Prakarana 6

Verse 102 (चौपाई)

अस बिचारि उर छाड़हु कोहू। सोक कलंक कोठि जनि होहू।। भरतहि अवसि देहु जुबराजू। कानन काह राम कर काजू।। नाहिन रामु राज के भूखे। धरम धुरीन बिषय रस रूखे।। गुर गृह बसहुँ रामु तजि गेहू। नृप सन अस बरु दूसर लेहू।। जौं नहिं लगिहहु कहें हमारे। नहिं लागिहि कछु हाथ तुम्हारे।। जौं परिहास कीन्हि कछु होई। तौ कहि प्रगट जनावहु सोई।। राम सरिस सुत कानन जोगू। काह कहिहि सुनि तुम्ह कहुँ लोगू।। उठहु बेगि सोइ करहु उपाई। जेहि बिधि सोकु कलंकु नसाई।।

Thinking thus, abandon anger from your heart; do not become a storehouse of sorrow and disgrace. You must surely make Bharata the crown prince; what need is there to send Rama to the forest? Rama has no hunger for the kingdom; he is the very pillar of righteousness, and has no taste for worldly pleasures. Rama dwelt in his teacher's house, leaving his own home; accept this other boon from the king. If you do not heed our words, nothing will be in your hands. If you have spoken in jest, then declare it openly before all. What will people say when they hear that you have sent a son like Rama to the forest? Arise quickly and devise some means by which this sorrow and disgrace may be wiped away."

Verse 103 (छंद)

जेहि भाँति सोकु कलंकु जाइ उपाय करि कुल पालही। हठि फेरु रामहि जात बन जनि बात दूसरि चालही।। जिमि भानु बिनु दिनु प्रान बिनु तनु चंद बिनु जिमि जामिनी। तिमि अवध तुलसीदास प्रभु बिनु समुझि धौं जियँ भामिनी।।

In whatever way sorrow and disgrace may be removed, take that course and protect the family honor; do not pursue any other path. Bring back Rama, who has gone to the forest, by your resolve; do not follow any other way. As day without the sun, as the body without life, as the night without the moon So, O Tulsidas, is Ayodhya without the Lord; thus I deem it in my heart, O fair one.

Verse 104 (दोहा/सोरठा)

सखिन्ह सिखावनु दीन्ह सुनत मधुर परिनाम हित। तेइँ कछु कान न कीन्ह कुटिल प्रबोधी कूबरी।।50।।

She gave instruction to her friends, and hearing it, the outcome was sweet and beneficial; but the cunning hunchbacked woman gave no ear to any of it.

Verse 105 (चौपाई)

उतरु न देइ दुसह रिस रूखी। मृगिन्ह चितव जनु बाघिनि भूखी।। ब्याधि असाधि जानि तिन्ह त्यागी। चलीं कहत मतिमंद अभागी।। राजु करत यह दैअँ बिगोई। कीन्हेसि अस जस करइ न कोई।। एहि बिधि बिलपहिं पुर नर नारीं। देहिं कुचालिहि कोटिक गारीं।। जरहिं बिषम जर लेहिं उसासा। कवनि राम बिनु जीवन आसा।। बिपुल बियोग प्रजा अकुलानी। जनु जलचर गन सूखत पानी।। अति बिषाद बस लोग लोगाई। गए मातु पहिं रामु गोसाई।। मुख प्रसन्न चित चौगुन चाऊ। मिटा सोचु जनि राखै राऊ।।

She gave no answer; her unbearable anger was fierce. She glared at the deer as a hungry tigress glares. Knowing her malady to be incurable, they abandoned her. She went away, calling her foolish and luckless. She has ruined the kingdom by this evil fate. She has done what no one else would do. In this manner the men and women of the city lamented; they uttered a million curses against the wicked woman. They burned in a terrible burning and took to sighing. What hope of life was there without Rama? The people were distraught with overwhelming separation, as if water-creatures were parching for lack of water. The townsfolk were overcome with great sorrow. Rama, the Lord, went to his mother. His face was cheerful, but his heart was four times more eager. He put aside all worry, lest his mother should keep him back.

Verse 106 (दोहा/सोरठा)

नव गयंदु रघुबीर मनु राजु अलान समान। छूट जानि बन गवनु सुनि उर अनंदु अधिकान।।51।।

The mind of the Lord of the Raghus was as a new sovereign; his joy was like that of a released prisoner. Knowing that his going to the forest was certain, and hearing of it, his heart was filled with exceeding gladness.

Verse 107 (चौपाई)

रघुकुलतिलक जोरि दोउ हाथा। मुदित मातु पद नायउ माथा।। दीन्हि असीस लाइ उर लीन्हे। भूषन बसन निछावरि कीन्हे।। बार बार मुख चुंबति माता। नयन नेह जलु पुलकित गाता।। गोद राखि पुनि हृदयँ लगाए। स्त्रवत प्रेनरस पयद सुहाए।। प्रेमु प्रमोदु न कछु कहि जाई। रंक धनद पदबी जनु पाई।। सादर सुंदर बदनु निहारी। बोली मधुर बचन महतारी।। कहहु तात जननी बलिहारी। कबहिं लगन मुद मंगलकारी।। सुकृत सील सुख सीवँ सुहाई। जनम लाभ कइ अवधि अघाई।।

The Ornament of the Raghu race joined his palms and bowed his head at his mother's feet in joy. She gave him her blessing, clasping him to her heart; she bestowed ornaments and garments in abundance. Again and again his mother kissed his face; her eyes were filled with tears of love, and her body was thrilled. She placed him in her lap and embraced him to her heart; the nectar of love streamed forth in lovely streams. The love and the gladness cannot be told; it was as if a pauper had obtained the rank of the god of wealth. Gazing with love at his beautiful face, his mother spoke sweet words. "Tell me, my son," she said, "I am devoted to you. When is the auspicious hour that brings joy and blessing? By virtue of your merit, your character, your happiness, and your beauty, you have attained the highest fruit of birth."

Verse 108 (दोहा/सोरठा)

जेहि चाहत नर नारि सब अति आरत एहि भाँति। जिमि चातक चातकि तृषित बृष्टि सरद रितु स्वाति।।52।।

All the men and women who longed for him were exceedingly distressed in this manner, as the chataka and his mate thirst for the rain of the Swati star in the autumn season.

Verse 109 (चौपाई)

तात जाउँ बलि बेगि नहाहू। जो मन भाव मधुर कछु खाहू।। पितु समीप तब जाएहु भैआ। भइ बड़ि बार जाइ बलि मैआ।। मातु बचन सुनि अति अनुकूला। जनु सनेह सुरतरु के फूला।। सुख मकरंद भरे श्रियमूला। निरखि राम मनु भवरुँ न भूला।। धरम धुरीन धरम गति जानी। कहेउ मातु सन अति मृदु बानी।। पिताँ दीन्ह मोहि कानन राजू। जहँ सब भाँति मोर बड़ काजू।। आयसु देहि मुदित मन माता। जेहिं मुद मंगल कानन जाता।। जनि सनेह बस डरपसि भोरें। आनँदु अंब अनुग्रह तोरें।।

"My son, I shall go and quickly bathe, and eat something sweet that pleases my heart. Then go to your father, my child. It is late; go, my son." Hearing his mother's words, he was greatly pleased, as if the flower of the tree of love had blossomed. Filled with the honey of joy, the root of beauty, gazing upon Rama, the bee of his heart was not bewildered. Knowing that the Upholder of Righteousness was the goal of righteousness, he spoke to his mother in very gentle words. "My father has given me the kingdom of the forest, where all my great tasks await me. Give me your command, mother, with a joyful heart, that I may go to the forest with happiness and blessing. Do not fear out of affection, my mother; your grace is my joy."

Verse 110 (दोहा/सोरठा)

बरष चारिदस बिपिन बसि करि पितु बचन प्रमान। आइ पाय पुनि देखिहउँ मनु जनि करसि मलान।।53।।

Having dwelt in the forest for fourteen years, making my father's word my authority, I shall return and touch his feet again; do not let your heart be downcast.

Verse 111 (चौपाई)

बचन बिनीत मधुर रघुबर के। सर सम लगे मातु उर करके।। सहमि सूखि सुनि सीतलि बानी। जिमि जवास परें पावस पानी।। कहि न जाइ कछु हृदय बिषादू। मनहुँ मृगी सुनि केहरि नादू।। नयन सजल तन थर थर काँपी। माजहि खाइ मीन जनु मापी।। धरि धीरजु सुत बदनु निहारी। गदगद बचन कहति महतारी।। तात पितहि तुम्ह प्रानपिआरे। देखि मुदित नित चरित तुम्हारे।। राजु देन कहुँ सुभ दिन साधा। कहेउ जान बन केहिं अपराधा।। तात सुनावहु मोहि निदानू। को दिनकर कुल भयउ कृसानू।।

The humble and sweet words of the Lord of the Raghus struck his mother's heart like arrows. She withered as she heard those chilling words, just as the rains fall upon a parched field. The sorrow in her heart cannot be told; it was as when a deer hears the lion's roar. Her eyes were wet, her body trembled violently; she was like a fish out of water, gasping. Steadying herself, she gazed at her son's face; the queen spoke in a voice choked with emotion. "My child, you are dearer to me than life itself; I have ever rejoiced to see your ways. The king said he would give you the throne on an auspicious day; he spoke knowing that some offense had been committed in the forest. My child, tell me the truth: who has become a blight upon the solar race?"

Verse 112 (दोहा/सोरठा)

निरखि राम रुख सचिवसुत कारनु कहेउ बुझाइ। सुनि प्रसंगु रहि मूक जिमि दसा बरनि नहिं जाइ।।54।।

Seeing Rama's countenance, the minister's son explained the cause; hearing the matter, she remained silent, and her state cannot be described.

Verse 113 (चौपाई)

राखि न सकइ न कहि सक जाहू। दुहूँ भाँति उर दारुन दाहू।। लिखत सुधाकर गा लिखि राहू। बिधि गति बाम सदा सब काहू।। धरम सनेह उभयँ मति घेरी। भइ गति साँप छुछुंदरि केरी।। राखउँ सुतहि करउँ अनुरोधू। धरमु जाइ अरु बंधु बिरोधू।। कहउँ जान बन तौ बड़ि हानी। संकट सोच बिबस भइ रानी।। बहुरि समुझि तिय धरमु सयानी। रामु भरतु दोउ सुत सम जानी।। सरल सुभाउ राम महतारी। बोली बचन धीर धरि भारी।। तात जाउँ बलि कीन्हेहु नीका। पितु आयसु सब धरमक टीका।।

She could neither restrain herself nor speak; in both ways a terrible fire burned in her heart. It was as if the moon were written, and then Rahu were written over it; the ways of fate are ever contrary for all. Dharma and love both besieged her mind; her plight became like that of the snake and the shrew. If I restrain my son, I must make entreaty; dharma is lost, and there is conflict with my brother. If I speak, knowing he must go to the forest, it would be a great loss; thus the queen was overcome by distress and anxiety. Again she reflected, the woman wise in dharma, knowing both Rama and Bharata as equal sons. Rama's mother, of simple nature, spoke words of great steadiness. "My child, I shall go with you; it would be well. My father's command is the very ornament of dharma."

Verse 114 (दोहा/सोरठा)

राजु देन कहि दीन्ह बनु मोहि न सो दुख लेसु। तुम्ह बिनु भरतहि भूपतिहि प्रजहि प्रचंड कलेसु।।55।।

He said he would give the kingdom and has given me the forest; I shall not take that to heart. But without you, there will be terrible suffering for the king, for Bharata, for the subjects.

Verse 115 (चौपाई)

जौं केवल पितु आयसु ताता। तौ जनि जाहु जानि बड़ि माता।। जौं पितु मातु कहेउ बन जाना। तौं कानन सत अवध समाना।। पितु बनदेव मातु बनदेवी। खग मृग चरन सरोरुह सेवी।। अंतहुँ उचित नृपहि बनबासू। बय बिलोकि हियँ होइ हराँसू।। बड़भागी बनु अवध अभागी। जो रघुबंसतिलक तुम्ह त्यागी।। जौं सुत कहौ संग मोहि लेहू। तुम्हरे हृदयँ होइ संदेहू।। पूत परम प्रिय तुम्ह सबही के। प्रान प्रान के जीवन जी के।। ते तुम्ह कहहु मातु बन जाऊँ। मैं सुनि बचन बैठि पछिताऊँ।।

If it were only my father's command, dear mother, then know that you are far greater than he; do not go. If my father and mother have both said 'Go to the forest,' then for me a hundred forests are the same as Ayodhya. My father is the god of the forest, my mother is the goddess of the forest; the birds and deer are my companions, and the lotuses are my attendants. In the end, forest exile is fitting for a king; seeing this, my heart feels no sorrow. Fortunate is the forest, and unfortunate is Ayodhya, for you are abandoning the ornament of the Raghu dynasty. If you say, 'Son, take me with you,' then doubt will arise in your heart. You are the beloved son of all; you are the very life of those who live, the soul of every soul. Therefore, tell me, mother, that I should go to the forest; hearing those words, I shall sit and repent.

Verse 116 (दोहा/सोरठा)

यह बिचारि नहिं करउँ हठ झूठ सनेहु बढ़ाइ। मानि मातु कर नात बलि सुरति बिसरि जनि जाइ।।56।।

Thinking thus, I shall not act stubbornly or falsely, nor shall I increase my love; accepting my mother's word, I bow to her in reverence, and may I never forget that remembrance.

Verse 117 (चौपाई)

देव पितर सब तुन्हहि गोसाई। राखहुँ पलक नयन की नाई।। अवधि अंबु प्रिय परिजन मीना। तुम्ह करुनाकर धरम धुरीना।। अस बिचारि सोइ करहु उपाई। सबहि जिअत जेहिं भेंटेहु आई।। जाहु सुखेन बनहि बलि जाऊँ। करि अनाथ जन परिजन गाऊँ।। सब कर आजु सुकृत फल बीता। भयउ कराल कालु बिपरीता।। बहुबिधि बिलपि चरन लपटानी। परम अभागिनि आपुहि जानी।। दारुन दुसह दाहु उर ब्यापा। बरनि न जाहिं बिलाप कलापा।। राम उठाइ मातु उर लाई। कहि मृदु बचन बहुरि समुझाई।।

The gods and the ancestors all look to you as their master; protect me as the eyelid guards the eye. Water is dear to the fish, and kin are dear to the deer; you are the compassionate one, the pillar of righteousness. Thinking thus, devise a plan by which I may meet you while all my kin still live. Let me go happily to the forest, and there I shall make the forest my kin, leaving my family behind. Today the fruit of all my past merits has come to an end; a terrible and adverse fate has befallen me. Weeping in many ways, she clung to his feet, knowing herself to be utterly unfortunate. A dread and unbearable burning filled her heart; her lamentations cannot be described. Rama lifted his mother and embraced her to his heart; speaking gentle words, he explained everything to her again.

Verse 118 (दोहा/सोरठा)

समाचार तेहि समय सुनि सीय उठी अकुलाइ। जाइ सासु पद कमल जुग बंदि बैठि सिरु नाइ।।57।।

Hearing the news at that moment, Sita rose in distress; she went and bowed at her mother-in-law's lotus feet, joining her hands, and sat with her head bowed.

Verse 119 (चौपाई)

दीन्हि असीस सासु मृदु बानी। अति सुकुमारि देखि अकुलानी।। बैठि नमितमुख सोचति सीता। रूप रासि पति प्रेम पुनीता।। चलन चहत बन जीवननाथू। केहि सुकृती सन होइहि साथू।। की तनु प्रान कि केवल प्राना। बिधि करतबु कछु जाइ न जाना।। चारु चरन नख लेखति धरनी। नूपुर मुखर मधुर कबि बरनी।। मनहुँ प्रेम बस बिनती करहीं। हमहि सीय पद जनि परिहरहीं।। मंजु बिलोचन मोचति बारी। बोली देखि राम महतारी।। तात सुनहु सिय अति सुकुमारी। सासु ससुर परिजनहि पिआरी।।

Her mother-in-law gave her blessings in gentle words, seeing the exceedingly delicate girl in such distress. Sita sat with bowed head, lost in thought; she was an embodiment of beauty, purified by love for her husband. Her lord of life wishes to go to the forest; by what merit shall I be his companion? Is it my body and life, or only my life? I cannot know what fate intends. Her four feet seem to write verses upon the earth; her anklets sound sweet, and poets describe her beauty. As if under love's spell, they plead: 'Do not shun us, Sita, we beseech you.' Her lovely eyes shed tears; seeing this, Rama's mother spoke. 'Father, listen: Sita is exceedingly delicate; she is dear to her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and all her kin.'

Verse 120 (दोहा/सोरठा)

पिता जनक भूपाल मनि ससुर भानुकुल भानु। पति रबिकुल कैरव बिपिन बिधु गुन रूप निधानु।।58।।

My father is King Janaka, a jewel among monarchs; my father-in-law is the sun of the solar race. My husband is the moon of the solar race, a forest of lotuses; he is the treasure-house of virtue and beauty.

Verse 121 (चौपाई)

मैं पुनि पुत्रबधू प्रिय पाई। रूप रासि गुन सील सुहाई।। नयन पुतरि करि प्रीति बढ़ाई। राखेउँ प्रान जानिकिहिं लाई।। कलपबेलि जिमि बहुबिधि लाली। सींचि सनेह सलिल प्रतिपाली।। फूलत फलत भयउ बिधि बामा। जानि न जाइ काह परिनामा।। पलँग पीठ तजि गोद हिंड़ोरा। सियँ न दीन्ह पगु अवनि कठोरा।। जिअनमूरि जिमि जोगवत रहऊँ। दीप बाति नहिं टारन कहऊँ।। सोइ सिय चलन चहति बन साथा। आयसु काह होइ रघुनाथा। चंद किरन रस रसिक चकोरी। रबि रुख नयन सकइ किमि जोरी।।

Then I, being his son's bride, found favor with him; I was endowed with beauty, virtue, and good character. He increased his love for me, regarding me as his own daughter; I gave him my very life, knowing him to be my all. As a gardener tends a young creeper in many ways, watering it with the water of affection, so did he nurture me. I flourished and bore fruit by his care, though none could know what the outcome would be. Leaving bed and seat, he made his lap a swing for me; to Sita he never gave a harsh word. I lived as if under a vow, like one whose very life is bound to him; I would not have turned away even a lamp's wick. That same Sita now wishes to go to the forest with him; what command will the Lord of the Raghus give? How can the eyes of a chakori bird, which delights in the rays of the moon, endure the sight of the sun?

Verse 122 (दोहा/सोरठा)

करि केहरि निसिचर चरहिं दुष्ट जंतु बन भूरि। बिष बाटिकाँ कि सोह सुत सुभग सजीवनि मूरि।।59।।

Elephants, lions, and demons roam the forest, and wicked creatures are there in great numbers; can a lovely daughter, the very life of her parents, fare well in a garden of poison?