Two Royal Processions Meet beneath Chitrakoot
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 275
Doha 275 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama advances with brothers, ministers, guru, and citizens. When Janaka first sees the great mountain of Chitrakoot, he bows and steps down from his chariot. The remaining road will be crossed with the body humbled before the place that shelters Sita and Rama.
No traveler feels weariness. Their minds have already flown to Raghuvara and Vaidehi, and bodies emptied of mind no longer count comfort or pain. Janaka's whole company moves as if intoxicated with love, while Rama's assembly approaches from the other side.
The two groups see one another and reverence ripples through them. Janaka bows at the feet of the sages. Rama salutes the rishis. Then Rama and his brothers meet the king and lead him onward with all his people. Chitrakoot receives not a diplomatic arrival, but two grieving families entering one another's embrace.
With minds already dwelling in one beloved place, Mithila and Ayodhya meet upon the road and are led together by Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
भाइ सचिव गुर पुरजन साथा। आगें गवनु कीन्ह रघुनाथा।। गिरिबरु दीख जनकपति जबहीं। करि प्रनाम रथ त्यागेउ तबहीं।। राम दरस लालसा उछाहू। पथ श्रम लेसु कलेसु न काहू।। मन तहँ जहँ रघुबर बैदेही। बिनु मन तन दुख सुख सुधि केही।। आवत जनकु चले एहि भाँती। सहित समाज प्रेम मति माती।। आए निकट देखि अनुरागे। सादर मिलन परसपर लागे।। लगे जनक मुनिजन पद बंदन। रिषिन्ह प्रनामु कीन्ह रघुनंदन।। भाइन्ह सहित रामु मिलि राजहि। चले लवाइ समेत समाजहि।।
Raghunatha set forth with his brothers, ministers, guru, and the citizens by his side. The moment King Janaka beheld the great mountain, he offered pranaam and stepped down from his chariot. Such was their yearning for Rama's darshan, their longing so bright, that no one felt even the faintest weariness or sorrow from the road. Their hearts already dwelt where Raghuvara and Vaidehi resided. When the mind has flown ahead, what can the body know of joy or pain? In this way Janaka came forward, his entire samaaj intoxicated with prem, their minds steeped in love. Drawing near, they saw one another and were flooded with anuraag. With gentle reverence they began to greet each other. Janaka bowed at the feet of the assembled munis, and Raghunandana offered his own pranaam to the rishis in return. Rama, together with his brothers, embraced the king and then led the whole company onward.