Ayodhya Prepares to Crown Ram in the Forest
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 187
Doha 187 · Movement 1 of 2
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Men and women wait through the night like separated chakravaka birds longing for dawn. At first light Bharata calls the ministers and transforms the journey's purpose: take every object needed for consecration, because the sages will crown Ram in the forest.
Horses, chariots, and elephants are prepared at once. Vasishtha departs first with Arundhati and the sacred fire. Companies of brahmins, treasures of austerity and radiance, mount their vehicles.
Citizens adorn themselves and turn toward Chitrakoot. Beautiful palanquins receive the queens one by one. Ayodhya does not travel merely to plead with an exile. It carries throne, ritual, teacher, fire, mothers, and people into the wilderness, intending to relocate kingship around the rightful Lord.
At dawn, Ayodhya lifts its sacred fire and coronation vessels onto the road, carrying the throne itself toward Ram's leaf hut.
Read the passage from the Manas
चक्क चक्कि जिमि पुर नर नारी। चहत प्रात उर आरत भारी।। जागत सब निसि भयउ बिहाना। भरत बोलाए सचिव सुजाना।। कहेउ लेहु सबु तिलक समाजू। बनहिं देब मुनि रामहिं राजू।। बेगि चलहु सुनि सचिव जोहारे। तुरत तुरग रथ नाग सँवारे।। अरुंधती अरु अगिनि समाऊ। रथ चढ़ि चले प्रथम मुनिराऊ।। बिप्र बृंद चढ़ि बाहन नाना। चले सकल तप तेज निधाना।। नगर लोग सब सजि सजि जाना। चित्रकूट कहँ कीन्ह पयाना।। सिबिका सुभग न जाहिं बखानी। चढ़ि चढ़ि चलत भई सब रानी।।
Like the chakwa and chakwi birds longing for dawn, the men and women of the city yearned for morning, their hearts heavy with anguish. All kept awake through the night, and when daybreak came, Bharat summoned the wise ministers. He said, 'Gather everything needed for the tilak ceremony. The sages will crown Raam as king, right there in the forest.' 'Make haste!' Hearing this, the ministers bowed in respect and at once prepared horses, chariots, and elephants. Arundhati and the sacred fire were placed aboard the chariot, and the chief among sages set out first. Companies of Brahmins, each a treasury of austerity and spiritual radiance, mounted various vehicles and departed. All the people of the city adorned themselves and set forth on the journey to Chitrakoot. Palanquins of indescribable beauty were readied, and all the queens climbed aboard and joined the procession.