Ram Bows Before Mother, Father, and Guru at Dawn
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 203
Doha 205 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram gathers brothers and friends and goes daily toward forest games and hunting. Deer struck by his arrows leave their bodies and rise to celestial realms, their apparent death becoming release beneath the hand of the compassionate prince.
He eats with younger brothers and companions, obeys mother and father, and arranges whatever will make Ayodhya's people happy. He listens attentively to Veda and Purana, then explains their meaning to his brothers.
Each morning Raghunath rises and bows his head before mother, father, and guru. Only after receiving permission does he attend to the affairs of the city. Dasharatha watches divine sovereignty express itself through reverence, discipline, and care.
Before touching the work of a kingdom, Ram places his head at three sets of feet.
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बंधु सखा संग लेहिं बोलाई। बन मृगया नित खेलहिं जाई।। पावन मृग मारहिं जियँ जानी। दिन प्रति नृपहि देखावहिं आनी।। जे मृग राम बान के मारे। ते तनु तजि सुरलोक सिधारे।। अनुज सखा सँग भोजन करहीं। मातु पिता अग्या अनुसरहीं।। जेहि बिधि सुखी होहिं पुर लोगा। करहिं कृपानिधि सोइ संजोगा।। बेद पुरान सुनहिं मन लाई। आपु कहहिं अनुजन्ह समुझाई।। प्रातकाल उठि कै रघुनाथा। मातु पिता गुरु नावहिं माथा।। आयसु मागि करहिं पुर काजा। देखि चरित हरषइ मन राजा।।
Calling their brothers and companions along, they would go each day to play at hunting in the forest. They would slay only those creatures they knew to be impure spirits in animal form. And every day, the Guru brought them new learning.