The Mothers Return for One More Embrace
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 334
Doha 337 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Sunayana holds Ram's feet until the flood of love swallows her speech. Ram honours his mother in law, folds his hands, asks permission to depart, and bows again and again. Blessings descend upon him and his brothers as they leave the chamber.
The queens keep Ram's sweet form within their hearts, then gather enough courage to call the princesses near. They embrace their daughters, escort them toward departure, turn back, and return to embrace them once more.
Meeting becomes parting and parting becomes another meeting. At last companions must gently separate mothers and daughters as one leads a cow away from her newborn calf. Ceremony can name the moment, but only this helpless return of body to body reveals the measure of their love.
Again the mothers turn back, seeking one more embrace before the road takes their daughters away.
Read the passage from the Manas
अस कहि रही चरन गहि रानी। प्रेम पंक जनु गिरा समानी।। सुनि सनेहसानी बर बानी। बहुबिधि राम सासु सनमानी।। राम बिदा मागत कर जोरी। कीन्ह प्रनामु बहोरि बहोरी।। पाइ असीस बहुरि सिरु नाई। भाइन्ह सहित चले रघुराई।। मंजु मधुर मूरति उर आनी। भई सनेह सिथिल सब रानी।। पुनि धीरजु धरि कुअँरि हँकारी। बार बार भेटहिं महतारीं।। पहुँचावहिं फिरि मिलहिं बहोरी। बढ़ी परस्पर प्रीति न थोरी।। पुनि पुनि मिलत सखिन्ह बिलगाई। बाल बच्छ जिमि धेनु लवाई।।
Saying this, the queen held Rama's feet, her speech swallowed by the flood of love. Hearing her affectionate and noble words, Rama honoured His mother-in-law in many ways. With folded hands Rama sought permission to depart, bowing again and again in reverence. Receiving blessings and bowing His head once more, the Lord of the Raghus departed with His brothers. Enshrining His beautiful, sweet form in their hearts, all the queens grew faint with affection. Then, gathering courage, they called the princesses near, and the mothers embraced them again and again. They escorted the brides, then turned back to meet them once more; the mutual love between them had grown beyond measure. Meeting and parting, meeting and parting, their companions had to separate them at last, as one leads a cow away from her newborn calf.