Janakpur Fills Its Eyes with the Four Brothers
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 332
Doha 335 · Movement 1 of 2
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Men and women rush from every quarter as the four naturally beautiful brothers pass. Word moves among them that the princes will leave today and that Janaka has completed every arrangement. Friends call to one another to fill their eyes while the beloved guests are still near.
The citizens wonder what ancient merit brought such a sight before them. To a dying soul, the brothers seem like immortality's nectar. To one born in hunger, they are the wish fulfilling tree. To a sinner, their darshan is like finding Hari's feet.
They urge one another to behold Ram and store his splendour in the heart, setting his jewel like form upon the mind as its crest gem. Thus the princes give the city the full fruit of sacred sight even while passing beyond it. The crowd does not try to possess them. It learns how to carry their beauty inward.
As Ram passes toward the palace, Janakpur gathers his form into the treasury of the heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
चारिअ भाइ सुभायँ सुहाए। नगर नारि नर देखन धाए।। कोउ कह चलन चहत हहिं आजू। कीन्ह बिदेह बिदा कर साजू।। लेहु नयन भरि रूप निहारी। प्रिय पाहुने भूप सुत चारी।। को जानै केहि सुकृत सयानी। नयन अतिथि कीन्हे बिधि आनी।। मरनसीलु जिमि पाव पिऊषा। सुरतरु लहै जनम कर भूखा।। पाव नारकी हरिपदु जैसें। इन्ह कर दरसनु हम कहँ तैसे।। निरखि राम सोभा उर धरहू। निज मन फनि मूरति मनि करहू।। एहि बिधि सबहि नयन फलु देता। गए कुअँर सब राज निकेता।।
The four brothers, naturally radiant and graceful, came forth, and the men and women of the city rushed to behold them. Some said, "They wish to depart today. The king of Videha has made every arrangement for their farewell." "Fill your eyes with their beauty, O friends! These four beloved princes are our honored guests." "Who knows by what great merit, wise ones, Providence has brought such guests before our eyes?" "It is as though a dying soul has received the nectar of immortality, or one born in lifelong hunger has found the wish-fulfilling tree." "As a sinner finds the feet of Hari, so precious is this darshan of the princes to us." "Behold the splendor of Rama and treasure it in your hearts. Let this jewel-like form be the crest-gem upon the serpent of your mind." Thus bestowing the fruit of sacred sight upon all, the four princes departed for the royal palace.