The Boat Vanishes and Sumantra's Account Ends
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 153
Doha 153 · Movement 1 of 2
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At Ram's sign, Kevat rows toward the farther shore. Sumantra stands watching with a thunderbolt pressed against his heart as the crest jewel of Raghu's line recedes across the current.
How can he describe his own anguish? He returned alive with only Ram's message. Having said this before Dasharatha, the minister falls silent beneath loss, shame, and regret.
The king collapses upon the ground with a fierce fire in his chest and writhes like a serpent deprived of its gem. Queens cry out around him. Their lament is so immense that sorrow itself seems stricken and patience loses its own power to endure. The report has ended, but the palace catastrophe has only begun.
When Sumantra can say no more, the remembered boat disappears beyond the river and Dasharatha falls with it.
Read the passage from the Manas
तेहि अवसर रघुबर रूख पाई। केवट पारहि नाव चलाई।। रघुकुलतिलक चले एहि भाँती। देखउँ ठाढ़ कुलिस धरि छाती।। मैं आपन किमि कहौं कलेसू। जिअत फिरेउँ लेइ राम सँदेसू।। अस कहि सचिव बचन रहि गयऊ। हानि गलानि सोच बस भयऊ।। सुत बचन सुनतहिं नरनाहू। परेउ धरनि उर दारुन दाहू।। तलफत बिषम मोह मन मापा। माजा मनहुँ मीन कहुँ ब्यापा।। करि बिलाप सब रोवहिं रानी। महा बिपति किमि जाइ बखानी।। सुनि बिलाप दुखहू दुखु लागा। धीरजहू कर धीरजु भागा।।
At that moment, seeing Raghubara's consent, the boatman rowed his vessel to the far shore. The tilak of Raghu's line departed in this way. I stood watching, pressing a thunderbolt of courage to my chest. How can I describe my own anguish? I returned alive, carrying only Rama's message. Saying this, the minister Sumantra fell silent, overcome by loss, guilt and sorrow. Hearing his son's words, the king collapsed to the earth, a terrible fire blazing in his heart. He writhed in the grip of devastating delusion, like a serpent tormented without its precious gem. All the queens wailed and wept. How can such immense calamity be described in words? Hearing that lamentation, even sorrow itself felt sorrow. Even patience lost its own patience.