Sita Dreams of Bharata Scorched by Separation
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 226
Doha 226 · Movement 1 of 3
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The pilgrims travel two more kos as sunlight declines, rest beside water, and resume under love's pull. At Chitrakoot, in the last portion of night, Sita wakes shaken by a dream.
She has seen Bharata arriving with the whole royal company, his body scorched by separation from Ram. Everyone appears pale and distressed, and the mothers' faces are altered by suffering. The sorrow of Ayodhya has crossed into her sleep before its dust reaches the hermitage.
Ram hears and tears fill his eyes. The remover of others' grief becomes absorbed in concern. Lakshmana calls the dream inauspicious and fears harsh news. The brothers bathe, worship Shiva, and honor the sages, carrying uncertainty into the ordered acts of dawn.
Before the approaching army raises dust, Sita's dream brings Bharata's burned body and the mothers' changed faces into Ram's night.
Read the passage from the Manas
सकल सनेह सिथिल रघुबर कें। गए कोस दुइ दिनकर ढरकें।। जलु थलु देखि बसे निसि बीतें। कीन्ह गवन रघुनाथ पिरीतें।। उहाँ रामु रजनी अवसेषा। जागे सीयँ सपन अस देखा।। सहित समाज भरत जनु आए। नाथ बियोग ताप तन ताए।। सकल मलिन मन दीन दुखारी। देखीं सासु आन अनुहारी।। सुनि सिय सपन भरे जल लोचन। भए सोचबस सोच बिमोचन।। लखन सपन यह नीक न होई। कठिन कुचाह सुनाइहि कोई।। अस कहि बंधु समेत नहाने। पूजि पुरारि साधु सनमाने।।
Raghubara, tender with love for all, walked two kos as the sun descended. Finding a place near water, they rested through the night, then resumed their journey, drawn onward by devotion to Raghunatha. There Rama passed the last hours of the night. Sita awoke, shaken by a dream she had seen. She dreamed that Bharata came with his entire retinue, his body scorched by the fire of separation from his Lord. All appeared dejected, sorrowful, distressed in heart. She saw her mothers-in-law with faces altogether changed. Hearing Sita's dream, the eyes of the Lord filled with tears. He who frees all beings from grief became himself absorbed in worry. Lakshmana said, 'This dream does not bode well. Someone will bring harsh and unwelcome tidings.' Saying this, the two brothers bathed together, worshipped Lord Shiva, and honored the holy sages.