The Eastern Sky Named Kaushalya
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 16
Doha 16 · Movement 1 of 2
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The poet's bow descends upon Ayodhya, most sacred of cities, and upon the Saryu whose waters carry away the darkness of Kali Yuga. Men and women move through gates, courtyards, and river steps under the special affection of the Lord. Contact with this holy realm opens a road beyond the accumulated weight of sin and sorrow.
Kaushalya rises in the invocation as the eastern direction. Across her horizon appears the beautiful moon of the Raghu line, Ram, bringing joy to the world and frost to the lotus of evil. Her fame spreads wherever that moonlight reaches.
Dasharatha and all his queens stand around her as embodiments of merit and auspiciousness. Tulsidas bows through action, mind, and speech, asking them to regard him as both son and servant. Their glory is such that Brahma himself became great by creating the parents through whom Ram would enter the world.
In the east called Kaushalya, the moon of Ram begins to rise.
Read the passage from the Manas
बंदउँ अवध पुरी अति पावनि। सरजू सरि कलि कलुष नसावनि।। प्रनवउँ पुर नर नारि बहोरी। ममता जिन्ह पर प्रभुहि न थोरी।। सिय निंदक अघ ओघ नसाए। लोक बिसोक बनाइ बसाए।। बंदउँ कौसल्या दिसि प्राची। कीरति जासु सकल जग माची।। प्रगटेउ जहँ रघुपति ससि चारू। बिस्व सुखद खल कमल तुसारू।। दसरथ राउ सहित सब रानी। सुकृत सुमंगल मूरति मानी।। करउँ प्रनाम करम मन बानी। करहु कृपा सुत सेवक जानी।। जिन्हहि बिरचि बड़ भयउ बिधाता। महिमा अवधि राम पितु माता।।
I bow to the most sacred city of Ayodhya. I bow to the river Saryu, who destroys the sins of Kali Yuga. I bow again to the men and women of that city, for whom the Lord holds no small affection. He who slanders Sita is swept clean of heaped-up sin.