The Departing Companions Refuse to Blink While Rama Remains in Sight
Lanka Kanda, Doha 119
Doha 119 · Movement 2 of 2
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Moved by Rama, the bears and vanaras begin to depart with his form held inside their hearts. Joy and sorrow travel together as they offer humble words in many ways.
Sugriva, Nila, Jambavan, Angada, Nala, Hanuman, Vibhishana, and the other powerful troop leaders remain before him, overcome by a love too deep for speech. Tears repeatedly fill their eyes.
They gaze directly at Rama and forbid their eyelids to close. A blink is only an instant, yet separation has made even that darkness too costly. They try to carry the visible form into memory without surrendering one final fraction of sight. Around them companions move toward distant homes, but these chiefs stand between departure and invitation, saying nothing because the eyes have taken over the whole work of farewell.
Love turns each eyelid into a gate the companions will not allow to close while Rama can still be seen.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रभु प्रेरित कपि भालु सब राम रूप उर राखि। हरष बिषाद सहित चले बिनय बिबिध बिधि भाषि।।118(क)।। कपिपति नील रीछपति अंगद नल हनुमान। सहित बिभीषन अपर जे जूथप कपि बलवान।।118(ख)।। कहि न सकहिं कछु प्रेम बस भरि भरि लोचन बारि। सन्मुख चितवहिं राम तन नयन निमेष निवारि।।118(ग)।।
Inspired by the Lord, all the monkeys and bears kept Rama's divine form enshrined in their hearts. With joy mingled with sorrow they departed, speaking humble words of countless kinds. Sugriva the monkey king, Nila, Riksharaja the bear king, Angada, Nala, Hanuman, along with Vibhishana and other mighty monkey chiefs; all the valiant leaders of the troops. Overcome by love, they could speak nothing, their eyes brimming with tears again and again. They gazed directly upon Rama's form, refusing to let their eyes blink even once.