Ram Learns That Dasharatha Died Calling for Him
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 247
Doha 247 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sita and the queens sit overwhelmed while Vasishtha speaks of the world's passing appearance and the highest truth. Then he tells Ram that Dasharatha has gone to heaven.
The news strikes with the hardness of a thunderbolt. Ram considers his own separation the cause of his father's death, and the steadfast support of patience bends. Lakshmana, Sita, and every queen cry aloud while the whole assembly sinks as though the kingdom's purpose has failed.
Vasishtha consoles Ram and leads everyone to bathe in the sacred river. That day the Lord keeps a waterless fast. Even when the sage urges him, he accepts not a single drop. Grief enters vow, and love for the father becomes austerity.
When the truth of Dasharatha's death reaches him, Ram carries grief into the river and passes the day without even water.
Read the passage from the Manas
बिकल सनेहँ सीय सब रानीं। बैठन सबहि कहेउ गुर ग्यानीं।। कहि जग गति मायिक मुनिनाथा। कहे कछुक परमारथ गाथा।। नृप कर सुरपुर गवनु सुनावा। सुनि रघुनाथ दुसह दुखु पावा।। मरन हेतु निज नेहु बिचारी। भे अति बिकल धीर धुर धारी।। कुलिस कठोर सुनत कटु बानी। बिलपत लखन सीय सब रानी।। सोक बिकल अति सकल समाजू। मानहुँ राजु अकाजेउ आजू।। मुनिबर बहुरि राम समुझाए। सहित समाज सुसरित नहाए।। ब्रतु निरंबु तेहि दिन प्रभु कीन्हा। मुनिहु कहें जलु काहुँ न लीन्हा।।
All the queens and Sita were overwhelmed with love and grief. The wise guru asked them all to be seated. The lord of sages spoke of the world's illusory ways, then narrated some verses on the highest truth. He told them of the king's departure to heaven. Hearing this, Raghunath was struck with unbearable sorrow. Reflecting that his own love was the cause of his father's death, even that steadfast pillar of patience became deeply shaken. Hearing those words, harsh as a thunderbolt, Lakshmana, Sita, and all the queens began to weep aloud. The entire assembly was drowned in grief, as though the very purpose of the kingdom had been lost today. The great sage then consoled Rama, and together with the whole gathering, they bathed in the holy river. The Lord kept a waterless fast that day. Even at the sage's urging, he would not accept a single drop.