Every Mother Will Ask for Her Son
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 146
Doha 146 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sumantra imagines the mothers approaching one by one. What glad message can he give Sumitra when she asks about Lakshmana? Kausalya will run toward him like a cow lowing for the calf she cannot find.
His answer cannot change: Ram, Lakshmana, and Vaidehi have gone into the forest. Every question will force the same blade through another heart. This is the only joy, he says bitterly, that awaits him upon returning to Ayodhya.
Then Dasharatha will ask, the king whose very life depends upon Raghunath. How can Sumantra say that he safely delivered the princes and came back alone? He foresees the news loosening the king's body from life as easily as a dry blade of grass is cast aside.
The minister reaches Ayodhya first in imagination, meeting each mother's question and watching his answer travel toward the king's last breath.
Read the passage from the Manas
पुछिहहिं दीन दुखित सब माता। कहब काह मैं तिन्हहि बिधाता।। पूछिहि जबहिं लखन महतारी। कहिहउँ कवन सँदेस सुखारी।। राम जननि जब आइहि धाई। सुमिरि बच्छु जिमि धेनु लवाई।। पूँछत उतरु देब मैं तेही। गे बनु राम लखनु बैदेही।। जोइ पूँछिहि तेहि ऊतरु देबा।जाइ अवध अब यहु सुखु लेबा।। पूँछिहि जबहिं राउ दुख दीना। जिवनु जासु रघुनाथ अधीना।। देहउँ उतरु कौनु मुहु लाई। आयउँ कुसल कुअँर पहुँचाई।। सुनत लखन सिय राम सँदेसू। तृन जिमि तनु परिहरिहि नरेसू।।
All the grief-stricken mothers will ask about their sons. What shall I tell them, O Vidhata? When Lakshmana's mother questions me, what happy tidings can I offer her? When Rama's mother comes running, yearning for her child like a cow lowing for her lost calf, what answer shall I give her? That Rama, Lakshmana, and Vaidehi have gone to the forest. Whoever asks, I must give this same reply. Going back to Ayodhya, this is the only joy I shall receive. When the grief-laden king asks me, he whose very life hangs on Raghunatha, with what face shall I answer him? That I have returned safely after escorting the princes. Hearing the news of Lakshmana, Sita, and Rama, the king will shed his body as lightly as a blade of grass.