Ram Sleeps Like a Golden Lotus at Evening
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 355
Doha 358 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram's sleeping face glows like a golden lotus resting upon an evening pond. Across Ayodhya, women keep vigil, exchanging auspicious wedding songs while moonlight spreads over the resplendent city.
The queens behold the young brides asleep beside their mothers in law, like serpents drawing precious crest jewels close to their hearts. The new daughters rest within the protection Dasharatha requested.
At dawn roosters call and bards sing praise. The four brothers rise, bow to learned ones, gods, guru, father, and mothers, and receive blessings. After one last loving gaze from the queens, they step with Dasharatha toward the gate, carrying the rhythm of reverence from night into day.
Moonlit song surrounds Ram's sleep, and dawn finds all four brothers rising first into reverence.
Read the passage from the Manas
नीदउँ बदन सोह सुठि लोना। मनहुँ साँझ सरसीरुह सोना।। घर घर करहिं जागरन नारीं। देहिं परसपर मंगल गारीं।। पुरी बिराजति राजति रजनी। रानीं कहहिं बिलोकहु सजनी।। सुंदर बधुन्ह सासु लै सोई। फनिकन्ह जनु सिरमनि उर गोई।। प्रात पुनीत काल प्रभु जागे। अरुनचूड़ बर बोलन लागे।। बंदि मागधन्हि गुनगन गाए। पुरजन द्वार जोहारन आए।। बंदि बिप्र सुर गुर पितु माता। पाइ असीस मुदित सब भ्राता।। जननिन्ह सादर बदन निहारे। भूपति संग द्वार पगु धारे।।
His sleeping face shone with exquisite grace, like a golden lotus resting in the evening pond. In every home the women kept vigil through the night, exchanging auspicious wedding songs with one another. The city glowed resplendent in the moonlit night. The queens whispered, 'Behold this beauty, dear friend!' The lovely brides slept beside their mothers-in-law, as if serpents had drawn precious crest-jewels close to their hearts. At the sacred hour of dawn, the Lord awoke, and the fine roosters began to crow. Bards and minstrels sang hymns of praise, and the townspeople came to the gate to offer greetings. Bowing before the learned ones, the gods, their guru, their father, and their mother, all four brothers received blessings with joy. The mothers gazed lovingly at each face, and then the brothers stepped forth with the king toward the gate.