The Mother of the Universe Serves Rama's Household with Her Own Hands
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 22
Doha 24 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Rama performs countless horse sacrifices, gives abundant gifts to the learned, protects the path of the Vedas, and bears the weight of dharma. Beyond the gunas yet sovereign amid royal enjoyment, he joins transcendence to the duties of a king.
Beside him, Sita remains gracious, humble, and devoted. Though the palace is filled with skilled servants, she tends the household with her own hands, follows Ramachandra's wish, and knows the precise form of service that gives the ocean of compassion delight.
She serves Kausalya and all the mothers without pride. Uma, Lakshmi, Brahma, and the gods praise her as the stainless Mother of the universe, yet inside Ayodhya she chooses the intimate work of a daughter-in-law. Cosmic greatness does not withdraw from the ordinary gesture. It enters the gesture completely, and the hands revered by heaven become beautiful through attentive care within the home.
The Mother of worlds reveals her majesty by noticing what will please Rama and quietly doing it with her own hands.
Read the passage from the Manas
कोटिन्ह बाजिमेध प्रभु कीन्हे। दान अनेक द्विजन्ह कहँ दीन्हे।। श्रुति पथ पालक धर्म धुरंधर। गुनातीत अरु भोग पुरंदर।। पति अनुकूल सदा रह सीता। सोभा खानि सुसील बिनीता।। जानति कृपासिंधु प्रभुताई। सेवति चरन कमल मन लाई।। जद्यपि गृहँ सेवक सेवकिनी। बिपुल सदा सेवा बिधि गुनी।। निज कर गृह परिचरजा करई। रामचंद्र आयसु अनुसरई।। जेहि बिधि कृपासिंधु सुख मानइ। सोइ कर श्री सेवा बिधि जानइ।। कौसल्यादि सासु गृह माहीं। सेवइ सबन्हि मान मद नाहीं।। उमा रमा ब्रह्मादि बंदिता। जगदंबा संततमनिंदिता।।
The Lord performed millions of horse sacrifices and gave countless donations to the brahmins. He was the protector of the Vedic path, the upholder of dharma, beyond all qualities, and the supreme enjoyer like Indra. Sita always remained devoted to her husband, being the treasure of beauty, virtuous and humble. She knew the divine lordship of the ocean of compassion and served His lotus feet with devoted mind. Though there were many skilled servants and maidservants in the palace for various services. She herself performed the household duties with her own hands, following Ramachandra's commands. In whatever way the ocean of compassion would be pleased, she knew that method of devoted service. She served all the mothers-in-law like Kausalya in the household without any pride or arrogance. She who is praised by Uma, Lakshmi, Brahma and others, the Mother of the universe, eternally blameless.