Compassion Covers the Earth When Sita Meets the Mothers
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 246
Doha 246 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sita bows at the sage's feet, meets his wife and the women of the hermitage, and receives blessings for the welfare of her beloved. Love fills each greeting beyond the reach of speech.
When the mothers-in-law see her, the tender princess closes her eyes in distress. They appear like graceful swans trapped by a hunter and wonder what cruel design has brought them all to this sight. Fate's burden must nevertheless be borne.
Janaki gathers courage while tears fill her blue-lotus eyes. She goes from mother to mother and receives their grief against her own heart. At that moment compassion seems to spread beyond the ashram and cover the entire earth, as if every creature has entered the sorrow of the women meeting in exile.
As Sita enters the mothers' arms with tears in her lotus eyes, compassion expands from the hermitage across the whole earth.
Read the passage from the Manas
सीय आइ मुनिबर पग लागी। उचित असीस लही मन मागी।। गुरपतिनिहि मुनितियन्ह समेता। मिली पेमु कहि जाइ न जेता।। बंदि बंदि पग सिय सबही के। आसिरबचन लहे प्रिय जी के।। सासु सकल जब सीयँ निहारीं। मूदे नयन सहमि सुकुमारीं।। परीं बधिक बस मनहुँ मरालीं। काह कीन्ह करतार कुचालीं।। तिन्ह सिय निरखि निपट दुखु पावा। सो सबु सहिअ जो दैउ सहावा।। जनकसुता तब उर धरि धीरा। नील नलिन लोयन भरि नीरा।। मिली सकल सासुन्ह सिय जाई। तेहि अवसर करुना महि छाई।।
Sita came and touched the great sage's feet, receiving blessings just as her heart desired. She met the guru's wife along with the sage women, sharing a love beyond the reach of words. Bowing again and again at everyone's feet, Sita received blessed words for her beloved's welfare. When all the mothers-in-law beheld Sita, the tender princess shut her eyes in quiet distress. They seemed like graceful swans fallen into a hunter's snare. What cruel mischief the Creator has wrought! Seeing Sita, they felt sorrow beyond measure, yet one must bear whatever fate ordains. Then Janaki gathered courage in her heart, her lotus eyes brimming with tears. Sita went and met all her mothers-in-law. At that moment, compassion spread across the whole earth.