People's Love for Lord Rama

Ram, Lakshman and Sita were now on the streets

Receiving from people sad and silent greets

Anxious and painful eyes, wet with tears

Piercing the three with pleading peers

Hoping from heart that this was a dream

Cursing life for not being a reversible stream

Angry on Kaikeyi for plotting this scheme

And pushing their Prince to this extreme

Children on the streets ceased to play

Priests in their temples ceased to pray

Men rushed to the streets leaving their jobs

Women stood by the streets with silent sobs

Customers went to shops to purchase and borrow

But came back with bags filled with sorrow

The mothers’ sorrow made their children cry

And the cowherds sorrow made their cows go dry

Ram, Lakshman and Sita walked smiling at all

Explaining to people that this was their duty’s call

Re-assuring them that they will be back in fourteen years

Trying to wipe from people, their sorrowful tears

But the grief of the people spread like fire

For they were going to miss their priceless Sapphire

They felt they were losing their very life

And they could not let go, without putting up a strife

They crowded before the three, blocking their way

And welcomed the three to their houses to stay

“Hey Ram! Please do heed to what we pray

Without You in town, our houses are just wood and clay”

“Or give us permission to come with You

Emptying the city except for a few

We will make the jungle you live into a beautiful city

And let Ayodhya ruin to a state of pity”

“We do not want to live under Kaikeyi’s rule

She who, in her husband’s distress, remains cool

She is wicked, cunning and heartlessly cruel

And her desires burn with her greed as fuel”

Lord Rama didn’t like them, criticizing his mother

He wanted them to support his beloved brother

Anyway he did know their love for him

And so did he make a speech that was short and trim

“My dear people, please do understand

That Bharatha is of the noblest brand

He will protect you, like his organs of sight

And rule like the sun that shines so bright

He has no part in me being exiled

I do not want his name being defiled

Please do accept him as your beloved king

And always his praise, your lips must sing

Your talk about my mother makes me sad

From the day I were a child, she has never been bad

I lived more with her than my own mother

And she has always held me above, Bharatha, my brother

Now fate has used her as a pawn

This puzzle would solve when time is dawn

Now is a time, difficult for all of us

We must handle this without creating fuss

As your leader I entreat you to stay

And take up the roles you usually play

Wait for me, for I will be back

Now let me pursue my duty’s track”

Saying thus Lord Rama tried to proceed further

But the determination of the crowd would not wither

They kept following Him, right behind

For their love for Him had made them blind

They were ready to give up all their wealth

And follow their Ram to the ends of the earth

Such was the love, people had for Ram

Jai Shri Ram! Jai Jai Shri Ram!!