The Sages Return to Practice with Freedom
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 134
Doha 134 · Movement 2 of 2
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Ram honors the gathered sages according to each one's place, then gives them leave to return. Darshan does not empty their hermitages or bring every discipline to an outward stop.
They resume yoga, repetition, sacrifice, and austerity with freedom. Practice continues, but now it carries the freshness of the form they have embraced and blessed.
The visit has not replaced sadhana. It has returned sadhana to them as joy rather than burden. Each sage goes back along a forest path while Ram remains at Chitrakoot, and the ordinary seat of practice becomes inwardly connected to his nearby dwelling.
After seeing Ram, the sages return to their own fires and mantras, now practicing within the freedom of fulfilled sight.
Read the passage from the Manas
जथाजोग सनमानि प्रभु बिदा किए मुनिबृंद। करहि जोग जप जाग तप निज आश्रमन्हि सुछंद।।134।।
Having honoured the assembly of sages with fitting reverence, the Lord bade them farewell. They returned freely to their own ashrams and practised yoga, japa, yajna, and tapa at ease.