Lakshmana Forgets Every Home but Service
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 139
Doha 139 · Movement 2 of 2
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Moment after moment, Lakshmana looks upon the feet of Sita and Ram. He knows the love they bear toward him, and that awareness continually renews his service.
Brother, mother, father, and home do not enter his mind, not even in dream. The verse does not make those bonds unworthy. It shows how completely his present duty gathers the whole force of his heart.
The leaf dwelling becomes his entire world. Every task begins and ends at the beloved feet before him, leaving no inward remainder that wanders back toward comfort or regret. In Lakshmana, exile becomes undivided attention.
With Sita and Ram before him, Lakshmana's mind finds no road back to any other home, even in sleep.
Read the passage from the Manas
-छिनु छिनु लखि सिय राम पद जानि आपु पर नेहु। करत न सपनेहुँ लखनु चितु बंधु मातु पितु गेहु।।139।।
Gazing upon Sita and Rama's feet moment by moment, and knowing the love they bear for him, Lakshmana does not turn his mind, even in dreams, toward brother, mother, father, or home.