Valmiki Reveals the Cosmic Family in Forest Dress
Ayodhya Kanda, Chhand 5
Doha 126 · Movement 2 of 3
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Valmiki looks beyond bark, matted hair, and the request for shelter. Ram is guardian of the Vedic bridge and Lord of the universe. Janaki is his Maya, creating, sustaining, and dissolving the world in response to the glance of the treasure house of compassion.
Lakshmana is the thousand headed Shesha, bearer of the earth and lord of all that moves and remains still. The small family standing as forest exiles contains the powers by which the cosmos appears, endures, and is upheld.
For the work of the gods, the limitless has assumed the body of a mortal king and begun a road toward the destruction of cruel night wanderers. Exile conceals divine purpose without weakening it. The leaf hut sought by Ram will become the earthly camp of a cosmic restoration.
Inside the three forest forms, Valmiki beholds Lord, Maya, and world bearing Shesha moving quietly toward their appointed work.
Read the passage from the Manas
श्रुति सेतु पालक राम तुम्ह जगदीस माया जानकी। जो सृजति जगु पालति हरति रूख पाइ कृपानिधान की।। जो सहससीसु अहीसु महिधरु लखनु सचराचर धनी। सुर काज धरि नरराज तनु चले दलन खल निसिचर अनी।।
You are Rama, guardian of the Shruti's sacred bridge, Lord of the universe. Janaki (Sita) is your Maya, who creates, sustains, and dissolves the world at the mere glance of the treasure-house of compassion. Lakshmana is Sheshanaga, the thousand-headed lord of serpents, who bears the earth and is master of all that moves and stands still. For the sake of the gods You have taken a mortal king's form, and set forth to crush the armies of wicked night-wanderers (Nishichara).