Prakarana 25

Verse 490 (चौपाई)

सानुज सखा समेत मगन मन। बिसरे हरष सोक सुख दुख गन।। पाहि नाथ कहि पाहि गोसाई। भूतल परे लकुट की नाई।। बचन सपेम लखन पहिचाने। करत प्रनामु भरत जियँ जाने।। बंधु सनेह सरस एहि ओरा। उत साहिब सेवा बस जोरा।। मिलि न जाइ नहिं गुदरत बनई। सुकबि लखन मन की गति भनई।। रहे राखि सेवा पर भारू। चढ़ी चंग जनु खैंच खेलारू।। कहत सप्रेम नाइ महि माथा। भरत प्रनाम करत रघुनाथा।। उठे रामु सुनि पेम अधीरा। कहुँ पट कहुँ निषंग धनु तीरा।।

With his brothers and companions, his heart was filled with joy; he forgot all counting of happiness and sorrow, pleasure and pain. "Protect me, Lord, protect me, Master!" he cried, and fell upon the ground like a felled tree. Lakshmana recognized those words, filled with love; he made obeisance, knowing Bharat's heart. The brotherly love was tender on this side; there, service to the Master held sway. It could not be met, nor could it be described; the wise poet Lakshmana told the state of his mind. He remained, placing his burden on service; it was as if a game of pulling and playing had begun. With love he spoke, bowing his head to the ground; Bharat made obeisance to the Lord of the Raghus. Rama rose, hearing the love-filled words; somewhere was a garment, somewhere a quiver, bow, and arrows.

Verse 491 (दोहा/सोरठा)

बरबस लिए उठाइ उर लाए कृपानिधान। भरत राम की मिलनि लखि बिसरे सबहि अपान।।240।।

Involuntarily he lifted him up and clasped him to his heart, the treasure-house of mercy. Seeing the meeting of Bharat and Rama, all thought of self was forgotten.

Verse 492 (चौपाई)

मिलनि प्रीति किमि जाइ बखानी। कबिकुल अगम करम मन बानी।। परम पेम पूरन दोउ भाई। मन बुधि चित अहमिति बिसराई।। कहहु सुपेम प्रगट को करई। केहि छाया कबि मति अनुसरई।। कबिहि अरथ आखर बलु साँचा। अनुहरि ताल गतिहि नटु नाचा।। अगम सनेह भरत रघुबर को। जहँ न जाइ मनु बिधि हरि हर को।। सो मैं कुमति कहौं केहि भाँती। बाज सुराग कि गाँडर ताँती।। मिलनि बिलोकि भरत रघुबर की। सुरगन सभय धकधकी धरकी।। समुझाए सुरगुरु जड़ जागे। बरषि प्रसून प्रसंसन लागे।।

How can their meeting and love be described? It is beyond the reach of the best of poets, beyond mind and speech. Both brothers were filled with supreme love; they forgot all thought of "mine" and "thine" in mind, understanding, and heart. Who can express such perfect love? What shadow does the poet's mind follow? The poet has only words and meaning for his strength; like a dancer who follows the rhythm and movement of the drum. The love of Bharat for the Lord of the Raghus is beyond reach, where even the minds of Brahma, Hari, and Hara cannot go. How then shall I, of dull wit, describe it? Like a horse following a scent, or a weaver following the thread. Seeing the meeting of Bharat and the Lord of the Raghus, the gods were filled with fear and trembling. The preceptor of the gods awakened them from their stupor; they rained down flowers and began to sing praises.

Verse 493 (दोहा/सोरठा)

मिलि सपेम रिपुसूदनहि केवटु भेंटेउ राम। भूरि भायँ भेंटे भरत लछिमन करत प्रनाम।।241।।

Having met the Slayer of Foes with love, the boatman paid homage to Rama. With great joy he paid homage to Bharat, while Lakshmana made obeisance.

Verse 494 (चौपाई)

भेंटेउ लखन ललकि लघु भाई। बहुरि निषादु लीन्ह उर लाई।। पुनि मुनिगन दुहुँ भाइन्ह बंदे। अभिमत आसिष पाइ अनंदे।। सानुज भरत उमगि अनुरागा। धरि सिर सिय पद पदुम परागा।। पुनि पुनि करत प्रनाम उठाए। सिर कर कमल परसि बैठाए।। सीयँ असीस दीन्हि मन माहीं। मगन सनेहँ देह सुधि नाहीं।। सब बिधि सानुकूल लखि सीता। भे निसोच उर अपडर बीता।। कोउ किछु कहइ न कोउ किछु पूँछा। प्रेम भरा मन निज गति छूँछा।। तेहि अवसर केवटु धीरजु धरि। जोरि पानि बिनवत प्रनामु करि।।

He paid homage to Lakshmana, embracing his younger brother; again the Nishada took him to his heart. Then the sages paid homage to both brothers; receiving their desired blessings, they rejoiced. Bharat, with his brothers, was overwhelmed with love; he bore on his head the pollen of Sita's lotus feet. Again and again he made obeisance and rose; touching his head and hands to the lotus feet, he was seated. Sita gave her blessings from her heart; filled with love, she had no awareness of her body. Seeing all things favorable, Sita became free from care; all fear departed from her heart. No one said anything, no one asked anything; the heart filled with love was stripped of all other thought. At that moment the boatman, gathering courage, joined his palms and prayed, making obeisance.

Verse 495 (दोहा/सोरठा)

नाथ साथ मुनिनाथ के मातु सकल पुर लोग। सेवक सेनप सचिव सब आए बिकल बियोग।।242।।

My lord, with the lord of sages, and my mother, and all the townsfolk; the servants, the commanders, the counselors, all have come, distraught with separation.

Verse 496 (चौपाई)

सीलसिंधु सुनि गुर आगवनू। सिय समीप राखे रिपुदवनू।। चले सबेग रामु तेहि काला। धीर धरम धुर दीनदयाला।। गुरहि देखि सानुज अनुरागे। दंड प्रनाम करन प्रभु लागे।। मुनिबर धाइ लिए उर लाई। प्रेम उमगि भेंटे दोउ भाई।। प्रेम पुलकि केवट कहि नामू। कीन्ह दूरि तें दंड प्रनामू।। रामसखा रिषि बरबस भेंटा। जनु महि लुठत सनेह समेटा।। रघुपति भगति सुमंगल मूला। नभ सराहि सुर बरिसहिं फूला।। एहि सम निपट नीच कोउ नाहीं। बड़ बसिष्ठ सम को जग माहीं।।

Hearing of the guru's approach, the Ocean of Virtue, the destroyer of foes, kept Sita near him. At that time Rama set forth, patient, steadfast in righteousness, the support of the distressed and compassionate to the lowly. Seeing the guru, he and his brother were filled with love; the Lord began to make obeisance with folded hands. The best of sages hastened to them, embraced them to his heart; both brothers met him, surging with love. With love and thrill, the Kevala mentioned his name and made his obeisance from a distance. The sage, Rama's friend, met him as if gathering up love that was being scattered upon the earth. The gods praised him in the heavens and rained down flowers; devotion to the Lord of the Raghus is the root of all auspiciousness. There is none so utterly lowly as this; in all the world there is none equal to the great Vashishtha.

Verse 497 (दोहा/सोरठा)

जेहि लखि लखनहु तें अधिक मिले मुदित मुनिराउ। सो सीतापति भजन को प्रगट प्रताप प्रभाउ।।243।।

By seeing whom the king of sages was gladdened even more than by meeting Lakshmana, he is Sita's lord, whose glory and influence are manifest in his worship.

Verse 498 (चौपाई)

आरत लोग राम सबु जाना। करुनाकर सुजान भगवाना।। जो जेहि भायँ रहा अभिलाषी। तेहि तेहि कै तसि तसि रुख राखी।। सानुज मिलि पल महु सब काहू। कीन्ह दूरि दुखु दारुन दाहू।। यह बड़ि बातँ राम कै नाहीं। जिमि घट कोटि एक रबि छाहीं।। मिलि केवटिहि उमगि अनुरागा। पुरजन सकल सराहहिं भागा।। देखीं राम दुखित महतारीं। जनु सुबेलि अवलीं हिम मारीं।। प्रथम राम भेंटी कैकेई। सरल सुभायँ भगति मति भेई।। पग परि कीन्ह प्रबोधु बहोरी। काल करम बिधि सिर धरि खोरी।।

All the distressed people knew Rama as the compassionate one, the wise Lord. To each according to his desire, he showed such a face as each one wished. Meeting each with his brother for a moment, he removed their terrible burning sorrow. This is no small matter regarding Rama; as one sun illumines millions of vessels. Meeting the Kevala with surging love, all the townsfolk praised their good fortune. Rama saw his mothers in distress, as if delicate vines were stricken by frost. First Rama met Kaikeyi; in her simple nature she became devoted in heart. He fell at her feet and consoled her again; he bore upon his head the decrees of fate and the writ of time.

Verse 499 (दोहा/सोरठा)

भेटीं रघुबर मातु सब करि प्रबोधु परितोषु। अंब ईस आधीन जगु काहु न देइअ दोषु।।244।।

Rama met all his mothers, giving them comfort and satisfaction. Mother, the world is subject to the Lord; let no one be blamed.

Verse 500 (चौपाई)

गुरतिय पद बंदे दुहु भाई। सहित बिप्रतिय जे सँग आई।। गंग गौरि सम सब सनमानीं। देहिं असीस मुदित मृदु बानी।। गहि पद लगे सुमित्रा अंका। जनु भेटीं संपति अति रंका।। पुनि जननि चरननि दोउ भ्राता। परे पेम ब्याकुल सब गाता।। अति अनुराग अंब उर लाए। नयन सनेह सलिल अन्हवाए।। तेहि अवसर कर हरष बिषादू। किमि कबि कहै मूक जिमि स्वादू।। मिलि जननहि सानुज रघुराऊ। गुर सन कहेउ कि धारिअ पाऊ।। पुरजन पाइ मुनीस नियोगू। जल थल तकि तकि उतरेउ लोगू।।

The two brothers bowed at the feet of their preceptor’s wife, and all the brahmin ladies who had come with them were honored like Ganga and Gauri themselves; they gave blessings with joyful, gentle words. Sumitra took Lakshmana and Shatrughna to her bosom, as if she had met with great wealth though she was utterly destitute. Then the two brothers fell at their mother’s feet; their whole bodies were overcome with love. Their mother clasped them to her heart; her eyes rained tears of affection. At that moment, joy and sorrow mingled; how can a poet describe it? It was like the mute savoring of sweetness. Having met their mother, the Lord of the Raghus said to his preceptor, “Let us set out on foot.” At the sage’s command, the townsfolk gazed upon the water and the land, and the people went down to the riverbank.

Verse 501 (दोहा/सोरठा)

महिसुर मंत्री मातु गुर गने लोग लिए साथ। पावन आश्रम गवनु किय भरत लखन रघुनाथ।।245।।

With the king’s ministers, his mother, his preceptor, and a host of people beside, Bharata, Lakshmana, and the Lord of the Raghus made their way to the holy hermitage.

Verse 502 (चौपाई)

सीय आइ मुनिबर पग लागी। उचित असीस लही मन मागी।। गुरपतिनिहि मुनितियन्ह समेता। मिली पेमु कहि जाइ न जेता।। बंदि बंदि पग सिय सबही के। आसिरबचन लहे प्रिय जी के।। सासु सकल जब सीयँ निहारीं। मूदे नयन सहमि सुकुमारीं।। परीं बधिक बस मनहुँ मरालीं। काह कीन्ह करतार कुचालीं।। तिन्ह सिय निरखि निपट दुखु पावा। सो सबु सहिअ जो दैउ सहावा।। जनकसुता तब उर धरि धीरा। नील नलिन लोयन भरि नीरा।। मिली सकल सासुन्ह सिय जाई। तेहि अवसर करुना महि छाई।।

Sita came and clasped the sage’s feet, receiving the blessings her heart desired. She met the sage’s wife and the other lady ascetics; their love was such that it cannot be told. Again and again Sita bowed at the feet of them all, receiving the blessings of her beloved lord. When all her mothers-in-law looked upon Sita, the tender-hearted ones closed their eyes in trembling. They were like swans fallen under the fowler’s power; what could the Creator do, hard as He is? Seeing them, Sita felt utter grief; yet she resolved to endure all that the Creator had ordained. Then the daughter of Janaka, gathering courage in her heart, filled her blue lotus eyes with tears. Sita went and met all her mothers-in-law; at that moment compassion spread over the earth.

Verse 503 (दोहा/सोरठा)

लागि लागि पग सबनि सिय भेंटति अति अनुराग। हृदयँ असीसहिं पेम बस रहिअहु भरी सोहाग।।246।।

Again and again Sita bowed at the feet of them all, meeting them with deep love; and in her heart, by the power of their blessings and her own devotion, she remained filled with the fullness of a wife’s fortune.

Verse 504 (चौपाई)

बिकल सनेहँ सीय सब रानीं। बैठन सबहि कहेउ गुर ग्यानीं।। कहि जग गति मायिक मुनिनाथा। कहे कछुक परमारथ गाथा।। नृप कर सुरपुर गवनु सुनावा। सुनि रघुनाथ दुसह दुखु पावा।। मरन हेतु निज नेहु बिचारी। भे अति बिकल धीर धुर धारी।। कुलिस कठोर सुनत कटु बानी। बिलपत लखन सीय सब रानी।। सोक बिकल अति सकल समाजू। मानहुँ राजु अकाजेउ आजू।। मुनिबर बहुरि राम समुझाए। सहित समाज सुसरित नहाए।। ब्रतु निरंबु तेहि दिन प्रभु कीन्हा। मुनिहु कहें जलु काहुँ न लीन्हा।।

Overcome with love, Sita and all the queens sat down; the wise preceptor spoke to them all. The lord of sages told of the world’s ways, which are illusory, and spoke a little of the supreme truth. He told of the king’s journey to the city of the gods; hearing it, the Lord of the Raghus felt unbearable grief. Thinking that his own love had caused his father’s death, even the steadfast bearer of the bow was utterly undone. Hearing those harsh words, hard as the thunderbolt, Lakshmana, Sita, and all the queens lamented. The whole assembly was distraught with grief; it was as if the king had died untimely this very day. The sage again consoled Rama, and the whole company was bathed in tears. That day the Lord observed a complete fast; at the sage’s word he took not even water.

Verse 505 (दोहा/सोरठा)

भोरु भएँ रघुनंदनहि जो मुनि आयसु दीन्ह। श्रद्धा भगति समेत प्रभु सो सबु सादरु कीन्ह।।247।।

When morning came, the sage gave leave to the Lord of the Raghus; and the Lord, with faith and devotion, performed all with due honor.

Verse 506 (चौपाई)

करि पितु क्रिया बेद जसि बरनी। भे पुनीत पातक तम तरनी।। जासु नाम पावक अघ तूला। सुमिरत सकल सुमंगल मूला।। सुद्ध सो भयउ साधु संमत अस। तीरथ आवाहन सुरसरि जस।। सुद्ध भएँ दुइ बासर बीते। बोले गुर सन राम पिरीते।। नाथ लोग सब निपट दुखारी। कंद मूल फल अंबु अहारी।। सानुज भरतु सचिव सब माता। देखि मोहि पल जिमि जुग जाता।। सब समेत पुर धारिअ पाऊ। आपु इहाँ अमरावति राऊ।। बहुत कहेउँ सब कियउँ ढिठाई। उचित होइ तस करिअ गोसाँई।।

He performed his father's funeral rites as the Vedas prescribe; he became purified, the remover of the darkness of sin, the ferry across the ocean of transgression. Whose name is fire that burns up heaps of sin, and whose remembrance is the root of all blessings. He became pure, as the sages approve, like the invocation of the holy river Surasara. When two days had passed in purity, Rama, the beloved of his guru, spoke to his teacher. "Lord, all the people are utterly sorrowful, living on roots, fruits, and water. Bharata with his brothers, all the ministers, and all the mothers, seeing me, count each moment as an age. Let all the townsfolk be sent back; let the king himself remain here as in his own Amaravati." Much he said, and all he did with steadfastness; what is fitting, O Lord, that you should do.

Verse 507 (दोहा/सोरठा)

धर्म सेतु करुनायतन कस न कहहु अस राम। लोग दुखित दिन दुइ दरस देखि लहहुँ बिश्राम।।248।।

How can you not say this, O Rama, who are the bridge of righteousness and the abode of compassion? The people are sorrowful; having beheld your sight for two days, let them find rest.

Verse 508 (चौपाई)

राम बचन सुनि सभय समाजू। जनु जलनिधि महुँ बिकल जहाजू।। सुनि गुर गिरा सुमंगल मूला। भयउ मनहुँ मारुत अनुकुला।। पावन पयँ तिहुँ काल नहाहीं। जो बिलोकि अंघ ओघ नसाहीं।। मंगलमूरति लोचन भरि भरि। निरखहिं हरषि दंडवत करि करि।। राम सैल बन देखन जाहीं। जहँ सुख सकल सकल दुख नाहीं।। झरना झरिहिं सुधासम बारी। त्रिबिध तापहर त्रिबिध बयारी।। बिटप बेलि तृन अगनित जाती। फल प्रसून पल्लव बहु भाँती।। सुंदर सिला सुखद तरु छाहीं। जाइ बरनि बन छबि केहि पाहीं।।

Hearing Rama's words, the assembly was filled with fear, like a ship tossed in the ocean. Hearing the guru's speech, which is the root of all blessings, their minds became as the wind favorable. They bathe at all three times in purifying waters, which destroy the flood of sins at a glance. The image of auspiciousness, with eyes filled and filled again, gazes in joy, bowing again and again in obeisance. They go to see the mountain and forest of Rama, where there is all happiness and no sorrow whatsoever. Fountains pour forth streams like nectar, removing the threefold suffering, the threefold breeze. Trees, creepers, and grasses of countless kinds, with fruits, flowers, and leaves of many sorts. Beautiful rocks and trees giving pleasant shade; how can one describe the beauty of that forest? The lakes with their lotuses, the water, the birds singing, the bees humming. Free from enmity, the deer and birds of many colors roam the forest.

Verse 509 (दोहा/सोरठा)

सरनि सरोरुह जल बिहग कूजत गुंजत भृंग। बैर बिगत बिहरत बिपिन मृग बिहंग बहुरंग।।249।।

The lakes with their lotuses, the water, the birds singing, the bees humming. Free from enmity, the deer and birds of many colors roam the forest.