Rama's Message Turns New Leaves to Fire and Rain Clouds to Boiling Oil
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 15
Doha 15 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hanuman speaks Rama's words. Separated from Sita, everything has become hostile. Tender new leaves burn like fire. The moonlit night resembles the night of dissolution. Groves of blue lotuses appear as forests of spears, and rain clouds seem to pour scorching oil.
What once gave comfort now gives pain. The threefold breeze hisses like the breath of a serpent. If speaking could reduce the sorrow, Rama would speak, but no one else knows its measure. The truth of their love is known only to his heart.
That heart dwells always with Sita. In this alone she may know the rasa of his love. Hearing the message, Vaidehi becomes immersed in prema and loses awareness of her body. Hanuman asks her to hold courage, remember Rama who gives servants joy, bring Raghupati's majesty into the heart, and abandon despair.
Rama's heart lives with Sita, and the whole world without her has become flame, spear, oil, and serpent breath.
Read the passage from the Manas
कहेउ राम बियोग तव सीता। मो कहुँ सकल भए बिपरीता।। नव तरु किसलय मनहुँ कृसानू। कालनिसा सम निसि ससि भानू।। कुबलय बिपिन कुंत बन सरिसा। बारिद तपत तेल जनु बरिसा।। जे हित रहे करत तेइ पीरा। उरग स्वास सम त्रिबिध समीरा।। कहेहू तें कछु दुख घटि होई। काहि कहौं यह जान न कोई।। तत्व प्रेम कर मम अरु तोरा। जानत प्रिया एकु मनु मोरा।। सो मनु सदा रहत तोहि पाहीं। जानु प्रीति रसु एतेनहि माहीं।। प्रभु संदेसु सुनत बैदेही। मगन प्रेम तन सुधि नहिं तेही।। कह कपि हृदयँ धीर धरु माता। सुमिरु राम सेवक सुखदाता।। उर आनहु रघुपति प्रभुताई। सुनि मम बचन तजहु कदराई।।
Rama said: O Sita, separated from you, everything has turned against me. New leaves on the trees blaze like fire. The moonlit night feels like the night of cosmic dissolution. Groves of blue lotuses appear like forests of spears. The rain-clouds seem to pour scorching oil. All that once brought comfort now causes pain. The threefold breeze feels like the hissing breath of a serpent. If speaking of it could lessen the anguish even a little, I would. But to whom can I speak? No one understands. The true essence of the love between you and me, O beloved, is known to my heart alone. That heart dwells always with you. Know that the rasa of our love resides in this truth alone. Hearing the Lord's message, Vaidehi became so absorbed in prema that she lost all awareness of her body. The monkey said: Mother, hold firm in your heart and remember Rama, the giver of joy to his devotees. Bring Raghupati's glory into your heart. Hearing my words, cast away all despair.