The Empty Chariot Enters Ayodhya by Night
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 147
Doha 147 · Movement 1 of 2
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Lamenting along the road, Sumantra reaches the Tamasa. He dismisses the Nishada attendants with respect, and they bow before turning back on foot, heavy with their own separation.
Shame prevents the minister from entering Ayodhya in daylight. He waits beneath a tree until evening, as though returning without Ram carried the guilt of slaying teacher, brahmin, or cow. Darkness finally covers the chariot as it passes inside the city and stops at the palace gate.
News spreads. Citizens recognize the vehicle and see the horses broken with grief. Bodies seem to melt like hail beneath the sun. Men and women thrash in panic like fish when water drains away, understanding before any explanation that the chariot has returned without the life it carried out.
Under cover of darkness, the familiar chariot reaches the palace and tells Ayodhya its answer before Sumantra speaks.
Read the passage from the Manas
एहि बिधि करत पंथ पछितावा। तमसा तीर तुरत रथु आवा।। बिदा किए करि बिनय निषादा। फिरे पायँ परि बिकल बिषादा।। पैठत नगर सचिव सकुचाई। जनु मारेसि गुर बाँभन गाई।। बैठि बिटप तर दिवसु गवाँवा। साँझ समय तब अवसरु पावा।। अवध प्रबेसु कीन्ह अँधिआरें। पैठ भवन रथु राखि दुआरें।। जिन्ह जिन्ह समाचार सुनि पाए। भूप द्वार रथु देखन आए।। रथु पहिचानि बिकल लखि घोरे। गरहिं गात जिमि आतप ओरे।। नगर नारि नर ब्याकुल कैंसें। निघटत नीर मीनगन जैंसें।।
Lamenting in this way along the road, the chariot quickly reached the bank of the Tamasa river. He respectfully bade farewell to the Nishada chief, who then turned back on foot, overcome with sorrow. The minister felt ashamed to enter the city, as though he had slain a guru, a Brahmana, or a cow. He sat beneath a tree and let the day pass, finding his moment only at evening. He entered Ayodhya under cover of darkness and left the chariot at the palace gate. Those who caught word of his arrival came to the king's door to see the chariot. Recognizing it and seeing the horses in distress, their bodies melted like hailstones in the sun. The men and women of the city grew frantic, like fish gasping as the water drains away.