5 verses · 84 of 326
Struck by separation from Rama, the people stand still as figures painted on a wall; the city has become a dense forest of grief. Tulsidas says Vidhata made Kaikeyi a forest huntress who set an unbearable fire burning in all ten directions. Unable to bear it, the people run after Rama. Each decides within: without Rama, Lakshmana and Sita there is no joy; where Rama is, there we all belong, and Ayodhya without him is of no use. Leaving homes the devas would envy, they go with him, for those who love Rama's lotus feet are not held by comforts. Only children and the old stay behind. On the first day Shri Rama halts on the bank of the Tamasa.
राम-बियोग बिकल दुख ठाढ़े । जहँ तहँ मनहुँ चित्र लिखि काढ़े ॥
नगरु सफल बनु गहबर भारी । खग मृग बिपुल सकल नर नारी ॥
rāma-biyoga bikala dukha ṭhār̤he | jaham̐ taham̐ manahum̐ citra likhi kār̤he ||
nagaru saphala banu gahabara bhārī | khaga mṛga bipula sakala nara nārī ||
बिधि कैकेई किरातिनि कीन्ही । जेहि दव दुसह दसहुँ दिसि दीन्ही ॥
सहि न सके रघुबर बिरहागी । चले लोग सब ब्याकुल भागी ॥
bidhi kaikeī kirātini kīnhī | jehi dava dusaha dasahum̐ disi dīnhī ||
sahi na sake raghubara birahāgī | cale loga saba byākula bhāgī ||
सबहिं विचार कीन्ह मन माहीँ । राम-लखन-सिय बिनु सुख नाहीँ ॥
जहाँ राम तहँ सबइ समाजू । बिनु रघुबीर अवध नहिँ काजू ॥
sabahiṃ vicāra kīnha mana māhīm̐ | rāma-lakhana-siya binu sukha nāhīm̐ ||
jahām̐ rāma taham̐ sabai samājū | binu raghubīra avadha nahim̐ kājū ||
चले साथ अस मन्त्र दृढ़ाई । सुर-दुर्लभ सुख-सदन बिहाई ॥
राम-चरन-पङ्कज प्रिय जिन्हहीं । बिषय भोग बस करहिं कि तिन्हहीं ॥
cale sātha asa mantra dṛr̤hāī | sura-durlabha sukha-sadana bihāī ||
rāma-carana-paṅkaja priya jinhahīṃ | biṣaya bhoga basa karahiṃ ki tinhahīṃ ||
बालक बृद्ध बिहाइ गृह, लगे लोग सब साथ ।
तमसा तीर निवास किय, प्रथम दिवस रघुनाथ ॥
bālaka bṛddha bihāi gṛha, lage loga saba sātha |
tamasā tīra nivāsa kiya, prathama divasa raghunātha ||
Text source: Wikisource · Public domain (Tulsidas, 16th c.; 1925 edition, Wikisource PD-1996 tag); transcription CC BY-SA 4.0
