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Even now, he in whose heart the travelers, Lakshmana, Sita, and Rama, dwell even in a dream will find the road to Rama’s abode. At Valmiki’s hermitage Rama will ask the sage to tell him a place where he may build a hut of leaves and grass and live a while. Embarrassed to ask it, the sage will ask him to name the place where he is not.
In this episode of the Ramcharitmanas Rama, knowing Sita weary, stays where he sees a banyan and cool water near. Valmiki calls Sita maya, and Lakshmana the lord of serpents who bears the earth. Then he tells the dwellings where Rama should dwell. They run from the hearts of those whose ears his story fills without cease to the mind of one who wants nothing. He bids Rama live on Chitrakuta hill. Lakshmana sees a high bank north of the river and shows the place, and the gods, in Kol and Kirata dress, build two huts.
Guests at Valmiki’s hermitage
The main figures in this episode
- Rama who, knowing Sita weary, stays near a banyan and cool water. He comes to Valmiki’s hermitage, prostrates to the sage, and eats the fruit the sage sends for. He tells him the whole story. He asks to be told a place where the sage’s order is and no sage meets with disquiet, and where he may build a hut and live a while. Hearing the sage’s words, he is embarrassed and smiles in his mind. The sage’s loving words please his mind. He bathes in a fine river with Lakshmana and Sita, and asks Lakshmana to make ready somewhere to stay. He finds happiness at the sight of the spot Lakshmana shows. He is resplendent in the bright dwelling with Lakshmana and Sita.
- Sita whom Rama knows to be weary. She eats the fruit with Lakshmana and Rama. In Valmiki’s words she is maya, who creates, keeps, and ends the world at a sign from Rama. In several of the dwellings he names, the sage bids Rama dwell with her. She bathes in a fine river with the two brothers, and is with Rama and Lakshmana in the bright dwelling.
- Lakshmana who eats the fruit with Sita and Rama. In Valmiki’s words he is the lord of serpents with a thousand heads, who bears the earth, and whom the commentary names Shesha. At Chitrakuta Rama tells him to make ready a place to stay. He sees the high bank north of the river. He speaks of a stream that curves round it like a bow. He shows the place, and Rama finds happiness in it.
- Valmiki the sage of the hermitage, who comes forward to receive Rama, blesses him, and sends for sweet bulbs, roots, and fruit. He hears Rama’s story and his asking. He calls Rama the guardian of the bridge of the Veda. Embarrassed to ask, he asks Rama to name a place where he is not, and he laughs. He names the dwellings for Rama in the hearts, minds, and breasts of the people he describes. He tells Rama to live on Chitrakuta hill, and sings its glory.
- The gods and their chief builder the gods, who know that Rama’s mind has taken delight in the spot. They set out with the chief builder of the gods, whom the commentary names Vishvakarma. In the dress of Kols and Kiratas, all of them build handsome houses of leaves and grass. Of the two huts, one is graceful and small, and one large.
A weary Sita, and the sage’s welcome
Even now, the travelers, Lakshmana, Sita, and Rama, may dwell in someone’s heart at any time, even in a dream. He will find the road to Rama’s abode. That road some sage finds, at some time.
Then, knowing Sita weary and seeing a banyan and cool water near, Rama stayed there, eating bulbs, roots, and fruit. The commentary keeps them there for the night. Bathing at dawn, Rama set out.
Looking at the handsome woods, lakes, and hills, he came to Valmiki’s hermitage. Rama saw that the place where the sage lived was handsome: a beautiful hill, a forest, and sacred water. In the ponds the lotuses flowered, and in the woods the trees. Bees hummed pleasingly, lost in savor. Many birds and beasts made a clamor. Free of enmity, glad of mind, they roamed.
Seeing the pure, beautiful hermitage, Rama was glad. Hearing of Rama’s coming, the sage came forward to receive him.
Rama prostrated to the sage, and the sage gave him a blessing. At the sight of Rama’s beauty the sage’s eyes were cooled. With honor he brought them to the hermitage. The chief sage had found guests dear as life, and he sent for sweet bulbs, roots, and fruit. Sita, Lakshmana, and Rama ate the fruit. Then the sage gave them handsome quarters. The commentary adds that these were for rest.
Great was the bliss in Valmiki’s mind as he looked with his eyes on Rama, the image of blessing. The commentary seats the sage beside him. Then, joining his hands, Rama spoke words that gave happiness to the ear.
Good deeds that have borne fruit
“You see the three times, master of sages. The world is in your hand like a jujube.” So saying, Rama told the whole story, in what way the queen had given him the forest. The commentary names the queen Kaikeyi.
He went on. “My father’s word, and moreover my mother’s good, a brother like Bharata as king, and for me the sight of you, lord. All this is the power of my merit.”
“At the sight of your feet, king of sages, all our good deeds have borne fruit. Now, where your order is, and where no sage meets with disquiet. Kings from whom sages and ascetics get grief burn without fire. The contentment of brahmins is the root of blessing. The anger of brahmins burns ten million families.” The commentary reads the burning as by the kings’ own evil deeds.
“Knowing this in your heart, tell of that place where I may go with Sita and Lakshmana. There, building a bright hut of leaves and grass, I may live a while, merciful one.”
The place where Rama is not
Hearing Rama’s words, simple by nature, the wise sage said, “Well said, well said. Why would you not say so, Rama? You always guard the bridge of the Veda.”
“You guard the bridge of the Veda, Rama, Lord of the world, and Sita is maya, who creates, keeps, and ends the world at a sign from you. The lord of serpents with a thousand heads, who bears the earth, is Lakshmana, master of all that moves and all that does not. For the gods’ work, taking a king’s body, you have set out to crush the hosts of wicked night-walkers.” The commentary reads the maya as of Rama’s own nature, and names the lord of serpents Shesha.
“Your form, Rama, is beyond the reach of words and beyond intellect. It is unmanifest, untellable, and boundless. The Vedas always say of it: not this, not this.”
“The world is a show, and you are the one who watches it. You make the Creator, Vishnu, and Shiva dance. Even they do not know your secret. Who else is there to know you? He alone knows whom you make know. Knowing you, he becomes you. By your grace alone, Rama, devotees know you, who are sandal to the hearts of devotees.”
“Your body is made of consciousness and bliss, free of change. Those who are fit know this. You have taken a human body for the work of saints and gods, and you speak and act like a worldly king. Seeing and hearing your deeds, Rama, the dull are deluded and the wise are happy. All that you say and do is true. As one is dressed, so one must dance.” The commentary adds that in a human form, human conduct is right.
“You asked me where you should stay. I am embarrassed in asking. Say where you are not, and I will show you the place.”
Hearing the sage’s words steeped in the savor of love, Rama, embarrassed, smiled in his mind. The commentary gives the embarrassment a cause, fear that his secret would come out. Laughing, Valmiki spoke again, sweet words dipped in the savor of nectar.
A sea for the story, a drop of the form
“Hear, Rama,” the sage said. “Now I tell the dwellings where you should dwell with Sita and Lakshmana.”
“There are those whose ears are like the sea. The many handsome rivers of your story fill them without cease, and they are never full. Their hearts are fine homes for you.”
“There are those who have made their eyes chataks, and who stay longing for the cloud of your sight. They scorn great rivers, seas, and lakes, and they become happy with one drop of the water of your form. In the houses of their hearts, which give happiness, dwell with your brother and Sita, Rama.”
“There is one whose tongue is a swan on the clear Manasa lake of your fame, picking the pearls of your virtues. Rama, dwell in his heart.”
One fruit for all those deeds
The sage went on. “There are those whose nose, each day and with reverence, takes in what has been offered to you, pure, handsome, and fragrant. They eat food offered to you, and they wear clothes and ornaments as things offered to you.” The commentary reads the fragrant offerings as flowers and the like.
“Their heads bow at the sight of gods, guru, and brahmins, with love, making great entreaty. Their hands worship Rama’s feet each day, and in their hearts is trust in Rama and no other. Their feet walk to Rama’s holy places. Rama, dwell in their minds.”
“They chant your king of mantras each day, and they worship you with the family. They make libations and fire offerings of many kinds, and, feeding brahmins, give many gifts. Knowing the guru in their hearts as greater than you, and honoring him, they serve him with their whole being.” The commentary reads the king of mantras as the Name, and the family as Rama’s retinue.
“Doing all this, they ask for one fruit, love for Rama’s feet. Sita and Rama, dwell, both of you, in the temple of their minds.”
Glad at another’s prosperity
The sage continued. “There are those in whom there is no lust, anger, arrogance, pride, or delusion, no greed, agitation, attachment, or malice, and no guile, hypocrisy, or deceit. Rama, dwell in their hearts.”
“They are dear to all and do good to all. Grief and happiness, praise and abuse, are alike to them. They speak true and dear words, considering them. Waking and sleeping, they are in your refuge. Leaving you aside, they have no other recourse. Rama, dwell in their minds.”
“They know another’s wife to be like a mother, and another’s wealth as a poison heavier than poison. They are glad at another’s prosperity, and especially grieved at another’s trouble. To them, Rama, you are dear as life. Their minds are your auspicious houses.”
“There are those for whom you are master, friend, father, mother, and guru, all of these, dear one. In the temple of their minds, dwell with Sita, you two brothers.”
The one who wants nothing
He went on. “There are those who, leaving failings, take the virtues of all. They bear hardship for brahmins and cows. They are skilled in policy, and their example stands in the world. Their goodly mind is your home.”
“There is one who holds the virtues as yours and the fault as his own, who trusts you in every way, and to whom Rama’s devotees are dear. In his breast, dwell with Sita.”
“There is one who, leaving caste and kin, wealth, dharma, honor, dear family, and the house that gives happiness, leaving all of it, keeps you held to his breast. Rama, stay in his heart.”
“Heaven, hell, and liberation are alike to him. Here and there he sees you, bow and arrows in hand. In deed, word, and mind he is your servant. Rama, make your camp in his breast.”
“There is one who never wants anything, and who has a natural love for you. Dwell without cease in his mind. That is your own home.”
In this way the chief sage showed the mansions. His loving words pleased Rama’s mind.
Chitrakuta, a hermitage for this time
The sage said, “Hear, Rama. I tell of a hermitage that gives happiness for this time. Live on Chitrakuta hill. There you have comfort in every way. The hill is handsome and the forest lovely, where elephants, lions, deer, and birds roam.”
“There is a holy river there, which the Puranas praise. Atri’s wife brought it by the power of her own tapas. It is a stream of the Ganga, and its name is the Mandakini. To all sins it is what a witch is to infants.” The commentary names Atri’s wife Anasuya.
“Atri and many other chief sages dwell there. They do yoga, chanting, and tapas, and wear down their bodies. Go, and make the toil of all of them fruitful. Rama, give glory to the chief of hills too.”
The great sage told Chitrakuta’s measureless glory, singing it. The two brothers with Sita came and bathed in the fine river.
The high north bank, and two huts
“Lakshmana, a good ghat,” Rama said, at the landing on the river. “Now make ready somewhere to stay.”
Lakshmana saw the high bank to the north of the river. “A stream curves round it on all four sides, like a bow. The river is its bowstring. Calm, self-control, and giving are its arrows. All the sins of the Kali age are its many beasts of the chase. It is as if Chitrakuta were a hunter who does not move, whose stroke does not miss, and who strikes face to face.”
So saying, Lakshmana showed the place. Seeing the spot, Rama found happiness. The gods knew that Rama’s mind had taken delight there. They set out with the chief builder of the gods, whom the commentary names Vishvakarma.
All came in the dress of Kols and Kiratas, and they built handsome houses of leaves and grass. The commentary calls the leaves and grass divine. The two pleasing huts were beyond description, one graceful and small, one large.
With Lakshmana and Sita, Rama was resplendent in the bright dwelling. It was as if Kama in the dress of a sage shone with Rati and Spring.
The course of the episode
Rama knew Sita weary and stayed near a banyan and cool water. At dawn he bathed and set out, and he came through handsome woods, lakes, and hills to Valmiki’s hermitage. The sage came forward to receive him. Rama prostrated, and the sage blessed him. He sent for sweet bulbs, roots, and fruit, and the three ate. Rama joined his hands and told him the whole story. He called his father’s word, his mother’s good, Bharata as king, and the sight of the sage the power of his merit. He asked to be told a place where no sage would meet with disquiet, and where he might live a while in a hut of leaves and grass.
Valmiki said that Rama guards the bridge of the Veda. He named Sita maya and Lakshmana the bearer of the earth. Embarrassed to ask, he bade Rama say where he was not, and he would show him the place. Rama smiled in his mind, and the sage laughed. Then he named the dwellings. They were the hearts of those whose ears take in Rama’s story and whose eyes long for his sight. They were the minds of those whose heads bow to gods, guru, and brahmins. They were the hearts of those free of lust and anger, and the minds of those to whom another’s wife is like a mother. The mind of the one who wants nothing, he said, is Rama’s own home.
He bade Rama live on Chitrakuta hill, where there is a holy river, the Mandakini, which Atri’s wife brought by her own tapas. Singing, he told of its glory. The two brothers and Sita came and bathed in a fine river. Rama called the ghat good and bade Lakshmana make ready a place. Lakshmana saw a high bank to the north. A stream curved round it like a bow, he said, and he showed the place. Rama found happiness at the sight. The gods knew his mind’s delight. Dressed as Kols and Kiratas, they came with their chief builder and built two huts, one graceful and small and one large. Rama was resplendent there with 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 124 to 133, read with Hanuman Prasad Poddar’s Hindi commentary.