The Story Turns Back toward the Empty Chariot
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 142
Doha 142 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram shelters Sita and Lakshmana as eyelids guard the eyes. Lakshmana serves them as instinctively as an unreflecting person tends the body. Thus the Lord dwells happily in the forest, benefiting bird, beast, deity, and sage.
The narration then turns from Chitrakoot's peace to Sumantra's return. Guha, having escorted Ram onward, sees the minister approaching with the empty chariot. The sight opens grief too large for speech.
Guha cries the names of Ram, Sita, and Lakshmana and falls upon the earth. The horses face south, neighing and trembling like birds frantic to fly without wings. Chitrakoot has become a home, but on the road behind it separation still convulses every creature that must return.
As Ram's leaf hut settles into peace, the empty chariot carries the wound of departure back toward Ayodhya.
Read the passage from the Manas
जोगवहिं प्रभु सिय लखनहिं कैसें। पलक बिलोचन गोलक जैसें।। सेवहिं लखनु सीय रघुबीरहि। जिमि अबिबेकी पुरुष सरीरहि।। एहि बिधि प्रभु बन बसहिं सुखारी। खग मृग सुर तापस हितकारी।। कहेउँ राम बन गवनु सुहावा। सुनहु सुमंत्र अवध जिमि आवा।। फिरेउ निषादु प्रभुहि पहुँचाई। सचिव सहित रथ देखेसि आई।। मंत्री बिकल बिलोकि निषादू। कहि न जाइ जस भयउ बिषादू।। राम राम सिय लखन पुकारी। परेउ धरनितल ब्याकुल भारी।। देखि दखिन दिसि हय हिहिनाहीं। जनु बिनु पंख बिहग अकुलाहीं।।
The Lord sheltered Sita and Lakshmana just as eyelids shelter the eyes. Lakshmana served Sita and Raghubir the way an unthinking person tends his own body, without pause or self-awareness. In this way the Lord dwelt happily in the forest, a benefactor to birds, beasts, gods, and sages. Thus I have told you of Rama's beautiful journey into the forest. Now hear how Sumantra returned to Ayodhya. The Nishada chief, having escorted the Lord to his destination, turned back and saw the minister approaching with the empty chariot. Seeing Sumantra so stricken, the Nishada was overcome with grief beyond any words. Crying out "Rama! Rama! Sita! Lakshmana!" he fell to the ground, overwhelmed with anguish. Looking southward, the horses neighed and trembled, like wingless birds desperate to fly.