Sacred Concord

Ramayana 4.158

Ramayana · translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

This said, the son of Raghu made His dwelling in that pleasant shade Upon the mountain's shelving side That sweetly all his wants supplied. But still the hero's troubled mind No comfort in his woe could find, Yet mourning for his stolen wife Dearer to Rama than his life, Chief when he saw the Lord of Night Rise slowly o'er the eastern height, He tossed upon his leafy bed With eyes by sleep unvisited. Outwelled the tears in ceaseless flow, And every sense was numbed by woe. Each pang that pierced the mourner through Smote Lakshman's faithful bosom too, Who, troubled for his brother's sake, With wisest words the prince bespake: "Arise, my brother, and be strong: Thy hero heart has mourned too long. Thou knowest well that tears and sighs Will mar the mightiest enterprise. Thine was the soul that loved to dare: To serve the Gods was still thy care; And ne'er may sorrow's sting subdue A heart so resolute and true. How canst thou hope to slay in fight The giant cruel in his might? Unwearied must the champion be Who strives with such a foe as he. Tear out this sorrow by the root; Again be bold and resolute. Arise, my brother, and subdue The demon and his wicked crew. Thou canst destroy the earth, her seas, Her rooted hills and giant trees Unseated by thy furious hand: And shall one fiend thy power withstand? Wait through this season of the rain Till suns of autumn dry the plain, Then shall thy giant foe, and all His host and realm, before thee fall. I wake thy valour that has slept Amid the tears thine eyes have wept; As drops of oil in worship raise The dormant flame to sudden blaze."
Ramayana 4.158 · Ramayana · 4

Themes in this passage

GriefCourageFamilyNatureStrengthAngerChildrenComfort

Grief in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam address it.

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James 4:9 · Bible · James
From pleasure comes grief, from pleasure comes fear; he who is free from pleasure knows neither grief nor fear.
Dhp 16.212 · Dhammapada · Pleasure
On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized position; on occasions of mourning, the right hand. The second in command of the army has his place on the left; the general commanding in chief has his on the right;--his place, that is, is assigned to him as in the rites of mourning. He who has killed multitudes of men should weep for them with the bitterest grief; and the victor in battle has his place (rightly) according to those rites.
Tao Te Ching 31.3 · Tao Te Ching
And he turned away from them and said: Alas, my grief for Joseph! And his eyes were whitened with the sorrow that he was suppressing.
Quran 12:84 · Quran · Joseph

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