Dasharatha Descends With Tears to Bless the Son Who Kept His Word
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 110
Doha 112 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha appears before Rama, and tears fill the father's eyes at the sight of his son with Sita and Lakshmana. Rama and his younger brother bow. Dasharatha blesses them and attributes the conquest of the invincible demon king to Rama's accumulated virtue.
The son's words deepen the father's love until tears flow and every hair rises. Rama perceives that parental devotion and turns his gaze upon Dasharatha, granting firm spiritual knowledge.
Yet Shiva explains to Uma that Dasharatha does not take liberation. His heart remains established in devotion shaped by loving distinction. Worshipers of the manifest Lord do not desire moksha as disappearance into abstraction, and Rama gives them his own bhakti. Dasharatha bows again and again and returns joyfully to the divine realm, carrying not release from the beloved form, but the eternal love through which he still knows Rama as son and Lord.
Dasharatha comes from heaven to see the victor and returns with the treasure a father's heart prefers even to liberation: devotion to Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
तेहि अवसर दसरथ तहँ आए। तनय बिलोकि नयन जल छाए।। अनुज सहित प्रभु बंदन कीन्हा। आसिरबाद पिताँ तब दीन्हा।। तात सकल तव पुन्य प्रभाऊ। जीत्यों अजय निसाचर राऊ।। सुनि सुत बचन प्रीति अति बाढ़ी। नयन सलिल रोमावलि ठाढ़ी।। रघुपति प्रथम प्रेम अनुमाना। चितइ पितहि दीन्हेउ दृढ़ ग्याना।। ताते उमा मोच्छ नहिं पायो। दसरथ भेद भगति मन लायो।। सगुनोपासक मोच्छ न लेहीं। तिन्ह कहुँ राम भगति निज देहीं।। बार बार करि प्रभुहि प्रनामा। दसरथ हरषि गए सुरधामा।।
At that moment, Dasharatha appeared there. Seeing his son, his eyes filled with tears of joy. The Lord bowed to him along with his younger brother. Then the father gave his blessings. My son, all this is the glory of your virtue. You have conquered the invincible demon king. Hearing his son's words, his love increased greatly. Tears flowed from his eyes and his hair stood on end. The Lord of Raghus first perceived his father's love. Looking at his father, he granted him firm knowledge. Therefore, O Uma, he did not attain liberation. Dasharatha fixed his mind on devotional love for the Lord. Devotees of the manifest form do not seek liberation. To them, Rama gives his own devotion. Bowing repeatedly to the Lord, Dasharatha joyfully departed to the divine realm.