Śrī Rāma’s arrival at srngaverapura; the Niṣāda chief’s services
Dohas
sudhda sacidānaṃdamaya kaṃda bhānukula kētu.
carita karata nara anuharata saṃsṛti sāgara sētu..87.. [2-87]
The Glory of Raghu’s race, who is a fountain of pure existence, knowledge and bliss, performed actions similar to those of a human being, and which constitute a bridge to cross the ocean of mundane existence.
Chaupais
yaha sudhi guhaom niṣāda jaba pāī. mudita liē priya baṃdhu bōlāī..
liē phala mūla bhēṃṭa bhari bhārā. milana calēu hiṃyaom haraṣu apārā.. [2-87-1]
kari daṃḍavata bhēṃṭa dhari āgēṃ. prabhuhi bilōkata ati anurāgēṃ..
sahaja sanēha bibasa raghurāī. pūomchī kusala nikaṭa baiṭhāī.. [2-87-2]
nātha kusala pada paṃkaja dēkhēṃ. bhayau bhāgabhājana jana lēkhēṃ..
dēva dharani dhanu dhāmu tumhārā. maiṃ janu nīcu sahita parivārā.. [2-87-3]
kṛpā karia pura dhāria pāū. thāpiya janu sabu lōgu sihāū..
kahēhu satya sabu sakhā sujānā. mōhi dīnha pitu āyasu ānā.. [2-87-4]
When Guha, the Niṣāda,* got this news, he gladly called together his near and dear ones and taking by way of presents fruits and roots in baskets slung across their shoulders, he proceeded to meet the Lord with infinite joy in his heart. Prostrating himself on the ground and placing the presents before the Lord he gazed on Him with great affection. The Lord of Raghus, who is won by natural affection, seated him by His side and inquired about his welfare. “The sight of your lotus feet, my lord, is the root of all welfare; I can now count myself as a blessed man. My land, house and fortune are yours, holy sir; my family and myself are your humble servants. Do me the favour of visiting my town and confer dignity on me. Let everyone envy my lot.” “Everything you have said is true; my wise friend; but my father has commanded me otherwise.
- * A low-born tribe in India tracing their descent from a Brāhmaṇa through a Śūdra woman.
Dohas
baraṣa cāridasa bāsu bana muni brata bēṣu ahāru.
grāma bāsu nahiṃ ucita suni guhahi bhayau dukhu bhāru..88.. [2-88]
For four years and ten my home shall be in the woods and my mode of life, dress and food shall be that of a hermit. Hence my staying in a village would be hardly advisable.” Guha was deeply distressed to hear this.
Chaupais
rāma lakhana siya rūpa nihārī. kahahiṃ saprēma grāma nara nārī..
tē pitu mātu kahahu sakhi kaisē. jinha paṭhaē bana bālaka aisē.. [2-88-1]
ēka kahahiṃ bhala bhūpati kīnhā. lōyana lāhu hamahi bidhi dīnhā..
taba niṣādapati ura anumānā. taru siṃsupā manōhara jānā.. [2-88-2]
lai raghunāthahi ṭhāu dēkhāvā. kahēu rāma saba bhāomti suhāvā..
purajana kari jōhāru ghara āē. raghubara saṃdhyā karana sidhāē.. [2-88-3]
guhaom saomvāri sāomtharī ḍasāī. kusa kisalayamaya mṛdula suhāī..
suci phala mūla madhura mṛdu jānī. dōnā bhari bhari rākhēsi pānī.. [2-88-4]
Beholding the beauty of Śrī Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā, men and women of the village feelingly said, “What sort of parents, O friend, can they be who have sent such children to the forest?” Other people said, “The king has done well in that God has thereby rewarded our eyes.” The Chief of the Niṣādas then pondered within himself and perceived a charming Aśoka tree. He took the Lord of Raghus to the spot and showed it to Him, when Śrī Rāma declared that the place was beautiful in every way. The people of the town then returned home after paying their respects to Him, while the Chief of Raghus retired for performing His evening devotions. In the meantime Guha prepared a soft and beautiful bed of Kuśa grass and tender leaves and spread it on the ground. He also placed besides Him with his own hands cups of leaves full of fruits and roots which he knew to be pure, delicious and soft.
Dohas
siya sumaṃtra bhrātā sahita kaṃda mūla phala khāi.
sayana kīnha raghubaṃsamani pāya palōṭata bhāi..89.. [2-89]
Having partaken of the bulbs, roots and fruits alongwith Sītā, Sumantra and His brother (Lakṣmaṇa), the Jewel of Raghu’s race lay down to sleep, while His brother kneaded His feet.
Chaupais
uṭhē lakhanu prabhu sōvata jānī. kahi sacivahi sōvana mṛdu bānī..
kachuka dūra saji bāna sarāsana. jāgana lagē baiṭhi bīrāsana.. [2-89-1]
guha bōlāi pāharū pratītī. ṭhāvaom ṭhāomva rākhē ati prītī..
āpu lakhana pahiṃ baiṭhēu jāī. kaṭi bhāthī sara cāpa caḍhaāī.. [2-89-2]
sōvata prabhuhi nihāri niṣādū. bhayau prēma basa hdayaom biṣādū..
tanu pulakita jalu lōcana bahaī. bacana saprēma lakhana sana kahaī.. [2-89-3]
bhūpati bhavana subhāyaom suhāvā. surapati sadanu na paṭatara pāvā..
manimaya racita cāru caubārē. janu ratipati nija hātha saomvārē.. [2-89-4]
When Lakṣmaṇa perceived that his lord had fallen asleep, he rose and asked the minister in soft accents to retire. As for himself he got ready his bow and arrows and sitting at some distance in the posture of a hero he kept watch. Guha called his trusted watchmen and stationed them at different points with great love; while he himself went and took his seat beside Lakṣmaṇa with a quiver fastened to his waist and an arrow fitted to his bow. When the Niṣāda chief saw his lord lying (on a bed of grass and leaves) he felt great sorrow in his heart due to excess of love; the hair on his body bristled, tears flowed from his eyes and he addressed the following affectionate words to Lakṣmaṇa: “The king’s palace is naturally charming; even Indra’s residence can hardly stand comparison with it. Its beautiful attics are built of precious gems and are so lovely as though the god of love has constructed them with his own hands.”
Dohas
suci subicitra subhōgamaya sumana sugaṃdha subāsa.
palaomga maṃju manidīpa jahaom saba bidhi sakala supāsa..90.. [2-90]
“Free from impurities, exceedingly marvellous of design, abounding in exquisite luxuries and scented with the fragrance of flowers, they are furnished with lovely beds and lighted with gems and are full of amenities of every description.”
Chaupais
bibidha basana upadhāna turāī. chīra phēna mṛdu bisada suhāī..
tahaom siya rāmu sayana nisi karahīṃ. nija chabi rati manōja madu harahīṃ.. [2-90-1]
tē siya rāmu sātharīṃ sōē. śramita basana binu jāhiṃ na jōē..
mātu pitā parijana purabāsī. sakhā susīla dāsa aru dāsī.. [2-90-2]
jōgavahiṃ jinhahi prāna kī nāī. mahi sōvata tēi rāma gōsāīṃ..
pitā janaka jaga bidita prabhāū. sasura surēsa sakhā raghurāū.. [2-90-3]
rāmacaṃdu pati sō baidēhī. sōvata mahi bidhi bāma na kēhī..
siya raghubīra ki kānana jōgū. karama pradhāna satya kaha lōgū.. [2-90-4]
Again they are equipped with coverlets and sheets, pillows and cushions of various kinds-all soft, white and charming as the froth of milk. It is in such attics that Sītā and Rāma used to sleep at night and humbled by their beauty the pride of Rati and her consort, the god of love. Those very Sītā and Rāma are now lying on a pallet, exhausted and uncovered, a sight one cannot bear to see. The same Lord Rāma whom his father and mother, his own family and the people of the city, his good-natured companions, men-servants and maid-servants, all cherished as their own life, sleeps on the ground ! Nay, Sītā, whose father Janaka is famed throughout the world, whose fatherin-law is King Daśaratha, the chief of Raghus and an ally of Indra (the lord of immortals) and whose spouse is Rāmacandra, is lying on the ground! An adverse fate spares none. Do Sītā and the Hero of Raghu’s race deserve to be exiled to the woods? They rightly say: ‘Fate is supreme.
Dohas
kaikayanaṃdini maṃdamati kaṭhina kuṭilapanu kīnha.
jēhīṃ raghunaṃdana jānakihi sukha avasara dukhu dīnha..91.. [2-91]
The foolish daughter of Kekaya has wrought a cruel mischief in that she has brought trouble on Sītā and the Delighter of Raghu’s race at a time of enjoyment.
Chaupais
bhai dinakara kula biṭapa kuṭhārī. kumati kīnha saba bisva dukhārī..
bhayau biṣādu niṣādahi bhārī. rāma sīya mahi sayana nihārī.. [2-91-1]
bōlē lakhana madhura mṛdu bānī. gyāna birāga bhagati rasa sānī..
kāhu na kōu sukha dukha kara dātā. nija kṛta karama bhōga sabu bhrātā.. [2-91-2]
jōga biyōga bhōga bhala maṃdā. hita anahita madhyama bhrama phaṃdā..
janamu maranu jahaom lagi jaga jālū. saṃpatī bipati karamu aru kālū.. [2-91-3]
dharani dhāmu dhanu pura parivārū. saragu naraku jahaom lagi byavahārū..
dēkhia sunia gunia mana māhīṃ. mōha mūla paramārathu nāhīṃ.. [2-91-4]
“The wicked woman has played the axe in felling the tree of the solar race and plunged the whole universe in woe.” The Niṣāda chief was sore distressed to see Rāma and Sītā sleeping on the ground. Lakṣmaṇa spoke to him sweet and gentle words imbued with the nectar of wisdom, dispassion and devotion: “No one is a source of delight or pain to another; everyone reaps the fruit of one’s own actions, brother. Union and separation, pleasurable and painful experiences, friends, foes and neutrals-snares of delusion are these. Even so birth and death, prosperity and adversity, destiny and time and all the illusion of the world; lands, houses, wealth, town and family, heaven and hell, and all the phenomena of the world; nay, whatever is seen, heard or thought of with the mind has its root in ignorance: nothing exists in reality.”