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Amid the sages’ teaching, Rama turns to Vishvamitra. Yesterday, he says, everyone stayed without water. In the queens’ talk Kausalya tells Sunayana that her worry is for Bharata. She asks that Lakshmana be kept back and Bharata go to the forest. Sunayana goes with Sita, and Janaka, coming to the place, holds Sita to his heart. Distraught with her parents’ love, Sita holds patience.
In this episode Janaka, the king of Mithila, says that grain is not fitting to eat at Chitrakuta. The people who roam the forest bring fruit, flowers, leaves, and roots. It is as if the earth were playing host to Janaka. Four days pass, and both companies wish to dwell in the forest near Rama, where twice seven years would be like a moment. Sunayana’s maids find a fine occasion, and the queens of Mithila come to Kausalya. Sunayana says the Creator breaks the foam of milk with a thunderbolt chisel, and Sumitra calls his course perverse and strange. Kausalya answers that no one is at fault. She swears an oath by Rama and tells of Bharata’s virtues, and she asks Sunayana to explain her counsel to the king. Sumitra says that the night is two dandas gone. Sunayana clasps Kausalya’s feet, tells her what Yajnavalkya has said, and makes entreaty for Sita. Everyone who sees Sita in an ascetic’s guise is distraught. The sea of love wells up in Janaka’s heart. His mind is as if Prayaga.
The mothers, the father, and Sita between them
The main figures in this episode
- Kausalya Rama’s mother, who receives the queens of Mithila with respect and gives them seats fitting the hour. She says that no one is at fault and that sorrow and happiness are in karma’s power. With a heavy heart she says her worry is for Bharata. She swears an oath by Rama, which she says she has never sworn, and tells of Bharata’s virtues. She asks Sunayana to tell the king, in her own way, to keep Lakshmana and let Bharata go to the forest. Hearing Sumitra say that two dandas of the night are gone, Kausalya rises with love and asks the queens to set their feet quickly toward the place.
- Sunayana Sita’s mother, who sends maids at that time, and with the queens of Mithila comes to Kausalya. She says that the Creator’s intellect is crooked and his deeds dreadful. She calls Kausalya’s speech true and fine. Clasping Kausalya’s feet, she says that the king of Mithila is Kausalya’s servant in deed, mind, and speech, and that Yajnavalkya has said and set down all this. She makes entreaty for Sita and goes with her, receiving kind leave.
- Sumitra who says, full of worry, that the Creator’s course is perverse and strange. He creates and keeps, she says, and afterwards he takes away. Later, holding patience, she says that two dandas of the night have passed.
- Janaka the king of Mithila, who says that here grain is not fitting to eat. Receiving the order of Rama’s guru, he goes to the place and sees Sita. He takes her and holds her to his heart. In his heart the sea of love wells up, and his mind becomes as if Prayaga.
- Sita who goes with her mother when Sunayana receives kind leave. She meets her dear kinsfolk, each in the fitting way, and everyone who sees her in an ascetic’s guise is distraught with grief. Her father holds her to his heart. In the power of her father’s and mother’s love she cannot hold herself. Considering the hour and right dharma, she holds patience.
- Rama and the sages Rama says to Vishvamitra that yesterday everyone stayed without water, and the sage says that Rama says what is fitting. Vasishtha, the guru of the Sun’s line, and Shatananda, Janaka’s priest, give the council many teachings with the brahmins of both cities. Vishvamitra tells old stories, and Rama’s guru sends the loads of food to everyone with respect.
Amid the teaching, a word about the day without water
The brahmins of Dasharatha’s city and Janaka’s city, the guru of the Sun’s line, and Janaka’s priest had searched out the world’s way. They had searched out the highest good. They began to give many teachings, with dharma, policy, dispassion, and discernment. Telling old stories, Vishvamitra consoled the whole council in fine speech.
Then Rama said to Vishvamitra, “Master, yesterday everyone stayed without water.” The sage said, “Rama says what is fitting. Two and a half watches of the day have passed.” In the commentary’s reading some food was now due.
Seeing the rishi’s bent, the king of Mithila said, “Here grain is not fitting to eat.” The king’s good word pleased everyone. Receiving the order, all went to bathe.
At that moment the people who roam the forest brought fruit, flowers, leaves, and roots of many kinds. They came with heaped loads on carrying-poles.
As if the earth were playing host to Janaka
By Rama’s grace the hills had become wish-giving. At a look they took away grief. The lakes, the rivers, the forest, and every part of the land were as if welling with joy and love.
Creepers and trees were all in fruit and in flower. Birds, beasts, and bees sounded kindly. At that moment the forest had great eagerness, and the threefold breeze was pleasant to everyone. The commentary reads the three as cool, gentle, and fragrant.
Its charm cannot be told. It was as if the earth were playing host to Janaka. Then, bathing and receiving the order of Rama, Janaka, and the sage, and gazing at the fine trees, all the people were full of love. Here and there the townspeople began to camp.
Leaves, fruit, roots, and tubers of many kinds, pure, beautiful, and like nectar, Rama’s guru sent to everyone in heaped loads, with respect. Worshiping the ancestors, the gods, the guests, and the guru, they began the fruit meal.
Four days, and twice seven years like a moment
In this way four days passed. Gazing at Rama, the men and women were happy. In the minds of both companies there was this wish, that it was not good to go back without Sita and Rama.
This was the wish. “Dwelling in the forest with Sita and Rama is ease like ten million cities of the gods. Whoever likes home, leaving Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita, the Creator is against him. When fate is favorable to everyone, then one may dwell in the forest near Rama.”
“Bathing in the Mandakini three times a day. The sight of Rama, a garland of joy and blessing. Wandering Rama’s hill, the forest, and the ascetics’ places. Food of tubers, roots, and fruit, like nectar. With such happiness, twice seven years would be like a moment, and they would not be noticed going.”
“We are not fit for this happiness,” everyone said. “Where is such fortune?” Both companies had love for Rama’s feet by nature.
In this way all made their wishes. Their loving words took minds as they were heard.
The mothers meet, and a complaint against the Creator
At that time Sita’s mother, Sunayana, sent maids. Seeing a fine occasion, they came. Hearing that all Sita’s mothers-in-law were at leisure, King Janaka’s queens’ quarters came. Kausalya honored them with respect and gave seats fitting the hour, bringing them.
On both sides, in everyone, there was good conduct and love. At the sight and the sound of it a hard thunderbolt would melt. Bodies thrilling and slack, water in their eyes, all began to scratch the ground with their nails and to worry.
All were like images of Sita’s and Rama’s love. It was as if compassion were pining in many guises. Sunayana said, “The Creator’s intellect is crooked. He breaks the foam of milk with a thunderbolt chisel.” In the commentary’s reading the Creator heaps calamity on the most tender and faultless.
Sunayana went on. “Nectar is heard of, and poison is seen. All his deeds are dreadful. Here and there are crows, owls, and herons, and the swan but once, at the Manasa lake.”
Hearing it, Queen Sumitra said, full of worry, “The Creator’s course is very perverse and strange. He creates and keeps, and afterwards he takes away. The Creator’s wit is simple, like a child’s play.”
Kausalya says no one is at fault, and that her worry is for Bharata
Kausalya said, “No one is at fault. Sorrow and happiness, loss and gain are wholly in karma’s power. The Creator knows karma’s hard course. He is the giver of all fruit, good and bad.”
“The Lord’s order is on everyone’s head, on creation, keeping, and dissolution, and on poison and nectar too. Goddess, to worry in the power of delusion is in vain. The Creator’s display is so, unmoving and without beginning.”
“Bringing the king’s living and dying into the heart, friend, one worries, seeing the loss of one’s own good.” Sunayana said, “Your speech is true and fine. You are the queen of the lord of Ayodhya, the utmost of the meritorious.”
With a heavy heart Kausalya said, “Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita may go to the forest. The outcome will be good and in no way poor. My worry is for Bharata.”
An oath by Rama, and Bharata’s eight virtues
Kausalya went on. “By the Lord’s grace and your blessing, the sons and the sons’ wives are pure as the water of the Ganga. I have never sworn an oath by Rama. Swearing it, friend, I speak with true feeling.”
“Bharata’s good conduct, virtues, entreaty, greatness, brotherhood, bhakti, trust, and goodness. In telling them even Sarasvati’s wit falters. Can the sea be bailed out with a shell?”
“I have always known Bharata the lamp of the line. The king told me again and again. Gold is tested on the touchstone, and a gem on finding a jeweler. A man is tested at his hour by his nature.”
“My saying this today is not fitting. In grief and love cleverness is little.” Hearing her speech, purifying like the Ganga, all the queens were distraught with love.
Holding patience, Kausalya said, “Hear, goddess, queen of Mithila. Who can teach you, the beloved of the treasure of discernment?”
A proposal, and a heavy worry for Bharata
Kausalya went on. “Queen, finding an occasion with the king, tell him in your own way, explaining it. Let Lakshmana be kept, and let Bharata go to the forest. If the king’s mind accepts this counsel, then a good effort is to be made, with fine thought.”
“My worry for Bharata is heavy. There is a hidden love in Bharata’s mind. His staying does not seem well to me.” In the commentary’s reading she fears for his life.
Seeing her nature and hearing her simple, fine speech, all the queens became absorbed in the rasa of compassion. From the sky fell a shower of flowers, with the sound of “blessed, blessed.” Siddhas, yogis, and sages were slack with love.
The whole queens’ quarters stayed stilled, looking on. Then, holding patience, Sumitra said, “Goddess, two dandas of the night have passed.” Hearing it, Kausalya rose with love. She said with love and true feeling, “Please set your feet quickly toward the place. For us now the Lord is our refuge, or Janaka our help.”
Sunayana’s answer, and her entreaty for Sita
Seeing Kausalya’s love and hearing her humble words, Sunayana clasped her holy feet. “Goddess, such entreaty is fitting for you, Dasharatha’s wife and Rama’s mother.”
“Lords honor even their lowly ones. Fire holds smoke on its head, and the mountain holds grass. The king is your servant in deed, mind, and speech, and Shiva and Parvati are ever the help.”
“Who in the world is fit to be at your side? Does the sun shine by a lamp’s help? Rama, going to the forest and doing the gods’ work, will rule unshaken in Ayodhya.”
“Gods, nagas, and men will dwell in happiness, each in his own place, by the strength of Rama’s arm. All this Yajnavalkya has said and set down. Goddess, a sage’s word cannot be idle.”
Saying so, falling at her feet with great love, and making entreaty for Sita’s sake, Sunayana then went with Sita, receiving kind leave. The commentary reads the entreaty as a plea that Sita be sent with her mother.
A sea in Janaka’s heart, and the banyan
Sita met her dear kinsfolk, each in the way that was fitting to each. Sita was seen in an ascetic’s guise, and everyone became especially distraught with grief.
Receiving the order of Rama’s guru, Janaka went to the place. Coming there, he saw Sita. Janaka took Sita and held her to his heart, the holy guest of his love and his life.
In his heart the sea of love welled up. The king’s mind became as if Prayaga. He beheld the banyan of Sita’s love growing, and on it the child of Rama’s love shone. In the commentary’s reading the sea is a father’s love, the banyan is the undying banyan, and the child is the Lord in a child’s form.
Janaka’s knowledge, distraught, was as if the long-lived sage who, drowning, found the child’s support. The commentary names that sage Markandeya. Janaka’s wit is not absorbed in delusion. It is the greatness of Sita’s and Rama’s love.
In the power of her father’s and mother’s love, Sita was distraught and could not hold herself. Considering the hour and right dharma, she held patience.
The hour and right dharma
After the sages’ teaching, Rama spoke of the water that everyone had gone without the day before. Vishvamitra called it fitting, and Janaka said that grain was not fitting there. Those who roam the forest brought their loads, and Rama’s guru sent loads to everyone with respect. Four days went by, and both companies spoke their wish for the forest near Rama.
Hearing that Sita’s mothers-in-law had leisure, the queens of Mithila came, and Kausalya honored them. Sunayana spoke of the Creator’s crooked intellect and his dreadful deeds. Hearing her, Sumitra spoke of his perverse course. Kausalya said that no one was at fault and set sorrow and happiness in karma’s power. Sunayana called her speech true.
Kausalya said that her worry was for Bharata. She swore by Rama and told of Bharata’s virtues, and the queens who heard her were distraught with love. She asked Sunayana to tell the king her counsel for Lakshmana’s keeping and Bharata’s going to the forest. The queens who heard her simple speech were absorbed in compassion. Sumitra said that two dandas of the night had passed, and Kausalya rose.
Sunayana heard Kausalya’s humble words and clasped her feet. She told her what Yajnavalkya had said and set down, that Rama would rule unshaken in Ayodhya. She made entreaty for Sita and went with her, receiving kind leave. Janaka went to the place and saw Sita, and he held her to his heart, where the sea of love welled up. Sita, in the power of her parents’ love, considered the hour and right dharma and held patience.
Source: the Gita Press edition of Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhyakand, doha 278 to 286, read with Hanuman Prasad Poddar’s Hindi commentary.