Holding Rama's Feet in Her Heart, the Ascetic Woman Goes to Badrikashram
Kishkindha Kanda, Doha 25
Doha 25 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
The woman who guarded the hidden garden receives Rama's command with her head bowed. The searchers have been carried to the ocean, and her own road now turns toward the northern sanctuary of Badrikashram.
She does not travel empty. Within her heart she holds the paired feet of Rama, the same feet at which she offered her prayers and from which she received unwavering devotion.
Brahma and Shiva themselves bow to those feet. Bearing them inwardly, she departs under the Lord's permission. The cave, the garden, and the ocean shore fall behind, while worship accompanies every step toward the sacred forest of badari trees.
She carries toward Badrikashram the feet worshiped by Brahma and Shiva.
Read the passage from the Manas
बदरीबन कहुँ सो गई प्रभु अग्या धरि सीस । उर धरि राम चरन जुग जे बंदत अज ईस।।25।।
To Badrikashram she departed, bowing to the Lord's command, holding in her heart those twin lotus feet of Rama which even Brahma and Shiva worship with reverence.