A Celestial City Rises within the Hermitage
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 214
Doha 214 · Movement 1 of 2
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Riddhi and Siddhi receive the sage's words upon their heads and count themselves fortunate. These are no ordinary guests, they tell one another, but Ram's incomparable younger brother and the society gathered around his love.
In a single moment splendid dwellings rise, beautiful enough to make celestial palaces seem desolate. Riches and delights desired even by immortals fill them. Servants and attendants stand ready, offering not merely labor but their whole attention.
The powers arrange comforts unknown even in dreams of heaven and give every traveller lodging according to individual need and taste. The quiet hermitage unfolds into a vast city of care. Austerity has not been abandoned. Its stored force flowers as hospitality around those who renounced comfort for Ram.
Within one breath of the forest, Bharadvaja's austerity becomes a city whose every chamber is shaped to receive Ram's weary pilgrims.
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रिधि सिधि सिर धरि मुनिबर बानी। बड़भागिनि आपुहि अनुमानी।। कहहिं परसपर सिधि समुदाई। अतुलित अतिथि राम लघु भाई।। मुनि पद बंदि करिअ सोइ आजू। होइ सुखी सब राज समाजू।। अस कहि रचेउ रुचिर गृह नाना। जेहि बिलोकि बिलखाहिं बिमाना।। भोग बिभूति भूरि भरि राखे। देखत जिन्हहि अमर अभिलाषे।। दासीं दास साजु सब लीन्हें। जोगवत रहहिं मनहि मनु दीन्हें।। सब समाजु सजि सिधि पल माहीं। जे सुख सुरपुर सपनेहुँ नाहीं।। प्रथमहिं बास दिए सब केही। सुंदर सुखद जथा रुचि जेही।।
The Riddhis and Siddhis bowed their heads at the great sage's words, counting themselves most fortunate. The mystic powers whispered among themselves: these are incomparable guests, Rama's own younger brother. They resolved, 'Let us honor the sage's feet this very day, so the whole royal company may find happiness.' Saying this, they fashioned many splendid dwellings, so beautiful that even celestial palaces would pale beside them. They filled every space with abundant luxuries and riches, the kind that would stir longing even in the immortals. Servants and handmaidens stood ready with every provision, attending with wholehearted devotion as though their very minds had been offered in service. In a single moment the Siddhis arranged everything, bestowing comforts that heaven itself has never known, not even in dreams. First they gave lodging to everyone according to each person's own taste and comfort, lovely and full of ease.