The Old Curse Returns in Dasharatha's Final Night
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 155
Doha 155 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha forces himself upright and again asks for compassionate Ram, for Lakshmana, for his loving son, and for Vaidehi. The night stretches like an age around his repeated lament.
Then the curse of the blind ascetic's father returns to memory. He tells Kausalya the old history, and recounting it tightens the wheel of consequence around the present. A life without Ram now seems cursed, and the king despises the body that could not fulfill its vow of love.
He calls Raghunandan, Janaki, Lakshmana, and Raghubar. His heart becomes a chataka crying for the rain cloud of his son's presence. The ancient deed and the current loss join beneath one sleepless roof, leaving only sacred names between the king and death.
As the forgotten curse closes its circle, Dasharatha calls into the night like a rain bird thirsting for the cloud of Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
धरि धीरजु उठी बैठ भुआलू। कहु सुमंत्र कहँ राम कृपालू।। कहाँ लखनु कहँ रामु सनेही। कहँ प्रिय पुत्रबधू बैदेही।। बिलपत राउ बिकल बहु भाँती। भइ जुग सरिस सिराति न राती।। तापस अंध साप सुधि आई। कौसल्यहि सब कथा सुनाई।। भयउ बिकल बरनत इतिहासा। राम रहित धिग जीवन आसा।। सो तनु राखि करब मैं काहा। जेंहि न प्रेम पनु मोर निबाहा।। हा रघुनंदन प्रान पिरीते। तुम्ह बिनु जिअत बहुत दिन बीते।। हा जानकी लखन हा रघुबर। हा पितु हित चित चातक जलधर।
Gathering courage, the king sat up and asked Sumantra, 'Where is compassionate Rama?' Where is Lakshmana? Where is my loving Rama? Where is my dear daughter-in-law, Vaidehi? The king lamented in many ways of distress, and the night would not pass; it felt like a whole yuga. Then the memory of the blind tapasa's curse returned, and he told Kausalya the entire story. He grew more distressed while recounting this painful history: 'Cursed is the hope of living without Rama!' What shall I do, keeping this body that could not honor my vow of love to him? O Raghunandana, beloved of my very life, so many days have passed living without you. Alas, Janaki! Alas, Lakshmana! Alas, Raghubara! My heart is like a chataka bird crying out for the rain cloud of my son's presence.