The Brothers Wait for One Word from Rama as Children Fill the House
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 23
Doha 25 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna serve with ever-deepening love for Rama's feet. They keep their eyes upon his lotus face, waiting with the quiet hope that the compassionate Lord might speak some word to them.
Rama loves his brothers and teaches them the many forms of righteous conduct. Beyond the palace, Ayodhya's people live in joy, enjoy blessings rare even among gods, and pray day and night for unbroken devotion to Sri Raghuvir's feet.
Within this ripened household, Sita gives birth to two beautiful sons. Lava and Kusha are victorious, humble, and rich in virtue, like two reflections of Hari moving through the rooms of Ayodhya. Each of Rama's brothers also has two sons, abundant in beauty, character, and grace. The kingdom's vast order returns to an intimate image: brothers watching a beloved face and children extending the family into another generation.
Rama Rajya grows from brothers waiting for his word into children who carry the beauty of the household forward.
Read the passage from the Manas
सेवहिं सानकूल सब भाई। राम चरन रति अति अधिकाई।। प्रभु मुख कमल बिलोकत रहहीं। कबहुँ कृपाल हमहि कछु कहहीं।। राम करहिं भ्रातन्ह पर प्रीती। नाना भाँति सिखावहिं नीती।। हरषित रहहिं नगर के लोगा। करहिं सकल सुर दुर्लभ भोगा।। अहनिसि बिधिहि मनावत रहहीं। श्रीरघुबीर चरन रति चहहीं।। दुइ सुत सुन्दर सीताँ जाए। लव कुस बेद पुरानन्ह गाए।। दोउ बिजई बिनई गुन मंदिर। हरि प्रतिबिंब मनहुँ अति सुंदर।। दुइ दुइ सुत सब भ्रातन्ह केरे। भए रूप गुन सील घनेरे।।
All the brothers serve with great devotion, having immense love for Rama's feet. They remain gazing at the Lord's lotus face, hoping that the compassionate one might speak something to them. Rama shows love to His brothers and teaches them various forms of righteous conduct. The people of the city remain joyful and enjoy all pleasures that are rare even for the gods. Day and night they continue to propitiate Brahma, desiring devotion to the feet of Shri Raghuvira. Sita gave birth to two beautiful sons, Lava and Kusha, who are praised in the Vedas and Puranas. Both are victorious, humble, repositories of virtues, and exceedingly beautiful like reflections of Hari. Each of the brothers had two sons who became abundant in beauty, virtue, and good character.