Doha 248

Having performed His father’s obsequies as prescribed in the Vedas, the Lord, who was a sun, as it were, to the darkness of sins, became ‘purified’ again. The Lord whose Name Itself is a fire to the cotton of sins and whose very thought is the root of all coveted blessings, (1) attained the state of ‘purification’ even as the heavenly stream is consecrated by invoking into it other sacred waters*: such is the verdict of holy men. When two days elapsed after the purification, Śrī Rāma lovingly said to the Guru, (2) * The Gaṅgā, which is pure in itself, is consecrated only in name by invoking other sacred waters into it; on the other hand, it lends purity to the waters that are invoked into it. Even so, the Lord, who is all-pure, attained ‘purification’ in the eyes of the world by performing certain religious rites: while, as a matter of fact, the rites themselves were consecrated from the time they were performed by the Lord. “My lord, all the people are sore distressed, living as they do on bulbs, roots, fruits and water alone. When I behold Bharata and younger brother Śatrughna, the ministers and all my mothers, every minute that passes seems an age to me. (3) “Therefore, pray, return to the city with all; for, you are here and the king (my father) is in heaven (there is no one to look after Ayodhyā). I have said too much and all this amounts to gross presumption on my part. Now, my lord, do what is proper.” (4)

“It is no wonder, Rāma, that you should speak like this, a bulwark of righteousness and an epitome of compassion that you are. But sorely grieved as the people are, let them derive solace by enjoying your sight for a couple of days.” (248)