Link:
Dasharatha, father-in-law adored by Sita,
His deeds, forever etched in memory's light.
His spiritual heights, incomparable
Kaushalya, deserving and memorable.
Song 1: Reverence to King Dasharatha
Sita:
Shree Ganeshaya Namaha
Shree Saraswatyai Namaha
Shree Sadgurubhyo Namaha
A heart that held Ram so dear,
Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna near,
King Dasharatha, at your feet we bow,
Love does flow, in daily worship now ,
Love for the people in boundless grace
You foster peace in kingdom’s tranquil space,
Knowledge of the divine Vedas, in depth vast
In subtle spirituality, you are unsurpassed ||1||
When Rama, Sita, Lakshmana with a smile
Fulfill your boon and leave for forest exile,
Anguish gnaws in the King’s heart deep
Janaki stands with glistening eyes that weep || 2 ||
Sita ,in silence, forgiveness sought,
Father, we are bound by time's knot.
Father-in-law his blessing's spoke ,
Daughter, you fulfill your duty's lot.॥3॥
He is father to his daughter-in-law true
To Janaki, he is like Janak with love anew
One who recites this Dasharatha’s sacred rhyme
Life’ll be liberated, transcending space and time ॥4॥
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi.
Song 2: Mother Kaushalya
Sita:
As Raghu dynasty daughter-in-law
I came to house of in-laws
Mother Kausalya with love smiled
Indeed saw me as her child ||1||
Motherly, soft and radiant,
Her visage was lovely
Name of Lord adorns her lips
She gave her blessings amply ||2||
My mind filled with devotion,
I was eager to serve her,
This wish remained unfulfilled ,
Please forgive me, Oh Mother! II3II
Link:
Sita pregnant with Rama's heir
Lost in memories of long ago
Her face glowed with a smile
Narrating incidence of Shiva's bow
Song 3: I Saw the Lord in the Garden
Sita:
I saw Lord Rama in the garden. (Refrain)
Stood He with a royal pose,
Mind in Brahman absorbed,
Radiant face with lotus eyes,
Seeing Him, I was mystified ||1||
Unknowingly,I performed
Mental worship from bosom
With flowers at His feet
My shy heart did blossom ||2||
Click on Youtube link or Scan QR for Audio/Video of SSK Eng. Ch2 S 3
I SAW LORD RAMA IN THE GARDEN
Song 4: Your Dark-Complexioned Beloved
The clouds are dark,
The peacocks dance in joy,
The pleasant season has arrived ||Chorus||
In my gardens,
When the flowers bloomed,
I stole a glance at my beloved,
And our eyes met.
The bees buzzed around the flowers,
Singing a beautiful song.||1||
My eyes are filled with smiles,
And my heart now remembers
The name of my beloved.
My shy eyes say,
"Your beloved is dark-complexioned." ||2||
Note:
The poem is about the first time Sita saw Rama in the garden, before their wedding. She is filled with joy and love, and her eyes are filled with smiles. She can't help but think about him, and her shy eyes say, "Your beloved is dark-complexioned."
Song 5: Auspicious Day
Sita:
Sakhi!* The auspicious day had came
When I saw Lord Rama
I lost my heart to Him
Music echoed in the kingdom||1||
Every corner was decorated
Like flowers in full blossom
Many a princes had came
But Lord Rama alone filled my bosom ||2||
The Lord was radiant full of energy
In a moment he broke the Shiva’s bow
A deafening sound indeed was heard
Lightening seemed to strike a glow ||3||
Friend! My heart blossomed
Started beating in Lord Rama’s name
Said Lord Rama, Lord Rama
Said Lord Rama, Lord Rama ||4||
*Sakhi = lady friend
Link:
Sita remembered Lord in her mind
Janakpuri* in the forest materialized
Her face was glowing with Rama’s love
Even Sakhis and the forest smiled ||1||
Sakhis in Valmiki Ashram
Asked many a things of Sita
Sakhi said “How you felt,
When you wed Lord Rama” ||2||
*Janakpuri = Kingdom of King Janak, the father of Sita
Song 6: Sita - Rama in Janakpur
Sita (Dialogue):
How happy the child is
To find its lost object
Not for a moment also
Will it let go of it ||1||
So also when I married the Lord
My heart did in happiness bloom
As if it found its long lost love
And held on to it firm ||2||
When we came out of the palace
Completing our wedding ceremony
On the paths of Janakpuri
Was happiness and harmony ||3||
The path was decorated
With lively garlands everywhere
"Married ladies"* stood on sides
With articles of worship and flower ||4||
We started walking on the path
I kept in step with my Lord,
My Sakhis kept showering blessings
Of colorful petals and flowers ||5||
But while walking with the Lord
I felt embarrassed and shy
As unknowingly He was holding
My little finger helplessly ||6||
* Married ladies are referred as Suhagans and their presence is considered auspicious at any happy function
Song 7: Sita crosses threshold of her home of in-laws
Sita:
I crossed threshold
Of the palace
Joyous bride
Of Raghu's race. || Refrain ||
My steps falter
A fleeting span,
New dawn I see
Bright and grand. ||1||
The ladies there
Feeling content,
Welcome both
With love intent. ||2||
Eyes lowered,
Shyness imbued,
Rama's feet,
My gaze is glued . ||3||
Auspicious vibes
I seem to hear,
The palace Vastupurush*
Welcomes me with cheer ||4||
Note: *Vastupurush : Deity of the Vastu ,in this case palace.
Link:
Ram and Sita after wedding,
Come to Ayodhya with joy.
Bonds are getting strong and loving
Sends Sita word home with poise.
Song 8: Give this word to Father Janaka
Sita:
Give this word to father Janaka,
I live happily with the Raghu dynasty.
Hearts here are joining gently
Love for in-laws grows surely ||1||.
To drop me off here, my loved ones came ,
To Janakpuri now they return,
My heart cries and eyes are brimming
Memories of mother’s home come flooding,
Song 9: Tears at Dawn
Sita:
The eastern sky blushed at dawn,
Seeing me new bride around
My feet faltered for a moment,
As I looked at palace ground.
Father Janaka, Sunaina Mother!,
This dear daughter, do you remember?
Sweet memories come in poignant strain,
My tears flow in whispered pain.
Song 10: The New Dawn in Ayodhya
Sita:
In royal garden,
Fragrance of
Many a flowers wafted.
In the morning,
Chirping birds
My mind captivated.
Name of Rama,
In mine heart
Echoed with sound Om,
Lamps of palace,
Were re-lit to
Welcome the new dawn.
Song 11: My Beloved Friends: Song of Separation
Sita:
My childhood friends, a bond since tender years,
Wove we, tales of truth and chased away all tears ||Refrain||
In Janakpuri's gardens, bathed in golden light,
Through laughter, truth unfolded, pure and bright.
The soul of life, we learned in playful time,
Love and devotion are threads that bind all time. ||1||
My childhood haven and this new land*,
Woven from thread same, by a loving hand.
Then why, oh why, does thread begin to fray?
Aching emptiness me consumes night and day. ||2||
Where have you gone, companions of my youth?
Memories flood in, a poignant, bittersweet truth.
My tear-filled eyes, a veil of misty haze,
Yearning for your laughter, of the golden days. ||3||
Note: *new land refers here to Ayodhya, the kingdom, of King Dasharatha, to which Sita has come after her wedding to Lord Rama.
Song 12: Soul’s maternal home
Sita:
In the grandeur of my in-laws' festive cheer,
I reminisce my childhood dear,
With friends of yore, in my mother's nest,
We shared life's joys, we faced its test. (1)
The sacred basil grove in bloom,
A tapestry of fragrance, dispelling gloom,
Amidst its boughs, our laughter rang,
In devotional songs, our hearts sang. (2)
Yet in moments lost in reverie's embrace,
Sisters of in-law’s abode express,
With gentle chide, they bid me heed,
The duties here, my attention need. (3)
For soul, Brahma is maternal home akin,
Earthly bonds are like in-laws' kin,
Is it not natural to then yearn and pine,
For His lotus feet in the realm divine. (4)
Song 13 : In Remembrance of My Home
Sita:
Ayodhya's grand entrance, a joy so true,
The entire palace bathed in bliss anew,
My heart filled with my lord's lotus feet,
Yet, why do I feel so incomplete? ||1||
The first dawn breaks, a new day's start,
The royal gardens, a captivating art,
Janakpuri's beauty, a painted scene,
Memories of home, they start to convene ||2||
Mother Sunaina's voice echoes near,
My throat chokes up, tears start to appear,
Muffled sobs dissolve in the air,
Did my lord hear my silent despair? ||3||
Sita:
Within the palace grand,
a thousand lamps ignite,
Their glow with auspicious songs
Drives away the night..
A bride I stand,
yet lost in thoughtful dreams,
My heart consumed
by memories, it seems. ||1||
Bird song, fills the garden,
sweet and bright,
Like rainbows woven,
flowers bloom in light.
A melody of newfound
love comes to sight,
Doves coo through breeze,
As they take to flight. ||2||
Song 15 : New Bride Sita and Rama take their first walk in Ayodhya Royal Gardens
Sita:
Amid fragrance of new flowers,
Thy aura touches me mid-air
As my Lord you stand closeby ,
Bathed in ethereal moonlit sky, ||1||
The trees and vines bear witness,
To love’s new tender blooming,
Chanting the name of Rama,
I lose myself as bells are peeling. ||2||
I saw a shooting star in sky,
Streaking at a frenzy pace
As if to touch feet of Lord,
Why it’s lost itself in space.||3||
Click on link for audio/video Musical song “Amid Fragrance of New Flowers”
Song 16 : My In-Laws Home
(Feelings on arriving at her in-laws' home after marriage)
Sita:
This Ayodhya land, my in-laws’ home,
Like maternal land of similar tone.
We four loving sister siblings*
Are sisters-in-law in new bindings ||1||
Mother Kaushalya, with gentle grace,
Mirrors my mother's loving embrace.
King Dasharatha, like a wisdom tree,
In his eyes, my father's love I see ||2||
Bliss unforeseen, a joy profound,
In this sacred home I found
My heart's yearning, for the divine#
Fulfills at Rama's feet pristine. ||3||
Notes:
* Sita and her three sister siblings
The brothers of Lord Rama each have their own spouses:
Lakshmana: His wife is Urmila, the daughter of King Janaka and sister of Sita.
Bharata: His wife is Mandavi, who is the daughter of King Kushadhwaja and cousin of Sita.
Shatrughna: His wife is Shrutakirti, also a daughter of King Kushadhwaja and cousin of Sita.
# Spiritually, the Mother's house for the SOUL is God, and in-law’s house is the dwelling place on Earth
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Wheel of time has turned around,
Rama exiled is forest bound
With Sita and Lakshmana in tow,
Ayodhya’s peace in sorrow drowned.
Song 17: Exile to the Forest
Sita :
Son of Dasharatha,
Rama to the forest goes.
With Sita by his side,
To forest, Lord Rama goes. ||1||
Unwavering-hearted Lakshman,
Rama to the forest goes.
With tender steps, he walks,
To forest, Lord Rama goes. ||2||
Tears fill the people's eyes,
Rama to the forest goes.
With love, the sages bless,
To forest, Lord Rama goes. ||3||
They offer words of grace,
Rama to the forest goes.
This is the will of time,
To forest, Lord Rama goes. ||4||
In Sita's heart, peace resides,
Rama to the forest goes.
With a smile on His face,
To forest, Lord Rama goes. ||5||
Song 18: An earthen lamp
Sita :
An earthen lamp (I am)
With tears as its oil ॥Refrain॥
Mother Sunayana
In your memory bright
The flame of hope
I keep burning all night ॥1॥
In the lamp's glow
Lord Rama I see
My enduring love
Is now my Sakhi * ॥2॥
Note:
*Sakhi : companion
Link:
As Sita chatted with her Sakhis
Reminisced on Rama everyday
Her heart felt very much pacified
Pain of separation withered away ||1||
But when again she is alone
Tears well up in eyes forlon
Day by day increased the sorrow
Her heart always sang this song ||2||
Song 19 : Pining for the Lord’s feet
Sita:
Oh! Will someone please
Take me to my Lord,
Just help me see Him
And sing this ode. ||1||
He has such loving eyes,
He is effulgent,
His voice is so dear,
He has a large heart,
He is indeed handsome,
Skilled in many an art. ||2||
Just anyone, please bring me
His news sweet
Please, will someone take me
To His sacred feet? ||3||
Click on link for audio/video Musical song “Pining for the Lord’s Feet.
Song 20: Memory of Lord Rama
Sita:
My heart recalls my Lord so dear. || Refrain ||
With radiant forehead, eyes bright , clear.
Crown of hair, a heavenly sight.
His mind transcends the threefold bond
In fearless grace, He stands upright
Click on link audio/video Musical song “Memory of Lord Rama”
Song 21: Lord has forsaken me
Sita:
Alas! My Lord has not come ||Refrain||
What work has engaged Him
That he forgets this home?
What sins have I done
That Lord Rama has not come ||1||
What deeds did I do
That my Lord punishes me
Lord Rama will never forget me
This thought remains a plea ||2||
End of Chapter 2
Om Shanti! Om Shanti! Om Shanti!