Pushpaka Touches Earth and Leaves Rama With Joy and Separation
Uttara Kanda, Doha 5क
Doha 5क · Movement 2 of 2
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Rama sees the people of Ayodhya approaching and directs Pushpaka to descend near the city. The ocean of compassion chooses to meet the waiting multitude upon the ground rather than remain elevated above them.
The celestial chariot settles upon the earth. Rama steps down and tells it to return to Kubera, restoring the vehicle to its rightful lord after the long journey from Lanka.
Pushpaka obeys, carrying both joy and separation. It has borne Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and the servants across the sacred map of return, and service has awakened feeling even in the chariot. Sent away by Rama, it experiences the fulfillment of obedience and the ache of losing his weight. The Lord's presence has made an inanimate vehicle capable of viraha, and the sky receives it again as Ayodhya receives Rama.
Pushpaka rises empty toward Kubera, discovering that even perfect service ends with the sweetness and wound of leaving Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
आवत देखि लोग सब कृपासिंधु भगवान। नगर निकट प्रभु प्रेरेउ उतरेउ भूमि बिमान।।4(क)।। उतरि कहेउ प्रभु पुष्पकहि तुम्ह कुबेर पहिं जाहु। प्रेरित राम चलेउ सो हरषु बिरहु अति ताहु।।4(ख)।।
Seeing all the people approaching, the Ocean of Compassion, the Lord, directed the celestial chariot to descend near the city. The Pushpaka touched the earth. Alighting, the Lord told the Pushpaka: 'Now return to Kubera.' Sent by Rama, it departed at once, though it, too, felt both the joy of having served and the sorrow of parting.