Ayodhya Keeps Vigil before Crossing the Ganga
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 202
Doha 202 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata receives Guha's words, gathers courage, and walks toward his lodging while remembering Raghubir. News of the sacred resting place spreads, and grieving citizens come through the night to see it for themselves.
They circle the ground, bow, reproach Kaikeyi, and blame adverse fate through overflowing tears. Some praise Bharata's love, others honor Dasharatha's fidelity to his word, and many condemn themselves while praising Guha. Bewilderment leaves the entire camp awake until dawn.
With morning, mourning becomes movement. A beautifully adorned boat receives the guru. New boats carry all the mothers. The broad company enters the current in ordered waves, and within four watches everyone reaches the farther bank. Bharata steps ashore last among the movements described, attending carefully to each traveller as the pilgrimage resumes.
After a sleepless vigil around Ram's bed of grass, Ayodhya enters the Ganga at dawn and carries its grief across the water.
Read the passage from the Manas
सखा बचन सुनि उर धरि धीरा। बास चले सुमिरत रघुबीरा।। यह सुधि पाइ नगर नर नारी। चले बिलोकन आरत भारी।। परदखिना करि करहिं प्रनामा। देहिं कैकइहि खोरि निकामा।। भरी भरि बारि बिलोचन लेंहीं। बाम बिधाताहि दूषन देहीं।। एक सराहहिं भरत सनेहू। कोउ कह नृपति निबाहेउ नेहू।। निंदहिं आपु सराहि निषादहि। को कहि सकइ बिमोह बिषादहि।। एहि बिधि राति लोगु सबु जागा। भा भिनुसार गुदारा लागा।। गुरहि सुनावँ चढ़ाइ सुहाईं। नईं नाव सब मातु चढ़ाईं।। दंड चारि महँ भा सबु पारा। उतरि भरत तब सबहि सँभारा।।
Hearing his friend's words, Bharat held courage in his heart and departed for his lodging, remembering Raghubira. When the men and women of the city received this news, they came in great distress to see him. They walked around him in pradakshina and offered pranaam, heaping bitter reproaches upon Kaikeyi. With eyes brimming over with tears, they blamed Bidhaata (the adverse Creator) for this misfortune. Some praised Bharat's deep love. Others said the king had honoured his sacred word. They reproached themselves while praising the Nishaad chief. Who could speak of such bewilderment and sorrow? In this way all the people stayed awake through the night. When dawn broke, preparations for the crossing began. The Guru was seated aboard a beautifully adorned boat. Then all the mothers were placed in new vessels. Within four dandas (about two hours), everyone had crossed to the far bank. Bharat stepped ashore and attended to each one with care.