Ram Carries the Village Hearts Away
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 118
Doha 118 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Raghunath resumes the journey with Janaki and Lakshmana. The banyan, water pot, gathered women, and watchful village begin to recede behind their steps.
Those overcome by affection wish to follow, but Ram turns them back with cherished words. His gentleness allows bodies to return toward waiting homes even when longing protests.
Yet the separation is not complete. Ram takes them with him in his heart. The verse gives divine remembrance its answering movement: while villagers preserve his image within, he carries their love along the forest road. Devotee and Lord depart in opposite visible directions without truly leaving one another.
Ram sends the villagers home, then walks onward carrying every one of them within his heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
लखन जानकी सहित तब गवनु कीन्ह रघुनाथ। फेरे सब प्रिय बचन कहि लिए लाइ मन साथ।।118।।
Then Raghunath set forth with Lakshman and Janaki. With loving words he turned them all back, yet carried them along in his heart.