Sacred Stories Cool the Memory of Ayodhya
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 141
Doha 141 · Movement 1 of 2
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Raghunath shapes his words and actions toward the happiness of Sita and Lakshmana. In the leaf hut he tells ancient sacred stories, and they listen with delight as the Chitrakoot evening gathers around them.
Yet memory sometimes returns him to Ayodhya. Tears fill his eyes as mother, father, kin, brothers, and Bharata's loving service arise within. The ocean of mercy suffers, then steadies himself by remembering the severity of the hour.
Sita and Lakshmana immediately share his distress, following his inward state like shadows follow a body. Seeing them troubled, the patient Lord begins another holy tale. Story becomes loving care: a current that carries all three from personal grief into sacred remembrance until peace returns.
When Ayodhya fills Ram's eyes with tears, he opens an ancient story and shelters Sita and Lakshmana inside its peace.
Read the passage from the Manas
सीय लखन जेहि बिधि सुखु लहहीं। सोइ रघुनाथ करहि सोइ कहहीं।। कहहिं पुरातन कथा कहानी। सुनहिं लखनु सिय अति सुखु मानी। जब जब रामु अवध सुधि करहीं। तब तब बारि बिलोचन भरहीं।। सुमिरि मातु पितु परिजन भाई। भरत सनेहु सीलु सेवकाई।। कृपासिंधु प्रभु होहिं दुखारी। धीरजु धरहिं कुसमउ बिचारी।। लखि सिय लखनु बिकल होइ जाहीं। जिमि पुरुषहि अनुसर परिछाहीं।। प्रिया बंधु गति लखि रघुनंदनु। धीर कृपाल भगत उर चंदनु।। लगे कहन कछु कथा पुनीता। सुनि सुखु लहहिं लखनु अरु सीता।।
Whatever would bring happiness to Sita and Lakshmana, Raghunath did and spoke accordingly. He would tell ancient stories and legends, and Lakshmana and Sita listened with great delight. Yet whenever Rama recalled Ayodhya, tears would fill his eyes. He would remember his mother, father, kinsmen, and brothers, and Bharat's love, his goodness, his spirit of service. The ocean of mercy would grow sorrowful, yet he held firm, knowing this was a difficult season. Seeing his grief, Sita and Lakshmana too became distressed, like shadows that follow a person wherever he goes. Beholding the state of his beloved wife and his brother, Raghunandan, that patient and compassionate Lord, the very sandalwood cooling the hearts of devotees, would begin to speak some sacred tale, and hearing it, Lakshmana and Sita would find peace once more.