Sita Names Ram with a Sideward Glance
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 117
Doha 117 · Movement 1 of 2
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The village women finally ask the lovely stranger who her two companions are. Sita hears affection rather than intrusion. She smiles inwardly, looks toward them, then lowers her gaze to the earth, caught between her own modesty and their shy expectation.
In a voice sweet as the cuckoo, she identifies the fair, noble youth as Lakshmana, her younger brother-in-law. Then speech yields to a more delicate revelation. Sita draws her veil across her moonlike face and turns slightly toward her beloved.
A subtle arch of the brow and a wagtail swift sideward glance make her husband known. The gesture holds intimacy, restraint, and joy without openly naming Ram. Delight breaks through the gathered women as though the poorest had suddenly entered a king's treasury.
Behind the edge of her veil, Sita lets one shy glance speak the name her lips leave wrapped in love.
Read the passage from the Manas
कोटि मनोज लजावनिहारे। सुमुखि कहहु को आहिं तुम्हारे।। सुनि सनेहमय मंजुल बानी। सकुची सिय मन महुँ मुसुकानी।। तिन्हहि बिलोकि बिलोकति धरनी। दुहुँ सकोच सकुचित बरबरनी।। सकुचि सप्रेम बाल मृग नयनी। बोली मधुर बचन पिकबयनी।। सहज सुभाय सुभग तन गोरे। नामु लखनु लघु देवर मोरे।। बहुरि बदनु बिधु अंचल ढाँकी। पिय तन चितइ भौंह करि बाँकी।। खंजन मंजु तिरीछे नयननि। निज पति कहेउ तिन्हहि सियँ सयननि।। भइ मुदित सब ग्रामबधूटीं। रंकन्ह राय रासि जनु लूटीं।।
O lovely one, you who put a million Cupids to shame, tell us: who are your companions? Hearing these sweet, affection-filled words, Sita felt shy and smiled within her heart. She looked at the women, then lowered her gaze to the earth. Caught between two modesty, she could scarcely speak. With tender shyness, the doe-eyed maiden spoke in a voice as sweet as the cuckoo's call. Noble by nature, fair of form: his name is Lakshmana, my younger brother-in-law. Then she drew her veil over her moonlike face. Glancing toward her beloved, she arched her brows ever so slightly. With a graceful sideward look, gentle as a wagtail's flutter, Sita made her Lord known to them by a mere gesture of the eyes. All the village women burst into delight, as though paupers had stumbled upon a king's treasury.