Sunayana Entrusts Sita to Ram's Compassion
Bala Kanda, Chhand 38
Doha 336 · Movement 2 of 3
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With folded hands, the queen offers Sita to Ram and bows again and again. Royal dignity gives way to a mother's naked petition as she addresses him as her dear son and gives herself wholly to his care.
Ram is wise and knows the condition of every heart. Sunayana tells him what he already sees: the family, the citizens, the queen, and Janaka hold Sita dearer than life. One daughter has become the living tenderness of an entire kingdom.
The queen asks Ram to behold Sita's virtues and love and to receive her as his own devoted servant. Her words place no ornament between trust and surrender. In the palace crowded with wealth, kin, and ceremony, the greatest gift is entrusted through folded hands to the compassion of the one who knows every heart.
Sunayana places Mithila's dearest life in the hands of Ram, who already knows every trembling heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
करि बिनय सिय रामहि समरपी जोरि कर पुनि पुनि कहै। बलि जाँउ तात सुजान तुम्ह कहुँ बिदित गति सब की अहै।। परिवार पुरजन मोहि राजहि प्रानप्रिय सिय जानिबी। तुलसीस सीलु सनेहु लखि निज किंकरी करि मानिबी।।
With folded hands, offering Sita to Rama with reverent salutations, the queen speaks again and again: 'I sacrifice myself for you, dear son. You are wise and know the condition of all hearts. Know that the family, the citizens, myself, and the king all hold Sita dearer than life itself. Tulasidas says: seeing her virtue and her love, consider her your own devoted servant.'