Ram Finds Every Fault in the Moon
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 235
Doha 238 · Movement 1 of 2
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The moon wanes and waxes, gives pain to separated lovers, and is seized by Rahu when the moment opens. Chakravaka birds and lotuses suffer beneath its night, giving Ram further reasons to reject the comparison.
O moon, he thinks, your faults are many. To set you beside Vaidehi's face was itself inappropriate. Through the failed analogy, praise becomes more exact: Sita's beauty cannot be measured by anything that changes, wounds, darkens, or is eclipsed.
Night has grown long. The brothers return to Vishwamitra, bow, receive permission, and rest. At dawn Ram sees the red sun rising and calls Lakshmana to behold the joy of lotus, chakravaka, and all people.
The moon fails before Sita, and dawn opens like a red lotus over Mithila.
Read the passage from the Manas
घटइ बढ़इ बिरहनि दुखदाई। ग्रसइ राहु निज संधिहिं पाई।। कोक सिकप्रद पंकज द्रोही। अवगुन बहुत चंद्रमा तोही।। बैदेही मुख पटतर दीन्हे। होइ दोष बड़ अनुचित कीन्हे।। सिय मुख छबि बिधु ब्याज बखानी। गुरु पहिं चले निसा बड़ि जानी।। करि मुनि चरन सरोज प्रनामा। आयसु पाइ कीन्ह बिश्रामा।। बिगत निसा रघुनायक जागे। बंधु बिलोकि कहन अस लागे।। उदउ अरुन अवलोकहु ताता। पंकज कोक लोक सुखदाता।। बोले लखनु जोरि जुग पानी। प्रभु प्रभाउ सूचक मृदु बानी।।
It wanes and waxes, bringing sorrow to lovers in separation. Rahu devours it the moment he finds his chance. It torments the chakravaka bird, it is the enemy of the lotus. In the end it turns traitor even to its own family of ten faces.