Forest Communities Fill Leaf Cups for Ram's Guests
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 250
Doha 250 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kol, Kirat, Bhil, and other forest dwellers arrive with honey sweet as nectar. They weave leaf cups and fill them with roots, tubers, fruit, and tender shoots arranged with loving care.
Bow follows bow as they name each gift, its flavor, and its quality. They refuse payment, invoking Ram when the visitors press coins upon them. Sages recognize the sincerity beneath their soft speech.
The forest people call the citizens blessed and themselves simple Nishadas who received this darshan only by Ram's grace. Seeing the visitors is as rare as heavenly Ganga flowing through desert sand. Ram honored the Nishadas as a true king cherishes both people and companions, and their hospitality carries that royal affection outward.
In woven leaves, the forest communities offer honey, roots, fruit, and the kingship of Ram expressed as friendship.
Read the passage from the Manas
कोल किरात भिल्ल बनबासी। मधु सुचि सुंदर स्वादु सुधा सी।। भरि भरि परन पुटीं रचि रुरी। कंद मूल फल अंकुर जूरी।। सबहि देहिं करि बिनय प्रनामा। कहि कहि स्वाद भेद गुन नामा।। देहिं लोग बहु मोल न लेहीं। फेरत राम दोहाई देहीं।। कहहिं सनेह मगन मृदु बानी। मानत साधु पेम पहिचानी।। तुम्ह सुकृती हम नीच निषादा। पावा दरसनु राम प्रसादा।। हमहि अगम अति दरसु तुम्हारा। जस मरु धरनि देवधुनि धारा।। राम कृपाल निषाद नेवाजा। परिजन प्रजउ चहिअ जस राजा।।
The Kols, Kiratas, Bhils and other forest-dwellers brought honey: pure, beautiful, sweet as amrit. They filled leaf-cups with loving care, gathering roots, tubers, fruits and tender shoots into lovely arrangements. With humble bows and reverent pranaam, they offered everything, naming each gift and describing its taste, its qualities, its virtues. The people gave freely and would accept no payment at all; when pressed, they would simply invoke the name of Rama. They spoke in soft voices drenched in affection, and the sadhus honoured them, recognizing the sincerity of their prem. "You are the blessed ones," they said. "We are only simple Nishadas. It is by Rama's prasaad alone that we have received your darshan." "Your sight is as rare for us as the stream of the Devdhuni, the heavenly Ganga, flowing upon the barren desert sand." Rama, ever compassionate, showed great honour to the Nishadas, for a true king cherishes his people and his companions alike.