Village Women Gather Their Courage Before Sita
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 116
Doha 116 · Movement 1 of 2
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No speech can contain the beauty of Sita with the two brothers. Men and women stare with every faculty absorbed, thirsty for the sight and still as deer caught by a strange radiance.
The village women move closer to Sita. Affection urges them to ask, but modesty repeatedly draws them back. They touch her feet and speak with the simple softness of guileless hearts, confessing that their nature makes them timid before so personal a question.
They beg the princess to forgive their boldness and remember that they are plain country women. Then they turn toward the two young men, one dark and one fair. Gold and emerald seem to have borrowed their luster from these royal forms. Wonder has brought strangers to Sita's feet and made curiosity an act of reverence.
Between shyness and love, the village women kneel before Sita and slowly find the courage to ask about her companions.
Read the passage from the Manas
बरनि न जाइ मनोहर जोरी। सोभा बहुत थोरि मति मोरी।। राम लखन सिय सुंदरताई। सब चितवहिं चित मन मति लाई।। थके नारि नर प्रेम पिआसे। मनहुँ मृगी मृग देखि दिआ से।। सीय समीप ग्रामतिय जाहीं। पूँछत अति सनेहँ सकुचाहीं।। बार बार सब लागहिं पाएँ। कहहिं बचन मृदु सरल सुभाएँ।। राजकुमारि बिनय हम करहीं। तिय सुभायँ कछु पूँछत डरहीं। स्वामिनि अबिनय छमबि हमारी। बिलगु न मानब जानि गवाँरी।। राजकुअँर दोउ सहज सलोने। इन्ह तें लही दुति मरकत सोने।।
This enchanting pair cannot be captured in words. Their beauty is vast, and my understanding is small. All gaze upon the loveliness of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita with heart, mind, and soul fully absorbed. Men and women, thirsting with love, stood spellbound, like deer transfixed before a lamp. The village women drew near to Sita, but out of deep affection they hesitated shyly to speak. Again and again they touched her feet, uttering soft and simple words from guileless hearts. O princess, we offer this humble plea. Being women, we are timid and afraid to ask. O mistress, forgive our boldness. Do not think ill of us, knowing us to be plain village folk. Both princes are naturally handsome beyond measure. Even gold and emerald have borrowed their luster from them.