Sita Walks Within Ram's Footprints
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 123
Doha 123 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram leads the forest path and Lakshmana follows behind, both radiant in ascetic dress. Sita shines between them like Maya between Brahman and the individual soul, like Rati between spring and the god of love, like Rohini poised between Mercury and the moon.
Then the cosmic comparisons narrow into a tender detail upon the earth. Sita places each foot carefully within the marks left by Ram, matching her steps to his. Lakshmana walks to the right, guarding the line of their passage without disturbing it.
Their mutual love exceeds speech. Birds and deer cease their ordinary movement and become absorbed in the sight. The three holy travellers steal every heart along the road, while the path itself holds their relation as a pattern of prints: Ram before, Sita within his steps, Lakshmana faithfully beside them.
Across the forest floor, devotion becomes visible wherever Sita's smaller footprints enter the marks left by Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
आगे रामु लखनु बने पाछें। तापस बेष बिराजत काछें।। उभय बीच सिय सोहति कैसे। ब्रह्म जीव बिच माया जैसे।। बहुरि कहउँ छबि जसि मन बसई। जनु मधु मदन मध्य रति लसई।। उपमा बहुरि कहउँ जियँ जोही। जनु बुध बिधु बिच रोहिनि सोही।। प्रभु पद रेख बीच बिच सीता। धरति चरन मग चलति सभीता।। सीय राम पद अंक बराएँ। लखन चलहिं मगु दाहिन लाएँ।। राम लखन सिय प्रीति सुहाई। बचन अगोचर किमि कहि जाई।। खग मृग मगन देखि छबि होहीं। लिए चोरि चित राम बटोहीं।।
Rama walks ahead and Lakshmana follows behind, both radiant in the garb of ascetics. Between the two brothers, Sita shines with such grace, like Maya between Brahman and the individual soul. Let me offer another image that lives in my heart: she gleams like Rati, goddess of love, between Madhu (spring) and Kamadeva (Cupid). Yet another comparison rises within me: she shines like Rohini, the beloved star, between Budha (Mercury) and Vidhu (the Moon). Sita places her feet carefully along the path, stepping gently between the footprints of her Lord. She walks matching Rama's blessed footsteps, while Lakshmana keeps to the right side of the trail. The tender love among Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita is beyond the reach of words. How could anyone describe it? Birds and deer stand spellbound at the sight of their beauty. These holy travelers steal every heart along the way.