The Sun of the Solar Dynasty Sets
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 156
Doha 156 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha receives the true fruit of living and dying. In life he gazed upon Ram's moonlike face; in separation from Ram he adorned death with the divine name. His stainless fame spreads beyond one kingdom into countless worlds.
The queens fall repeatedly to the ground, praising his beauty, character, strength, and radiance. Servants and maidservants wail, and grief enters every home. Citizens say the sun of the solar line has set, taking with it a treasury of righteousness and virtue.
Anger turns upon Kaikeyi, whom they accuse of making the world blind. Through lament the long night finally reaches dawn, and great sages begin to arrive. The sky brightens over a city that can no longer recognize morning as light.
Dawn comes to Ayodhya after Dasharatha's death, but the city sees only the darkness left by its setting sun.
Read the passage from the Manas
जिअन मरन फलु दसरथ पावा। अंड अनेक अमल जसु छावा।। जिअत राम बिधु बदनु निहारा। राम बिरह करि मरनु सँवारा।। सोक बिकल सब रोवहिं रानी। रूपु सील बलु तेजु बखानी।। करहिं बिलाप अनेक प्रकारा। परहीं भूमितल बारहिं बारा।। बिलपहिं बिकल दास अरु दासी। घर घर रुदनु करहिं पुरबासी।। अँथयउ आजु भानुकुल भानू। धरम अवधि गुन रूप निधानू।। गारीं सकल कैकइहि देहीं। नयन बिहीन कीन्ह जग जेहीं।। एहि बिधि बिलपत रैनि बिहानी। आए सकल महामुनि ग्यानी।।
Dasharatha received the true fruit of both living and dying. His stainless fame spread across countless universes. While living, he beheld Rama's moon-like face. In separation from Rama, he adorned even his death. All the queens wept, overwhelmed with sorrow, praising his beauty, his noble character, his strength, and his radiance. They lamented in countless ways, falling to the ground again and again. The servants and maidservants wailed in anguish. In every home across the city, the people wept. 'Today the sun of the Bhanukula, the solar dynasty, has set. The treasury of dharma, virtue, and beauty is gone.' All cursed Kaikeyi, saying she had made the whole world blind. Thus lamenting, the long night at last gave way to dawn, and the great munis and sages began to arrive.