Sarasvati Refuses to Darken the Heart Where Sita and Rama Dwell
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 295
Doha 295 · Movement 1 of 2
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The gods praise Sarasvati and seek her protection. Turn Bharata's mind through divine illusion, they plead, and preserve the celestial race beneath a shadow of deception.
The goddess sees the self-interest beneath their prayer. They ask her to turn a mind that even the immense maya of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva cannot approach. A thousand eyes failing to notice Mount Sumeru would be less absurd. Moonlight cannot steal the blazing sun.
Sita and Rama dwell within Bharata's heart. Where that sun shines, darkness has no chamber in which to gather. Sarasvati refuses and departs for Brahma's realm. The gods remain desolate like night birds at daybreak, their scheme exposed by the goddess of speech as ignorance masquerading as necessity.
Sarasvati leaves Bharata untouched, for no illusion can enter the heart already filled from horizon to horizon by Sita and Rama.
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सुरन्ह सुमिरि सारदा सराही। देबि देव सरनागत पाही।। फेरि भरत मति करि निज माया। पालु बिबुध कुल करि छल छाया।। बिबुध बिनय सुनि देबि सयानी। बोली सुर स्वारथ जड़ जानी।। मो सन कहहु भरत मति फेरू। लोचन सहस न सूझ सुमेरू।। बिधि हरि हर माया बड़ि भारी। सोउ न भरत मति सकइ निहारी।। सो मति मोहि कहत करु भोरी। चंदिनि कर कि चंडकर चोरी।। भरत हृदयँ सिय राम निवासू। तहँ कि तिमिर जहँ तरनि प्रकासू।। अस कहि सारद गइ बिधि लोका। बिबुध बिकल निसि मानहुँ कोका।।
The gods remembered Devi Saaradaa and praised her: "O Goddess, protector of those who seek your refuge, shield us." "Turn Bharat's mind with your divine maya, and guard the race of gods through your graceful illusion." Hearing their plea, the wise Devi saw through them. She spoke, knowing their hearts held only svarth, selfish gain. "You ask me to turn Bharat's mind? Even a thousand eyes cannot perceive Mount Sumeru before them. "The great maya of Bidhi, Hari, and Har cannot so much as glance at Bharat's resolve. "And you ask me to make that mind bhoree, that is, foolish? Can moonlight steal away the blazing sun? "Siya and Raam dwell in Bharat's hridaya. Where the sun shines, can darkness find a home?" Saying this, Saaradaa departed for Brahma's realm. The gods were left forlorn, like night-birds when dawn breaks.