The Woman of Tapas Feeds the Searchers and Opens Her Eyes upon the Ocean Shore
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 25
Doha 25 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
The monkeys bow to the ascetic woman from a distance and tell their story when she asks. She invites them to drink the cave's water and eat its many beautiful, delicious fruits. They bathe, eat, recover their strength, and gather near her again.
After telling her own account, she announces that she will go to Raghuraya. She tells the warriors to close their eyes, leave the cave, and take courage, for they will find Sita. They obey. When sight returns, the whole company is standing upon the shore of the ocean.
The woman then goes to Rama. She bows her head at his lotus feet and offers prayer in many forms. The Lord gives her unwavering devotion. A sanctuary that saved the searchers from thirst ends by carrying its guardian to Rama, while the warriors open their eyes before the sea that still divides them from Sita.
The searchers close their eyes in the cave and open them before the ocean.
Read the passage from the Manas
दूरि ते ताहि सबन्हि सिर नावा। पूछें निज बृत्तांत सुनावा।। तेहिं तब कहा करहु जल पाना। खाहु सुरस सुंदर फल नाना।। मज्जनु कीन्ह मधुर फल खाए। तासु निकट पुनि सब चलि आए।। तेहिं सब आपनि कथा सुनाई। मैं अब जाब जहाँ रघुराई।। मूदहु नयन बिबर तजि जाहू। पैहहु सीतहि जनि पछिताहू।। नयन मूदि पुनि देखहिं बीरा। ठाढ़े सकल सिंधु कें तीरा।। सो पुनि गई जहाँ रघुनाथा। जाइ कमल पद नाएसि माथा।। नाना भाँति बिनय तेहिं कीन्ही। अनपायनी भगति प्रभु दीन्ही।।
From a distance all the monkeys bowed their heads to her. When she inquired, they narrated their story. She then said, 'Drink water and eat these many beautiful and delicious fruits.' They bathed and ate the sweet fruits, then all came near to her once more. She told them her own story, saying, 'Now I shall go to where Shri Rama dwells.' 'Close your eyes and leave this cave. You will find Sita; do not lose heart.' The brave ones closed their eyes, and when they opened them again, they all stood upon the ocean shore. She then went to where Lord Rama was, and bowing her head at His lotus feet, she offered prayers of many kinds. The Lord, pleased, granted her unwavering devotion.