Ram Pauses When He Sees Sita's Weariness
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 115
Doha 115 · Movement 1 of 2
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A water pot arrives with a gentle invitation to wash. Hearing the villagers' loving speech and seeing their affection, compassionate Ram also knows inwardly that Sita is tired. He allows the journey to pause for a while beneath the banyan.
Men and women gather on every side, gazing without blinking like chakora birds before moonlight. Ram's young tamala hue could enchant countless gods of desire. Beside him, Lakshmana shines like lightning, lovely from head to foot and dear to every heart.
Matted crowns rest above their broad eyes, chests, and arms. Bark garments and quivers mark the forest vow, while bows and arrows gleam in hands soft as lotuses. Rest turns the roadside into a still court, assembled not by command but by wonder around the seated travellers.
Ram reads Sita's fatigue without a word, and the banyan shade fills with villagers drinking beauty through unblinking eyes.
Read the passage from the Manas
एक कलस भरि आनहिं पानी। अँचइअ नाथ कहहिं मृदु बानी।। सुनि प्रिय बचन प्रीति अति देखी। राम कृपाल सुसील बिसेषी।। जानी श्रमित सीय मन माहीं। घरिक बिलंबु कीन्ह बट छाहीं।। मुदित नारि नर देखहिं सोभा। रूप अनूप नयन मनु लोभा।। एकटक सब सोहहिं चहुँ ओरा। रामचंद्र मुख चंद चकोरा।। तरुन तमाल बरन तनु सोहा। देखत कोटि मदन मनु मोहा।। दामिनि बरन लखन सुठि नीके। नख सिख सुभग भावते जी के।। मुनिपट कटिन्ह कसें तूनीरा। सोहहिं कर कमलिनि धनु तीरा।।
Someone brings a pitcher brimming with water, saying in a soft voice, 'Please wash your hands, O Natha.' Hearing these loving words and seeing such deep affection, Rama, ever compassionate and gentle by nature, is moved. Knowing within His heart that Sita is weary, He pauses for a while in the shade of the banyan tree. Joyful men and women gaze upon their beauty; those incomparable forms captivate every eye and mind. From all four directions they gaze without blinking, like chakora birds drinking in the moonlike face of Ramachandra. His body glows with the hue of a young tamala tree, a sight that would enchant the hearts of a crore of Kamadevas. Lakshmana, radiant as a flash of lightning, is beautiful from head to toe, dear to every heart. Clad in the bark of munis with quivers fastened at their waists, bows and arrows shine in their lotus-soft hands.