All Four Varnas Bathe Together at Rama's Royal Ghat
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 27
Doha 29 · Movement 1 of 3
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A separate lovely ghat stands at a distance for processions of horses and elephants to drink. Other beautifully appointed places serve the women drawing water and bathing, protected from the presence of men.
At the royal ghat, people of all four varnas enter the Sarayu together. Temples line both banks, gardens extend in every direction, and detached sages and renunciants dwell beside the river absorbed in knowledge.
Groves of tulsi planted by munis brighten the shore. Beyond Ayodhya's walls lie forests, gardens, wells, and ponds so lovely that merely beholding the city sends sin fleeing. The riverfront holds distinction without abandonment: animals have their water, women their protected spaces, seekers their solitude, and the full social body a shared royal ghat. Along the same current, ordered care and common sacred access flow together.
At Rama's royal ghat, the whole social body descends by one set of steps into the same Sarayu.
Read the passage from the Manas
दूरि फराक रुचिर सो घाटा। जहँ जल पिअहिं बाजि गज ठाटा।। पनिघट परम मनोहर नाना। तहाँ न पुरुष करहिं अस्नाना।। राजघाट सब बिधि सुंदर बर। मज्जहिं तहाँ बरन चारिउ नर।। तीर तीर देवन्ह के मंदिर। चहुँ दिसि तिन्ह के उपबन सुंदर।। कहुँ कहुँ सरिता तीर उदासी। बसहिं ग्यान रत मुनि संन्यासी।। तीर तीर तुलसिका सुहाई। बृंद बृंद बहु मुनिन्ह लगाई।। पुर सोभा कछु बरनि न जाई। बाहेर नगर परम रुचिराई।। देखत पुरी अखिल अघ भागा। बन उपबन बापिका तड़ागा।।
At a distance stood a separate lovely ghat where horses and elephants came in grand procession to drink. There were many supremely charming water-drawing places reserved for women, where men did not bathe. The royal ghat was beautiful and excellent in every way. There, people of all four varnas bathed together. On both banks stood temples of the gods, with beautiful gardens spread in all four directions. Here and there along the riverbanks dwelt detached sages and sannyaasis absorbed in spiritual knowledge. On both banks grew beautiful tulsi plants in groves, planted lovingly in abundance by many munis. The beauty of the city cannot be captured in words. Outside the city walls lay supreme loveliness. Merely beholding the city, all sins fled away. There were forests, gardens, wells, and ponds on every side.