Tears Ask How Tender Feet Will Cross the Wild
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 120
Doha 120 · Movement 2 of 2
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The villagers repeat their tender words until speech dissolves into tears. Their eyes remain fixed upon the direction in which Sita and the brothers have gone.
One question contains every fear: how will bodies so delicate traverse an impassable road? They imagine stone, thorn, heat, distance, and the unyielding ground beneath lotus soft feet.
Love cannot walk the miles in their place, so it rehearses the danger and suffers in advance. The question follows the travellers farther than the villagers can go. Along the path of exile, compassion becomes an unseen company, grieving at every hardship before it arrives.
Long after the figures vanish, one tear filled question keeps walking beside their tender feet.
Read the passage from the Manas
एहि बिधि कहि कहि बचन प्रिय लेहिं नयन भरि नीर। किमि चलिहहि मारग अगम सुठि सुकुमार सरीर।।120।।
Speaking such tender words again and again, their eyes brimming with tears: 'How will those of such delicate form walk that impassable path?'