Janaka's Heart Becomes a Confluence around Sita
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 286
Doha 286 · Movement 1 of 2
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Vaidehi meets each beloved relative according to the unique bond between them. Then her family sees the bark clothing of an ascetic upon Janaki, and sorrow passes through them with renewed force.
With permission from Rama, Janaka, and the guru, they draw near. Janaka takes Sita into his arms as the sacred guest of his very life breath. An ocean of affection rises in his chest until the wise king's heart becomes Prayag, a confluence where many holy currents meet.
He sees Sita's love growing like a young banyan and Rama's tenderness shining upon it like a delicate new shoot. The long-lived sage king, established in knowledge, trembles like a drowning man who suddenly finds support in a child's hand. This is not the conquest of Janaka by delusion, but the immeasurable glory of Sita and Rama's love.
Holding ascetic-clad Sita, Janaka becomes a living Prayag where a father's love, a sage's knowledge, and Rama's tenderness meet.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रिय परिजनहि मिली बैदेही। जो जेहि जोगु भाँति तेहि तेही।। तापस बेष जानकी देखी। भा सबु बिकल बिषाद बिसेषी।। जनक राम गुर आयसु पाई। चले थलहि सिय देखी आई।। लीन्हि लाइ उर जनक जानकी। पाहुन पावन पेम प्रान की।। उर उमगेउ अंबुधि अनुरागू। भयउ भूप मनु मनहुँ पयागू।। सिय सनेह बटु बाढ़त जोहा। ता पर राम पेम सिसु सोहा।। चिरजीवी मुनि ग्यान बिकल जनु। बूड़त लहेउ बाल अवलंबनु।। मोह मगन मति नहिं बिदेह की। महिमा सिय रघुबर सनेह की।।
Vaidehi met her beloved family, greeting each one as was fitting, in the manner their bond deserved. Seeing Janaki dressed in the bark-cloth of an ascetic, every heart broke open with sorrow. Having received permission from Janaka, Rama, and the Guru, they came forward to the palace grounds when Sita arrived. Janaka drew Janaki into his embrace, holding her close, this sacred guest of his very life-breath. An ocean of love surged within his chest, and the king's heart became like Prayaga itself, a confluence of sacred streams. He beheld Sita's affection growing like a young banyan sapling, and upon it, the tender blossom of Rama's love shone beautifully. The long-lived sage, though steeped in jnana, trembled with feeling, like a drowning man who finds the unexpected support of a child's hand. Videha's wisdom itself dissolved in love. Such is the glory of the bond between Sita and Raghuvara, beyond all knowing.