The Lord Who Appears to Grieve
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 49
Doha 49 · Movement 1 of 2
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Shiva remembers the hidden design. Ravana had asked that death come through a human hand, and Ram has descended to make Brahma's word true. While Shiva wrestles with the longing for darshan, the ten headed king moves through another part of the forest with Maricha. The golden deception takes form, Sita is carried away, and Ravana fails to recognize the power whose Leela he has entered.
Ram returns after killing the false deer. The empty hermitage meets him like a wound. Tears fill his eyes, and he and Lakshman search through the wilderness with the desperation of men overwhelmed by separation. Trees, paths, birds, and riverbanks receive their cries.
The One beyond all union and separation has made the anguish of separation fully visible. Wisdom does not deny the tears. It beholds the infinite choosing to inhabit human love so completely that even grief becomes sacred.
The unborn Lord moves between the trees, calling for Sita with tears in his eyes.
Read the passage from the Manas
रावन मरन मनुज कर जाचा। प्रभु बिधि बचनु कीन्ह चह साचा।। जौं नहिं जाउँ रहइ पछितावा। करत बिचारु न बनत बनावा।। एहि बिधि भए सोचबस ईसा। तेहि समय जाइ दससीसा।। लीन्ह नीच मारीचहि संगा। भयउ तुरत सोइ कपट कुरंगा।। करि छलु मूढ़ हरी बैदेही। प्रभु प्रभाउ तस बिदित न तेही।। मृग बधि बन्धु सहित हरि आए। आश्रमु देखि नयन जल छाए।। बिरह बिकल नर इव रघुराई। खोजत बिपिन फिरत दोउ भाई।। कबहूँ जोग बियोग न जाकें। देखा प्रगट बिरह दुख ताकें।।
Ravana had asked for death at the hands of a human. The Lord wished to make Brahma's word come true. "If I do not go, regret will remain. Yet as I deliberate, no plan seems to work."