Ayodhya Travels under Vows for Ram
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 188
Doha 188 · Movement 2 of 2
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The travellers reshape food and adornment around the purpose of the journey. Some live on milk, some take fruit for a single meal, and some eat only once at night.
Ornaments and luxuries are set aside. Vows and disciplines enter the moving city, making the road itself a field of observance offered for Ram.
Their austerity is communal longing given bodily form. Hunger, simplicity, and restraint keep remembrance close through each mile. The procession is vast, with vehicles and royal equipment, yet its inward atmosphere resembles a pilgrimage of renunciants moving toward the one whose forest life inspired their vows.
Across the road to Chitrakoot, Ayodhya lays aside ornament and turns every meal, fast, and night watch into an offering for Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
पय अहार फल असन एक निसि भोजन एक लोग। करत राम हित नेम ब्रत परिहरि भूषन भोग।।188।।
Living on milk alone, taking only fruit for a single meal, eating just once each night, the people observed vows and disciplines for Rama's sake, giving up all ornaments and luxuries.