Sita Prays for the Bow to Become Light
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 254
Doha 257 · Movement 1 of 2
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The companion offers one final image: Kamadeva conquers every world with a bow of flowers and arrows made from blossoms. Let Sunayana abandon doubt. Ram will surely break Shiva's bow. Faith returns to the queen, dissolving grief and increasing love.
Sita watches Ram advance, but her own fear seeks every divine refuge. Silently she prays to Mahesh and Bhavani, asking that years of service now bear fruit and that Shiva remove the weapon's terrible heaviness.
She turns inwardly to Ganesha, lord of hosts and giver of boons. I have worshipped you until this day, she pleads again and again. Hear me now and make the bow very light. The princess who holds no end of the weapon offers the whole weight of her longing through prayer.
As Ram walks forward, Sita asks every beloved deity to lift the burden before he touches it.
Read the passage from the Manas
काम कुसुम धनु सायक लीन्हे। सकल भुवन अपने बस कीन्हे।। देबि तजिअ संसउ अस जानी। भंजब धनुष रामु सुनु रानी।। सखी बचन सुनि भै परतीती। मिटा बिषादु बढ़ी अति प्रीती।। तब रामहि बिलोकि बैदेही। सभय हृदयँ बिनवति जेहि तेही।। मनहीं मन मनाव अकुलानी। होहु प्रसन्न महेस भवानी।। करहु सफल आपनि सेवकाई। करि हितु हरहु चाप गरुआई।। गननायक बरदायक देवा। आजु लगें कीन्हिउँ तुअ सेवा।। बार बार बिनती सुनि मोरी। करहु चाप गुरुता अति थोरी।।
Kamadeva, the god of love, carries only a bow of flowers and arrows of blossoms, yet he has brought all the worlds under his sway. Knowing this, O Devi, cast away your doubt. Listen, O Queen: Rama will surely break the bow! Hearing her friend's words, faith blossomed in Sunayana's heart. Her grief melted away and a great tide of love rose within her. Then Vaidehi, beholding Rama, began to pray with an anxious heart to every deity she knew. Agitated within, she entreated silently in her mind: 'Be pleased with me, O Mahesh! O Bhavani! Make fruitful the service of this devoted handmaid. In your kindness, take away the heaviness of the bow. O Gananayaka, O boon-granting Lord, I have worshipped you faithfully until this very day. Hear my plea again and again: make the weight of that great bow very, very light.'