Children Teach Parrots to Say Rama above the Flowering Streets
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 26
Doha 28 · Movement 1 of 3
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Every household tends a flower garden. Delicate creepers of many kinds remain in bloom as though spring has taken permanent residence, while bees hum through fragrance and gentle breezes move among the vines.
Children raise many kinds of birds. Peacocks, swans, cranes, and doves brighten the rooftops, calling to their own reflections and dancing in delight above the houses.
The children lean close to parrots and mynas and teach them the city's favorite words: Say Rama. Say Raghupati, protector of the people. Devotion enters the air through small voices training winged voices, until even birds repeat the sovereign's name. Beyond them, royal gates, crossings, lanes, courtyards, and markets unfold in beauty. The city is not silent beneath its splendor. It sings from garden, rooftop, bazaar, child, and bird.
Rama's name rises from a child's mouth, enters a parrot's voice, and flies over the flowering roofs of Ayodhya.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुमन बाटिका सबहिं लगाई। बिबिध भाँति करि जतन बनाई।। लता ललित बहु जाति सुहाई। फूलहिं सदा बंसत कि नाई।। गुंजत मधुकर मुखर मनोहर। मारुत त्रिबिध सदा बह सुंदर।। नाना खग बालकन्हि जिआए। बोलत मधुर उड़ात सुहाए।। मोर हंस सारस पारावत। भवननि पर सोभा अति पावत।। जहँ तहँ देखहिं निज परिछाहीं। बहु बिधि कूजहिं नृत्य कराहीं।। सुक सारिका पढ़ावहिं बालक। कहहु राम रघुपति जनपालक।। राज दुआर सकल बिधि चारू। बीथीं चौहट रूचिर बजारू।।
Everyone planted flower gardens, tending them with care and skill in countless lovely ways. Delicate creepers of many beautiful varieties grew there, blooming always as if it were eternal spring. Charming bees hummed melodiously, and the gentle threefold breeze blew forever sweet and fair. Children raised birds of many kinds, which sang sweetly and flew with grace across the sky. Peacocks, swans, cranes, and doves adorned the rooftops of every house with great beauty. Everywhere they saw their own reflections, cooing in endless melodies and dancing with delight. Children taught parrots and mynaas to speak: 'Say Rama! Say Raghupati! Protector of His people!' The royal gates were beautiful in every way, with charming lanes, courtyards, and lovely bazaars.