Ram Asks the Weary City to Return Home
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 248
Doha 248 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram completes Dasharatha's rites exactly as Veda prescribes. The one whose name burns sin like fire enters the purification affirmed by saints, as Ganga sanctifies every holy place into which she is invoked.
After two days he speaks gently to Vasishtha. The people are exhausted, living on roots, tubers, fruit, and water. Bharata, Shatrughna, ministers, and mothers suffer so deeply that each moment before Ram stretches like an age.
He asks that everyone return to Ayodhya together and invites the guru to remain in Chitrakoot as sovereign of a celestial city. Then Ram checks himself, calling his own speech bold and leaving the decision entirely with Vasishtha. Compassion proposes relief while humility returns authority to the teacher.
Seeing every moment of darshan lengthen the city's pain, Ram asks the guru to lead Ayodhya home and calls even that request too bold.
Read the passage from the Manas
करि पितु क्रिया बेद जसि बरनी। भे पुनीत पातक तम तरनी।। जासु नाम पावक अघ तूला। सुमिरत सकल सुमंगल मूला।। सुद्ध सो भयउ साधु संमत अस। तीरथ आवाहन सुरसरि जस।। सुद्ध भएँ दुइ बासर बीते। बोले गुर सन राम पिरीते।। नाथ लोग सब निपट दुखारी। कंद मूल फल अंबु अहारी।। सानुज भरतु सचिव सब माता। देखि मोहि पल जिमि जुग जाता।। सब समेत पुर धारिअ पाऊ। आपु इहाँ अमरावति राऊ।। बहुत कहेउँ सब कियउँ ढिठाई। उचित होइ तस करिअ गोसाँई।।
Having performed his father's last rites as the Vedas prescribe, Rama became purified, a sun that disperses the darkness of sin. His very name is a fire that consumes the whole weight of wrongdoing; to remember it is the root of all that is auspicious. He became pure, as the sadhus affirm, just as the sacred Ganga purifies every tirtha she is invoked upon. When two days had passed in that state of purity, Rama spoke to his guru with deep affection. "Naath, all these people are suffering greatly, living only on roots, tubers, fruits and water. Bharat with Shatrughna, the ministers, all the mothers. Seeing me, each passing moment weighs on them like a whole yuga. Let everyone return to the city together. You yourself may dwell here as the sovereign of Amaravati. I have said too much, Gosain, and taken a great liberty. Whatever you find fitting, please do that."