A River of Compassion Enters the Ocean of Peace
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 275
Doha 275 · Movement 2 of 2
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The hermitage lies ahead like an ocean filled to its shores with the sacred savor of peace. Trees, earth, huts, and river have rested within Rama's forest presence.
Toward that stillness moves a great royal host, yet the poet no longer sees weapons, chariots, rank, or command. The multitude has become a river of compassion, carrying the grief of Mithila and Ayodhya in one broad current.
Rama leads it toward the ashram sea. River and ocean are both forms of water, as compassion and peace are both forms of love. Their meeting will not remain placid, for the sorrow carried by the river is immense. Yet even the coming upheaval unfolds within the holy geography of Rama's presence.
Rama guides the gathered kingdoms as a river of compassion toward an ashram already full as the ocean of peace.
Read the passage from the Manas
आश्रम सागर सांत रस पूरन पावन पाथु। सेन मनहुँ करुना सरित लिएँ जाहिं रघुनाथु।।275।।
The ashram was an ocean brimming with the sacred rasa of shaanti. Raghunatha seemed to be leading away a whole sena that was itself a river of karuna.