Angada Falls at Rama's Feet and Begs Not to Be Sent Away
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 16
Doha 19 · Movement 1 of 2
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Angada addresses Rama as all-knowing, ocean of compassion and happiness, mercy for the humble, and friend of the afflicted. At his death, Vali placed the young prince into Rama's care. Angada now asks the Lord to remember his vow of shelter and not abandon one who has no other refuge.
You are my Lord, Guru, father, and mother, he says. Where can I go after leaving your lotus feet? I am a child without wisdom, intelligence, or strength. What purpose can any home hold if it requires me to leave you?
The prince asks for no throne and no privilege. He will perform the lowest service in Rama's household and cross worldly existence simply by looking upon the lotus feet. Then speech gives way beneath him. Angada falls at those feet and pleads that Rama not tell him to go home. Vali's son stands inside the palace as an orphan who has found every relationship in one form and cannot understand departure from the only shelter he knows.
Angada asks for the humblest work in Rama's house because even its lowest place would remain beneath the feet that are his whole family.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनु सर्बग्य कृपा सुख सिंधो। दीन दयाकर आरत बंधो।। मरती बेर नाथ मोहि बाली। गयउ तुम्हारेहि कोंछें घाली।। असरन सरन बिरदु संभारी। मोहि जनि तजहु भगत हितकारी।। मोरें तुम्ह प्रभु गुर पितु माता। जाउँ कहाँ तजि पद जलजाता।। तुम्हहि बिचारि कहहु नरनाहा। प्रभु तजि भवन काज मम काहा।। बालक ग्यान बुद्धि बल हीना। राखहु सरन नाथ जन दीना।। नीचि टहल गृह कै सब करिहउँ। पद पंकज बिलोकि भव तरिहउँ।। अस कहि चरन परेउ प्रभु पाही। अब जनि नाथ कहहु गृह जाही।।
Listen, O all-knowing one, ocean of compassion and bliss! O merciful to the humble, friend of the afflicted! O Lord, when I was dying, Vali struck me down and departed to your very presence. Remembering your vow to protect the helpless, do not abandon me, O benefactor of devotees! You are my Lord, guru, father and mother. Where shall I go, abandoning your lotus feet? Consider this yourself and tell me, O king of men. What purpose do I have in life if I abandon my Lord? I am but a child, lacking wisdom, intelligence and strength. Keep this humble devotee under your protection, O Lord. I shall perform all humble household services and cross over worldly existence by beholding your lotus feet. Saying this, he fell at the Lord's feet. 'Now do not tell me to go home, O Master!'