Doha - 121
Women, children and the aged, however wrung their hands and lamented. In this way the people were smitten with love wherever Sri Rama went.
Chaupala
In every village there was similar rejoicing at the sight of Sri Rama, who was a moon to the lily-like solar race. Those who could get some information as to the circumstances that had led to Sri Rama's banishment blamed the king and queen. Others said "The king is too benevolent in that he has vouchsafed to us the reward of our eyes. "Men and women talked among themselves in straight, loving and agreeable phrases. :Blessed are the parents who gave birth to these princes; and happy the town from which they hail. Happy is the land hill, forest, village and every spot which they visit. Nay, the Creator must have felt haappy in creating him who looks upon these princes as his near and dear ones. " The delightful story as to how Sri rama and Laksmana travelled in the woods was broadcast all along the route and throughout the forest.
Doha - 122
Thus bringing joy to the people on the roadside, Sri Rama, who was a veritable sun to the lotus-like solar race, proceeded with Sita and Sumita's son (Laksmana) looking at the forest.
Chaupala
Sri Rama walked in front while Laksmana followed in the rear, both conspicuous in the robes of ascetics. Between the two Sita shone like Maya (the Diving Energy) that stands between Brahma (God), on the one hand, and the individual soul, on the other. To illustrate Her beauty as it exists in my mind in another way, She looked like Rati (the wife of the god of love) and the god of love. Beating my brains for another illustration, let me say She shone like Rahini between Budha and the moon-god, Sita trod on the path with meticulous care planting Her feet in the space between Her Lord's
footprints. Avoiding the footprints both of sita and Rama, Laksmana traversed the road always keeping them to his right. The ideal affection of Sri Sri Rama, Laksmana and Sita was past telling; how can one describe it? Even birds and beasts were enraptured to behold their beauty; their hearts were stolen by Rama, the wayfarer.
Doha - 123
Whoever saw the beloved travellers, Sita and the two brothers (Rama and Laksmana) joyously reached the end of the toilsome journey of life without any exertion.
Chaupala
Nay, to this very day, anyone in whose heart the wayfarers. Laksmana, Sita and Rama should ever lodge even in dream shall find the road leading to Sri Rama's abode (the divine region known by the name of saketa),--the road that scarce any anchorite may find. Then perceiving that Sita was tired and seeing a banyan tree and cool water hard by, the Hero of Raghu's line partook of bulbs, roots and fruits and staying there overnight and bathing at dawn the Lord of Raghus proceeded further. And belholding lovely woods, lakes and hills the Lord reached the hermitage of Valmike. Sri Rama saw the sage's beautiful dwelling with its charming hills and forest and its sacred waters. The lotuses in the ponds and the trees in the woods were in blossom; intoxicated with their bees seetly hummed over them. Birds and beasts made a tumuyltuous noise and moved about in joy free from all animosities.
Doha -124
The lotus-eyed Rama rejoiced to behold the sacred and lovely hermitage; and hearing of the arrival of Sri Rama (the Chief of Raghu's line) the sage came forth to receive Him.
Chaupala
Sri Rama fell prostrate before the sage and the holy Brahmana blessed Him in return. The sight of Sri Rama's beauty gladdened his eyes and with due honour he took the Lord into the hermitage . Finding a guest as dear to him as life itself the holy sage sent for delicious bulbs, roots and fruits. Sita, Laksmana and Rama partook of those fruits and the sage then assigned them beautiful quarters. Great was the joy of Valmiki's heart as he beheld with his own eyes Sri Rama, who was bliss personified Joining His lotus palms the Lord of Raghus then spoke to him in words which were delightful to the ears."You derectly perceive everything relating to the past, present and futrue, O lord of sages; the whole universe is as if in the palm of your hand." Saying so the Lord related to him the whole story as to how the queen (Kaikeyi)had exiled Him into the woods.
Doha - 125
"Compliance with my father's commands gratification of my stepmother (Kaikey)the installation of a brother like Bharata to the throne and my seeing you-all this, my lord, is the result of my meritorious acts. "
Chaupala
"In beholding your feet, O king of sages, all my good deeds have been rewarded. Now I intend to go wherever you command me to go and where no anchorite may feel disturbed. For such monarchs as prove a source of annoyance to hermits and ascetics are consumed without fire. While the satisfaction of Brahmanas is the root of happiness, their wrath consumes millions of generations. Bearing this in mind pray tell me a place to which I may proceed with Sita and Laksmana (Sumitra's son) and buiding a charming hut of leaves and grass may spend some time there, O good sir." Hearing these guileless and unsophisticated words of Sri Rama (the Chief of Raghu's line) the enlightened sage exclaimed, "Quite so, right You are. Why should You not speak thus, O Glory of Raghu's line, ever busy as You are in maintaining the laws laid down by the Vedas?"
"While You are the custodian Vedic laws and the Lord of the universe, Sita (Janaka's Daughter) is Your Maya (Divine Energy) who creates, creates, preserves and dissolves the universe on receiving the tacit approval of Your gracious Self. As for Laksmana he is no other than the thousand-headed Sesa (the lord of serpents), the supporter of the globe and the lord of the entire creation, both animate and inanimate. Having assumed the form of a king for sake of the gods You are out to crush the host of wicked demons."
Doha -126
"Your Being, O Rama, is beyond the range of speech and beyond conception, unknown, unutterable and infinite; the Vedas ever speak of It as `not that', not that."
Chaupala
"This world is a spectacle and You are its spectator; nay, You make even Brahma (the Creator), Visnu (the Preserver) and Sambhu (th Destroyer) dance to Your tune. Even these latter know not Your secret; who else can know You? In fact, he alone can know You, to whom You make Yourself known; and the moment he knows You he becomes one with You he becomes one with You. It is by Your grace, O Delighter of Raghus, that Your votaries come to know You, O Comforter of the heart of devotees. Your body is all consciousness and bliss and is devoid of change; it is the competent alone who realize this. It is for the sake of saints and gods that You have assumed a human semblance and speak and act even as worldly monarchs do. The stupid get puzzled while the wise feel delighted when they see or hear of Your doings. All that You say or do is ture; for one should play the role one has assumed on the stage. "
Doha - 127
"You ask me. `Where should I take up my residence? But I ask You with diffidence : tell me first the place where You are not; then alone I can show You a suitable place."
Chaupala
On hearing the sage's words, imbued as they were with love, Sri Rama felt abashed and smiled within Himself. Valmiki too smiled and spoke to Him again in words as sweet as though they were steeped in nectar: "Listen, Rama. I tell You now the places where You should abide with Sita and Laksmana. The heart of those whose ears are, like the ocean, constantly replenished with a number of lovely streams in the shape of Your stories but know no surfeit, shall be Your charming abode. Again, the heart of those whose eyes long to see You even as the Cataka bird longs to see the rain-clound and disdaining like the same bird rivers, oveans and big lakes, derive satisfaction from a drop of Your rain-like beauty,--it is thieir heart alone which shall serve as Your delightful home, where You and Your younger brother (Laksmana) and Sita may take up Your abode."
Doha - 128
"Nay, You should dwell in the heart of him whose swan-like tongue picks up pearls in the shape of Your virues in the holy Manasarovar lake of Your fame. "
Chaupala
"Abide, O Rama, in the mind of those whose nose devoutly inhales every day the fragrance of sacred and lovely offerings (in the shape of flowers, sandal-paste, etc,) made to their Lord (Yourself), who eat only that which has been offered to You and put on clothers and ornaments first dedicatged to You, whose heads bow down most submissively and lovengly at the sight of a god, preceptor or Brahmanan, whose hands adore Sri Rama's feet every day, who cherish in their heart faith in Rama and none else, and whose feet take them to holy places sacred to Rama. Again those who are ever engaged in muttering the Rama-Mantra ( श्रीरामय नम :), the king of all sacred formulas, and worship You along with Your associates; who offer water to the manes and pour oblations into the sacred fire in diverse way, who feed the Brahmanas and bestow liberal gifts on them and who look upon their preceptor as greater than Yourself and wait upon him with due honour and entire devotion; ---"
Doha - 129
"And who having done all this ask only one boon as their reward: "Let me have devotion to Sri Rama's feet!"-- entrone Yourself in the temple of their heart, both Sita and the Delighter of Raghus (Yourself).
Chaupala
"Those who have no lust anger, arrogance, pride or infatuation, are without greed exicitement, attraction or aversion and who are free from fraud, hypocrisy and deceit, --it is in their heart that You should abide, O Chief of Raghus. Again, those who are beloved of all and friendly to all, to whom joy and sorrow, applause and abuse are alike and who scrupulously utter truthful and polite words, nay, who are resigned to You whether awake or asleep and who have no support other than Yourself,--it is in their mind, O Rama, that You should dwell. Again, those who look upon another's , who rejoice to see others' prosperity and are particularly grieved to see another's distress, and to whom, O Rama, You are dear as their own life, --their minds are Your blessed abodes.""
Doha - 130
"Nay, those to whom, my dear, You are at once master and companion, father and mother, preceptor and everything else, -- it is in the temple of their mind that Sita and You two brothers should reside."
Chaupala
"Those who overlook others' faults and pick out their virtues and endure hardships for the sake of the Brahmanas and cows, nay, who have established their reputation in the world as well-versed in the laws of propriety,--their mind is Your excellent abode. Again, he attributes his virtues to You and holds himself responsible for his faulls, nay, who entirely depends on You and loves Rama's (Your)devotees,---it is in his heart that You should stay along with Videha's Daughter (Sita) He who, renouncing his caste and kinmen, wealth faith and glory, his near and dear ones, his haappy home and everthing else, cherishes You in his bosom--in his heart You should take up Your residence, O Lord of Raghus. Again, he to whom heaven and hell and even freedom from birth and death are the same inasmuch as he beholds You armed with a bow and arrow here, there and everywhere, and who is Your servant in thought, whord and deed,--make his heart, O Rama, Your permanent abode."