Sita's Fallen Cloth Reaches Rama's Heart upon Rishyamuka
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 5
Doha 5 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama and Sugriva make friendship with nothing held back. Lakshmana tells the whole account of Rama's exile and loss. Tears fill Sugriva's eyes, but he assures the Lord that the daughter of Mithila will be found. Then he recalls sitting upon the mountain with his ministers when they saw someone carried helplessly through the sky.
The captive woman lamented and cried Rama's name again and again. When she saw the monkeys below, she dropped a cloth toward them. What Sita released from the sky has waited here upon Rishyamuka for the husband now seated before Sugriva.
Rama asks for the cloth, and Sugriva gives it at once. The Lord presses it against his heart and enters deep grief. Sugriva asks his new friend to release despair and regain steadiness. He pledges every form of service until Janaki is discovered and brought again to Rama.
The cloth that fell from the sky rests at last against the heart whose name Sita cried.
Read the passage from the Manas
कीन्ही प्रीति कछु बीच न राखा। लछमिन राम चरित सब भाषा।। कह सुग्रीव नयन भरि बारी। मिलिहि नाथ मिथिलेसकुमारी।। मंत्रिन्ह सहित इहाँ एक बारा। बैठ रहेउँ मैं करत बिचारा।। गगन पंथ देखी मैं जाता। परबस परी बहुत बिलपाता।। राम राम हा राम पुकारी। हमहि देखि दीन्हेउ पट डारी।। मागा राम तुरत तेहिं दीन्हा। पट उर लाइ सोच अति कीन्हा।। कह सुग्रीव सुनहु रघुबीरा। तजहु सोच मन आनहु धीरा।। सब प्रकार करिहउँ सेवकाई। जेहि बिधि मिलिहि जानकी आई।।
They formed a bond of love with nothing held back. Lakshmana then told Sugriva the whole story of Rama. Sugriva spoke with tears filling his eyes, 'O Lord, you will surely find Mithileshkumari, the daughter of Mithila's king.' Once, I was sitting here with my ministers, deep in thought. I saw someone being carried through the sky, weeping helplessly, overcome by another's power. 'Rama, Rama, O Rama!' she cried aloud, and seeing us below, she let fall a cloth bundle. Rama asked for it at once. Sugriva gave it to him immediately. Pressing that cloth to his heart, the Lord was seized by a terrible grief. Sugriva said, 'Listen, O Raghubira, hero of Raghu's line. Cast away your sorrow and bring steadiness to your mind.' 'I will serve you in every way, so that by some means Janaki may be found and brought back to you.'