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Dawn comes while Rama‘s virtues are being told, and he wakes. With his brother he makes his hair matted with the milk of the banyan, and at the sight Sumantra’s eyes fill with water. Sumantra carries the king’s order to bring the three back, and the king’s message that Sita will not be able to bear the forest’s affliction. At the Ganga the boatman does not bring his boat, and sets the washing of Rama’s feet as his condition.
In this episode Rama raises the minister, consoles him, and speaks of truth as the dharma no other equals. He sends his father an entreaty through the minister. Sita speaks to Rama, and then to the minister. The minister turns back and drives the chariot away. The boatman washes Rama’s feet and carries him across. He refuses the fare, and Rama gives him a boon. Sita entreats the Ganga, and a voice from the water blesses her. Guha asks to stay, and Rama takes him along.
The minister, the boatman, Guha, and the Ganga
The main figures in this episode
- Rama who wakes at dawn, bathes, and makes his hair matted with his brother. He raises the minister and consoles him. He names Shibi, Dadhichi, and King Harishchandra, who bore afflictions for dharma, and the kings Rantideva and Bali, who held to it. He says that no other dharma equals truth. He asks the minister to clasp his father’s feet and entreat him not to worry. He forbids Lakshmana’s harsh words, and makes the minister swear not to tell Lakshmana’s message. He counsels Sita in ten million ways. He consoles the minister in many ways, answers his efforts to go along, and sends him back by force. At the Ganga he asks for the boat. Hearing the boatman’s words, he laughs, looking at Sita and Lakshmana. He tells the boatman to bring water and wash his feet. He is embarrassed that he has given the boatman nothing, and tells him to take the fare. He gives him the boon of pure bhakti. He bathes and worships an earthen image. He tells Guha to go home, and then takes him along. Remembering Ganesha and Shiva, and bowing his head to the Ganga, he goes into the forest.
- Sita who is named in the king’s order and in his message. She hears Rama’s counsel and asks him how a shadow can stay apart from the body. She tells the minister that she has come before him in distress, and that without her husband’s feet every relation is in vain. She speaks of her father’s house, of her father-in-law’s rank, and of the forest. She asks the minister to entreat her mother-in-law and her father-in-law on her behalf, at their feet. On the sand of the Ganga she takes off her jeweled ring. With joined hands she calls the Ganga Mother and makes her entreaty. A fine voice from the pure water blesses her. She goes into the forest with Rama.
- Lakshmana who ends his words to Guha, telling him to give up delusion and be devoted to the feet of Sita and Rama. He makes his hair matted with Rama. He is named in the king’s order. He says some harsh words. Rama forbids him, and the minister is sworn not to tell his message. Sita calls him her dear brother-in-law, and says that he and her husband are foremost of heroes, bearing bow and quiver. The boatman says Lakshmana may shoot him with an arrow. He stands on the sand with the others. With Rama and Sita he tries much, and the boatman takes nothing. He is named in Sita’s entreaty to the Ganga and in the Ganga’s blessing. He goes into the forest with Rama.
- Sumantra the minister, whose eyes fill with water at the matted hair. With joined hands he reports the king’s order, and falls at Rama’s feet and weeps like a child. He asks Rama to do that by which Ayodhya is not orphaned. Rama raises him, consoles him, and puts him under oath. He gives the king’s message about Sita. Hearing Sita’s cool words, he becomes distraught, as if a snake had lost its jewel. He makes many efforts to go along. He bows his head and turns back like a merchant who has lost his capital. He drives the chariot, and Rama sends him back by force.
- The boatman who does not bring the boat when Rama asks for it. He says he knows Rama’s secret, and that his boat too would become a sage’s wife and fly off. He says that with this boat he keeps his whole family, and asks to be told to wash Rama’s feet. He swears by Rama and by Dasharatha that he says it all truly. Until those feet are washed, he will not take Rama across. At Rama’s order he brings water in a wooden basin and washes Rama’s feet. He drinks the water with his family, carries his ancestors across, and gladly takes Rama across. He gets down and prostrates. When Rama tells him to take his fare, he clasps Rama’s feet, distressed, and says he wants nothing. He takes nothing, and Rama sends him off with the boon of pure bhakti.
- Guha who hears the end of Lakshmana’s words. He becomes distraught with his family at the talk of Rama and the minister. He stands on the sand of the Ganga with Sita, Rama, and Lakshmana. When Rama tells him to go home, his face goes dry and a burning rises in his breast. He entreats to stay with Rama, show the road, and serve his feet for four days. He says he will make a leaf hut wherever Rama goes to live, and will do whatever Rama orders, swearing by Rama. Rama takes him along. He calls his kinsmen, contents them, and sends them off. He goes into the forest as Rama’s friend.
- The Ganga in whom the king’s order bids the minister bathe the two brothers. Rama comes to her bank after sending the minister back. Seeing the nails of his feet, she rejoices, and at his words her wit is drawn into delusion. The boatman takes Rama across her, and the four stand on her sand. Sita entreats her as Mother. A fine voice comes from her pure water and blesses Sita with a safe return to Kosala. Rama bows his head to her before he goes into the forest.
Dawn, and the matted hair of the two brothers
Lakshmana ended his words to Guha. “Friend, understanding this and giving up delusion, be devoted to the feet of Sita and Rama.” As Rama’s virtues were told, dawn came. Rama woke.
Doing all the morning’s cleansing, Rama bathed. Pure and wise, he sent for the milk of the banyan. With his brother he made his hair matted on his head. At the sight, Sumantra’s eyes filled with water.
His heart burned greatly, and his face was sad. With joined hands he spoke very pitiful words.
“Master, Dasharatha said this: take the chariot and go with Rama. Showing them the forest and bathing them in the Ganga, bring the two brothers back quickly. Bring Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita back, settling every doubt and hesitation. So the king said. Whatever the master says, I will do that. I would give myself for you.”
Making entreaty, he fell at Rama’s feet and wept like a child. “Dear one, showing grace, do that by which Ayodhya is not orphaned.”
The dharma of truth, and a message for the father
Raising the minister, Rama consoled him. “Dear one, you have examined every view of dharma. Shibi, Dadhichi, and King Harishchandra bore ten million afflictions for dharma. The wise kings Rantideva and Bali held to dharma, bearing many hardships.”
“No other dharma equals truth. So the Agamas, the Vedas, and the Puranas declare. I have found that dharma easily. If I leave it, infamy spreads over the three worlds.”
“For one held in honor, the gain of infamy is a terrible burning, like ten million deaths. To you, dear one, what more can I say? In answering you back I incur sin.”
“Clasping father’s feet and saying ten million bows, make entreaty with joined hands: Father, do not worry about me in any matter.”
“Moreover, you are my great well-wisher, like a father. I make entreaty, dear one, with joined hands. In every way your duty is that father not find grief in worry for us.”
The hope of bringing Sita back
Hearing the talk of Rama and the minister, Guha with his family became distraught. Then Lakshmana said some harsh words. Rama forbade him, knowing them very improper.
Embarrassed, Rama made the minister swear by Rama himself. “Do not go and tell Lakshmana’s message.”
Sumantra then told the king’s message. “Sita will not be able to bear the forest’s affliction. Whatever way brings Sita back to Ayodhya, that is for Rama and you to do. Otherwise, wholly without support, I will not live, like a fish without water. In her parents’ house and in her in-laws’ house is all happiness. Whenever and wherever her mind is pleased, there Sita will live happily, until the calamity passes.”
The way the king made his entreaty, that distress and love cannot be told. Hearing the father’s message, Rama gave Sita counsel in ten million ways. “If you turn back, the anxiety of mother-in-law, father-in-law, guru, and dear family is all wiped away.”
Hearing her husband’s words, Sita said: “Listen, lord of my life, most loving. Lord, you are full of compassion and supremely discerning. How can a shadow, leaving the body, stay held apart? Where does light go, parting from the sun? Where does moonlight go, leaving the moon?”
Two houses of happiness, and the company of the forest
Having told her husband an entreaty full of love, Sita spoke pleasing speech to the minister. “You are a well-wisher like my father and my father-in-law. For me to answer you back is a great impropriety. In the power of distress I have come before you. Do not take it ill, dear one. Without my husband’s lotus feet, every relation, as far as relations reach, is in vain.”
“I have seen the splendor of my father’s majesty. The crowns of the jewels among kings meet at his footstool. Such a father’s house, a treasury of happiness, does not please my mind even by mistake, without my beloved.” The commentary reads the crowns at the footstool as the great kings saluting at his feet.
“My father-in-law is the emperor, the king of Kosala, whose power is known in the fourteen worlds. Indra comes forward to receive him, and gives him a seat on half his throne. Such a father-in-law, a dwelling in Ayodhya, dear family, and mothers-in-law like mothers. Without the dust of Rama’s lotus feet, none of them seems pleasing to me, even in a dream.”
“Hard roads, forest land, mountains, elephants, lions, and endless lakes and rivers. Kols and Kiratas, deer and birds. All of them give me happiness in the company of the lord of my life.”
“Make entreaty on my behalf to my mother-in-law and father-in-law, falling at their feet. Let them not worry about me at all. I am happy in the forest by nature. The master of my life and my dear brother-in-law are with me, foremost of heroes, bearing bow and quiver. There is no weariness of the road, no confusion, and no grief in my mind. Do not worry for my sake, even by mistake.”
The minister turns back, and the horses keep looking
Hearing Sita’s cool words, Sumantra became distraught, as if a snake had lost its jewel. His eyes could not see, and his ears could not hear. He could say nothing, greatly distressed.
Rama consoled him in many ways. Even so his breast did not grow cool. He made many efforts to go along with them. Rama gave fitting answers.
Rama’s order cannot be undone. The course of karma is hard, and nothing avails against it. Bowing his head at the feet of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, he turned back like a merchant who has lost his capital.
He drove the chariot. The horses looked back at Rama again and again and neighed. Seeing it, the Nishadas, in the power of dejection, beat their heads and regretted. Beasts are so distraught in parting from him. How will the people, mother, and father live? Rama sent Sumantra back by force. Then he himself came to the bank of the Ganga.
The boatman’s condition for the safety of his boat
Rama asked for the boat. The boatman did not bring it. He said, “I know your secret. Of the dust of your lotus feet everyone says that it is some root that makes humans. At its touch a stone became a handsome woman. Wood is not harder than stone. My boat too would become a sage’s wife. I would be robbed, and my boat would fly off.” The commentary also reads the line as the road blocked and his living lost.
“With this boat I keep my whole family. I know no other trade. Lord, if you must go across, tell me to wash your lotus feet.”
He went on. “Washing your lotus feet, I will take you into the boat. Master, I want no fare. Rama, I swear by you and by Dasharatha, I say it all truly. Let Lakshmana shoot me with an arrow, but until I have washed your feet, I will not take you across, gracious master.”
Hearing the boatman’s odd words wrapped in love, Rama laughed, looking at Sita and Lakshmana. He spoke, smiling. “Do that by which your boat is not lost. Quickly bring water and wash my feet. It is getting late. Take us across.”
The water of the feet first, and then the crossing
Men cross the boundless sea of becoming by remembering Rama’s name once. He made the world less than three steps. That same Rama, in his mercy, pleaded with the boatman. The commentary places the three steps in the Vamana descent.
Seeing the nails of his feet, the river of the gods rejoiced. At Rama’s words her wit was drawn into delusion. The commentary reads the delusion as her wonder that God in person should plead with a boatman. The boatman got Rama’s order. Filling a wooden basin with water, he brought it.
Overflowing with great bliss and love, he began to wash Rama’s feet. Raining flowers, all the gods envied him as a heap of merit with no equal.
Washing the feet, and drinking the water himself with his whole family, and carrying his ancestors across, he then gladly took Rama across.
Getting down, Sita, Rama, Guha, and Lakshmana stood on the sand of the Ganga. The boatman got down and prostrated. Rama was embarrassed that he had given the boatman nothing.
The ring, and the boon of pure bhakti
Sita, who knows her beloved’s heart, took off her jeweled ring, glad in mind. Rama said, “Take your fare.” The boatman clasped his feet, distressed.
“Master, what have I not gained today? Faults, griefs, and the fire of poverty are wiped away. For a long time I did laborer’s work. Today the Creator has given good wages in full. Now, master, I want nothing, by your grace, you who are kind to the humble. What you give me on the way back, I will take on my head as your gift.”
Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita tried much. The boatman would take nothing. Rama sent him off, giving him the boon of pure bhakti.
Sita’s entreaty, and a voice from the water
Then, bathing and worshiping an earthen image, Rama bowed his head. The commentary reads the image as Shiva’s.
With joined hands Sita said to the Ganga, “Mother, fulfill my wish, that I may come back safe with my husband and my brother-in-law and worship you.”
At Sita’s entreaty, steeped in the savor of love, a fine voice then came from the pure water.
“Listen, Sita, Rama’s beloved. To whom in the world is your power not known? By your glance, guardians of the worlds are made. All the siddhis serve you with joined hands. In the great entreaty you have made to me, you have shown me grace and given me honor. Even so, goddess, I will give you a blessing, so that my own speech may bear fruit. You will come back to Kosala safe, with the master of your life and your brother-in-law. Every wish of your mind will be fulfilled, and your fair fame will spread over the world.”
Hearing the Ganga’s words, the root of blessing, Sita was glad. The river of the gods was favorable.
Guha asks to stay, and is taken along
Then Rama said to Guha, “Go home.” As Guha heard it, his face went dry, and a burning rose in his breast.
With joined hands Guha spoke pitiful words. “Hear my entreaty, Rama. Master, staying with you, showing the road, and serving your feet for four days, I will make a handsome leaf hut in whatever forest you go to live, Rama. Then whatever order you give me, that I will do. I swear by you, Rama.”
Seeing his natural love, Rama took him along. There was delight in Guha’s heart. Then Guha called all his kinsmen. Contenting them, he then sent them off.
Then, remembering Ganesha and Shiva, and bowing his head to the Ganga, Rama went into the forest with his friend, his brother, and Sita.
The course of the episode
Lakshmana finished speaking to Guha, and dawn came. Rama bathed and, with his brother, made his hair matted, and the minister’s eyes filled. Sumantra reported the king’s order and wept at Rama’s feet. Rama raised him, and named those who bore afflictions and hardships for dharma, and the truth that no dharma equals. He gave the minister a message for his father and named the minister’s duty. Lakshmana spoke harshly, and Rama forbade him and bound the minister by an oath. Sumantra delivered the king’s message about Sita. Rama counseled her, and she asked him about the shadow, the light, and the moonlight. To the minister she spoke of two houses and of the forest, and asked him to make entreaty for her at her mother-in-law’s and father-in-law’s feet. Sumantra was distraught at her words, made his efforts to go along, and turned back. He drove off, and the horses looked back and neighed. Rama sent him back by force and came to the Ganga. The boatman did not bring his boat and swore to his condition. Rama laughed and told him to wash the feet. The boatman washed them, drank the water with his family, and carried Rama over. He got down and prostrated. Sita took off her ring, Rama offered the fare, and the boatman wanted nothing. Rama sent him off with a boon. Rama bathed and worshiped. Sita made her entreaty to the Ganga, and the Ganga gave her a blessing. Rama told Guha to go home, saw his natural love, and took him along. Guha sent his kinsmen off. Rama remembered Ganesha and Shiva, bowed to the Ganga, and went into the forest with Guha, Lakshmana, and Sita.
The same story, elsewhere: Valmiki’s Ramayana, chapter 8, part 2: From Ayodhya to Chitrakuta.
Source: the Gita Press edition of Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhyakand, doha 94 to 104, read with Hanuman Prasad Poddar’s Hindi commentary.