverent salutations to the Yamuna once more. The two brothers departed joyfully with Sita, raising the glories of the Yamuna, daughter of the Sun. Many travelers met them along the way and spoke with deep affection on seeing the two brothers. They said: 'O prince, you bear every sign of royalty upon your body, yet seeing your state fills our hearts with great sorrow.' 'You walk along the road on bare feet. Astrology, in our view, must be a lie.' 'The path ahead is impassable, through heavy mountains and deep forests, and with you travels a tender young woman.' 'This is a wilderness where even elephants and lions cannot venture. If you permit, we will walk along with you.' 'We will escort you as far as your destination. Then we will bow at your feet and turn back.'