The Women Wish for a Road of Flowers
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 121
Doha 121 · Movement 1 of 2
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The village women call out like chakvi birds at evening, overcome by separation. Their hearts contract at the thought of those reddish, lotus soft feet meeting a hard road. Even the earth, they feel, must shrink with tenderness when touched by them.
If the Lord of the universe ordained the forest, why did he not lay a path of flowers? If the Creator granted requests, the women would keep Sita and Ram safely within their own eyes, where no thorn or stone could reach them.
Those who missed the encounter hear of the travellers' beauty and anxiously ask how far they have gone. The strong run after them, win a glimpse, and return fulfilled. The frail remain behind, but the wish for a flower strewn road goes forward as their offering beneath every step.
Unable to shelter Ram in their eyes, the women spread an imagined road of flowers through the wilderness ahead.
Read the passage from the Manas
नारि सनेह बिकल बस होहीं। चकई साँझ समय जनु सोहीं।। मृदु पद कमल कठिन मगु जानी। गहबरि हृदयँ कहहिं बर बानी।। परसत मृदुल चरन अरुनारे। सकुचति महि जिमि हृदय हमारे।। जौं जगदीस इन्हहि बनु दीन्हा। कस न सुमनमय मारगु कीन्हा।। जौं मागा पाइअ बिधि पाहीं। ए रखिअहिं सखि आँखिन्ह माहीं।। जे नर नारि न अवसर आए। तिन्ह सिय रामु न देखन पाए।। सुनि सुरुप बूझहिं अकुलाई। अब लगि गए कहाँ लगि भाई।। समरथ धाइ बिलोकहिं जाई। प्रमुदित फिरहिं जनमफलु पाई।।
The women, overcome by love, appear like chakvi birds at dusk, calling out in distress. Knowing those soft lotus feet must tread a hard path, they speak noble words with aching hearts: 'The earth itself shrinks back when touched by those tender, reddish feet, just as our own hearts shrink with compassion. If the Lord of the universe gave them the forest, why did He not make the path of flowers? If one could ask and receive from the Creator, we would keep them safe within our eyes, dear friend.' Those men and women who did not arrive at this hour could not behold Sita and Rama. Hearing of their beauty, people ask anxiously, 'How far have they gone by now, brother?' The strong ones run to catch a glimpse, then return filled with joy, having received the fruit of their birth.