A Voice from Heaven Checks the Arrow of Haste
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 231
Doha 231 · Movement 1 of 2
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While the world sinks into fear, a voice rises from the sky. It praises Lakshmana's immeasurable strength, then places discernment before action: right or wrong, every deed should be undertaken only after careful thought.
Veda and wisdom deny the name wise to one who acts suddenly and repents afterward. Lakshmana hears the correction and becomes quiet with humility. Ram and Sita receive the heavenly counsel with reverence rather than triumph.
Ram acknowledges the danger of royal intoxication, yet separates Bharata from it completely. Kings fall when they abandon wise maternal counsel and saintly company, but no one as noble as Bharata has appeared within the Creator's whole design. Ram answers fury not by diminishing Lakshmana's devotion, but by revealing the brother whom devotion failed to see.
Heaven pauses Lakshmana's bow, and Ram fills that pause with a testimony no fear can overturn: none is noble like Bharata.
Read the passage from the Manas
जगु भय मगन गगन भइ बानी। लखन बाहुबलु बिपुल बखानी।। तात प्रताप प्रभाउ तुम्हारा। को कहि सकइ को जाननिहारा।। अनुचित उचित काजु किछु होऊ। समुझि करिअ भल कह सबु कोऊ।। सहसा करि पाछैं पछिताहीं। कहहिं बेद बुध ते बुध नाहीं।। सुनि सुर बचन लखन सकुचाने। राम सीयँ सादर सनमाने।। कही तात तुम्ह नीति सुहाई। सब तें कठिन राजमदु भाई।। जो अचवँत नृप मातहिं तेई। नाहिन साधुसभा जेहिं सेई।। सुनहु लखन भल भरत सरीसा। बिधि प्रपंच महँ सुना न दीसा।।
The world lay drowned in fear when a voice arose from the sky, praising Lakshmana's immense strength. 'Dear one, your glory and might are beyond all telling. Who can speak of it? Who can fathom it? Whether a task be right or wrong, act only after careful thought. All the wise agree on this. Those who act in haste and repent later are not truly wise, so declare the Vedas and the learned.' Hearing these divine words, Lakshmana grew quiet with humility, and Rama and Sita received them with reverence. Rama said, 'Brother, you have spoken beautiful wisdom. Of all intoxications, the pride of royal power is the hardest to overcome. Those kings who stray from their mothers' counsel and never seek the company of saints will surely fall from righteousness. Hear me, Lakshmana. One as noble as Bharata has never been seen or heard of in all of God's creation.'