Rama and the Forest Kings Ask What Darkness Dwells in the Moon
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 12
Doha 13 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
The moon emerges from its eastern mountain cave like a lion roaming the forest of the sky, tearing open the dark vessel of night. Stars scatter around it as pearls adorning a beautiful woman. Rama notices the dark mark in its radiance and asks each companion for his thought.
Sugriva sees the earth's shadow upon the moon. Another remembers Rahu's blow and says the darkness lodged in its heart. Another imagines that when Brahma made Rati's face, Hari removed the moon's finest portion, leaving an opening through which the shadow of the sky appears.
Rama offers his own tender answer. Poison and moon arose as brothers, and the moon gave the beloved poison a home within its heart. Now its rays spread carrying that secret venom, burning men and women wounded by separation. Beneath the playful question, Rama lets the night remember Sita.
The moon shines over Suvela, but Rama sees the poison its rays carry into separated hearts.
Read the passage from the Manas
पूरब दिसि गिरिगुहा निवासी। परम प्रताप तेज बल रासी।। मत्त नाग तम कुंभ बिदारी। ससि केसरी गगन बन चारी।। बिथुरे नभ मुकुताहल तारा। निसि सुंदरी केर सिंगारा।। कह प्रभु ससि महुँ मेचकताई। कहहु काह निज निज मति भाई।। कह सुग़ीव सुनहु रघुराई। ससि महुँ प्रगट भूमि कै झाँई।। मारेउ राहु ससिहि कह कोई। उर महँ परी स्यामता सोई।। कोउ कह जब बिधि रति मुख कीन्हा। सार भाग ससि कर हरि लीन्हा।। छिद्र सो प्रगट इंदु उर माहीं। तेहि मग देखिअ नभ परिछाहीं।। प्रभु कह गरल बंधु ससि केरा। अति प्रिय निज उर दीन्ह बसेरा।। बिष संजुत कर निकर पसारी। जारत बिरहवंत नर नारी।।
In the east, dwelling in mountain caves, resides one of supreme glory, radiance, and strength. Like a maddened elephant tearing open the dark pitcher, the moon-lion roams freely through the sky-forest. The pearl-like stars are scattered across the heavens, adorning the beautiful night like her ornaments. The Lord said: 'There is a dark mark visible in the moon. Tell me, brothers, what does each of you think it is?' Sugriva said: 'Listen, O Raghurai! The shadow of the earth is visible in the moon.' Someone said Rahu has struck the moon, and darkness has entered its heart. Another said: when Brahma fashioned the face of Rati, Shri Hari took the best portion and placed it in the moon. That gap appears in the moon's heart, through which the reflection of the sky can be seen. The Lord said: 'Poison is the moon's brother, most dear, and the moon has given it shelter in his own heart.' Spreading rays mixed with poison, it burns the hearts of men and women who suffer from separation.