Kausalya Takes the Helm of the Sinking House
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 154
Doha 154 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha's breath rises into his throat. His senses wither like a lotus grove after the lake has dried, and Kausalya knows the sun of the solar dynasty is sinking.
Ram's mother gathers courage and speaks for the hour. Separation from Ram is a shoreless ocean. Dasharatha is the helmsman, Ayodhya the ship, and the entire beloved household has boarded as passengers.
If he holds to patience, all may cross. If the helmsman yields, the family will drown together. Kausalya asks him to receive her plea and live toward the certain return of Sita, Ram, and Lakshmana. Her own grief becomes navigational strength, steering the dying king toward one remaining line of hope.
While the solar king sets, Kausalya grips the unseen helm and asks patience to carry their whole house across Ram's absence.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रान कंठगत भयउ भुआलू। मनि बिहीन जनु ब्याकुल ब्यालू।। इद्रीं सकल बिकल भइँ भारी। जनु सर सरसिज बनु बिनु बारी।। कौसल्याँ नृपु दीख मलाना। रबिकुल रबि अँथयउ जियँ जाना। उर धरि धीर राम महतारी। बोली बचन समय अनुसारी।। नाथ समुझि मन करिअ बिचारू। राम बियोग पयोधि अपारू।। करनधार तुम्ह अवध जहाजू। चढ़ेउ सकल प्रिय पथिक समाजू।। धीरजु धरिअ त पाइअ पारू। नाहिं त बूड़िहि सबु परिवारू।। जौं जियँ धरिअ बिनय पिय मोरी। रामु लखनु सिय मिलहिं बहोरी।।
The king's life-breath rose to his throat. He was like a serpent writhing in agony, bereft of its crest-jewel. All his senses became gravely distressed, like a grove of lotuses in a lake whose waters have dried away. Kausalya saw the king in this wretched state and knew within her heart that the sun of the Suryavansha was setting. Gathering courage in her heart, Rama's mother spoke words befitting that grave hour. O lord, reflect carefully in your mind. Separation from Rama is an ocean without any shore. You are the helmsman; Ayodhya is the ship. All our beloved ones have boarded as passengers. If you hold fast to patience, we shall reach the far shore. Otherwise the entire family will drown. If you take my humble plea to heart, dear husband, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita will surely return to us.