Rama Sends the Great Procession Home with His Own Hands
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 319
Doha 319 · Movement 1 of 2
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The road away from Chitrakoot waits beneath a sky made heavy by farewell. With Lakshmana beside him, Rama bows before King Janaka and speaks with such reverence that majesty itself appears to kneel. The king gathers courage, blesses the return to the city, and begins the journey that sorrow has made difficult.
Rama honors sages, Brahmins, and saints as visible forms of Hari and Hara, then sends them onward. He and Lakshmana approach the mothers, bow at their feet, and rise beneath a rain of blessings. Kaushika, Vamadeva, Jabali, ministers, kinsmen, and citizens each receive the salutation proper to them.
No one disappears into an unnamed crowd. Women and men, children, elders, and all who stand between are seen by the ocean of compassion. Rama consoles and honors each one before turning them toward Ayodhya. The forest clearing becomes a vast threshold where the Lord personally releases a kingdom from his presence.
At Chitrakoot's edge, every departing face passes once more through the light of Rama's regard.
Read the passage from the Manas
सानुज राम नृपहि सिर नाई। कीन्हि बहुत बिधि बिनय बड़ाई।। देव दया बस बड़ दुखु पायउ। सहित समाज काननहिं आयउ।। पुर पगु धारिअ देइ असीसा। कीन्ह धीर धरि गवनु महीसा।। मुनि महिदेव साधु सनमाने। बिदा किए हरि हर सम जाने।। सासु समीप गए दोउ भाई। फिरे बंदि पग आसिष पाई।। कौसिक बामदेव जाबाली। पुरजन परिजन सचिव सुचाली।। जथा जोगु करि बिनय प्रनामा। बिदा किए सब सानुज रामा।। नारि पुरुष लघु मध्य बड़ेरे। सब सनमानि कृपानिधि फेरे।।
With His beloved brother by His side, Shri Rama bowed His head before the king and offered praises with heartfelt humility in many ways. By the Lord's own compassionate will, He bore great sorrow and came to dwell in the forest with His whole company. Blessing Bharata to set foot once more in the city, the queen departed with a heart made firm and courageous. The sages, the holy ones of this earth, and the saints were honoured and lovingly sent on their way, for Rama knew them to be equal to Hari and Hara themselves. The two brothers approached their mothers, bowed at their sacred feet, and returned having received their tender blessings. Kaushika, Vamadeva, Jabali, the faithful citizens, the kinsmen, and the wise ministers all stood before Him. With fitting reverence and humble pranama, Shri Rama and Lakshmana bade farewell to each and every one. Women and men, the young, the middle-aged, and the elderly: that ocean of mercy, Kripaanidhi, honoured them all and gently sent them homeward.