Lakshmana Holds Ram's Feet to His Heart
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 223
Doha 226 · Movement 1 of 2
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Night falls. After evening prayer, stories and ancient legends carry the company through two watches. Vishwamitra lies down, and both brothers begin lovingly massaging the guru's feet.
Ascetics seek Ram's own lotus feet through prayer, yoga, and renunciation, yet love has conquered those brothers into serving another's. When the sage repeatedly tells them to stop, Ram finally rests.
Lakshmana presses his elder brother's feet and draws them against his heart, finding supreme truth through reverent love. Again and again Ram asks him to sleep, but the younger brother remains with the feet that define his welfare.
While the camp sleeps, Lakshmana keeps the feet of the world Lord against his heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
निसि प्रबेस मुनि आयसु दीन्हा। सबहीं संध्याबंदनु कीन्हा।। कहत कथा इतिहास पुरानी। रुचिर रजनि जुग जाम सिरानी।। मुनिबर सयन कीन्हि तब जाई। लगे चरन चापन दोउ भाई।। जिन्ह के चरन सरोरुह लागी। करत बिबिध जप जोग बिरागी।। तेइ दोउ बंधु प्रेम जनु जीते। गुर पद कमल पलोटत प्रीते।। बारबार मुनि अग्या दीन्ही। रघुबर जाइ सयन तब कीन्ही।। चापत चरन लखनु उर लाएँ। सभय सप्रेम परम सचु पाएँ।। पुनि पुनि प्रभु कह सोवहु ताता। पौढ़े धरि उर पद जलजाता।।
When night fell, the sage gave his command, and all performed their evening prayers. Narrating stories and ancient legends, the beautiful night passed as two watches slipped away. Then the great sage retired to sleep, and both brothers began pressing his feet. Those very lotus feet at which ascetics perform countless prayers, yoga, and renunciation. Those same two brothers, as though conquered by love, tenderly pressed the Guru's lotus feet. Again and again the sage gave them leave to rest, yet only after much urging did Raghubara at last lie down. Lakshmana pressed those sacred feet and drew them to his heart, finding supreme joy in reverent love. Again and again the Lord said, 'Sleep now, dear brother,' but Lakshmana lay with those lotus feet held upon his heart.