Sita Comes on Foot So Rama's Vanaras May See Their Mother
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 107
Doha 108 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sita asks Hanuman to arrange what remains: let her eyes behold Rama's gentle dark form. Hanuman returns with her message. Rama sends Vibhishana and the son of the Wind to bring Janaki with honor.
The demonesses bathe and adorn her, and Sita mounts a beautiful palanquin while remembering her beloved, the abode of happiness. Staff bearing guards surround it. Bears and vanaras crowd close for a glimpse, but the guards move angrily to drive them away.
Rama smiles and stops them. Bring Sita on foot, he tells Vibhishana, so the vanaras may behold her as their mother. Heaven rains flowers while the companions rejoice. The decorated screen of royalty opens before the family created through service. Tulsidas then reveals the deeper lila: the true Sita had first been entrusted to Fire, and Rama now intends to manifest the inner witness before all.
The palanquin opens, and every battle worn vanara receives the sight of Sita not as queen alone, but as mother.
Read the passage from the Manas
अब सोइ जतन करहु तुम्ह ताता। देखौं नयन स्याम मृदु गाता।। तब हनुमान राम पहिं जाई। जनकसुता कै कुसल सुनाई।। सुनि संदेसु भानुकुलभूषन। बोलि लिए जुबराज बिभीषन।। मारुतसुत के संग सिधावहु। सादर जनकसुतहि लै आवहु।। तुरतहिं सकल गए जहँ सीता। सेवहिं सब निसिचरीं बिनीता।। बेगि बिभीषन तिन्हहि सिखायो। तिन्ह बहु बिधि मज्जन करवायो।। बहु प्रकार भूषन पहिराए। सिबिका रुचिर साजि पुनि ल्याए।। ता पर हरषि चढ़ी बैदेही। सुमिरि राम सुखधाम सनेही।। बेतपानि रच्छक चहुँ पासा। चले सकल मन परम हुलासा।। देखन भालु कीस सब आए। रच्छक कोपि निवारन धाए।। कह रघुबीर कहा मम मानहु। सीतहि सखा पयादें आनहु।। देखहुँ कपि जननी की नाईं। बिहसि कहा रघुनाथ गोसाई।। सुनि प्रभु बचन भालु कपि हरषे। नभ ते सुरन्ह सुमन बहु बरषे।। सीता प्रथम अनल महुँ राखी। प्रगट कीन्हि चह अंतर साखी।।
Now make that effort, dear brother, so that I may see with my eyes Shyam's gentle form. Then Hanuman went to Rama and conveyed the welfare and message of Janaka's daughter. Hearing the message, the ornament of the solar dynasty called Prince Vibhishana. Go with the son of the wind god and respectfully bring Janaka's daughter here. Immediately all went to where Sita was, and all the demonesses served her humbly. Vibhishana quickly instructed them, and they arranged for her elaborate bathing rituals. They adorned her with many kinds of ornaments and then brought a beautifully decorated palanquin. Vaidehi joyfully mounted it, remembering Rama, the beloved abode of happiness. Guards with staffs surrounded on all four sides, and all proceeded with supreme joy in their hearts. All the bears and monkeys came to see, but the angry guards rushed to drive them away. Raghuvira said, 'Why do you heed my words? Bring Sita on foot, my friend.' The Lord Raghunath said with a smile, 'Let the monkeys see her like a mother.' Hearing the Lord's words, the bears and monkeys rejoiced, and the gods showered many flowers from the sky. Sita was first placed in fire, as the Lord wished to reveal the inner witness.