छोड़ चले आज हमारे राम

छोड़ चले आज हमारे राम अयोध्या छोड़ चले
बनवासी बन राज दुलारे सब से नाता तोड़ चले
मुख मोड़ चले आज हमारे राम अयोध्या छोड़ चले

चला राम का सेवक बनकर लछमन जैसा भाई
चली जानकी बनके अपने प्रीतम की परछाईं
नर-नारी पशु पंछी सब का मन ये कुलासा छोड़ चले

जैसे बछड़े छिन जाने पर देखा करती गइया
वैसी ही रो रो कर देखें राम-लखन को मैया
माया ममता महल मोह इन सब से नाता तोड़ चले

लक्ष्मण बिना महल है सूना सीता बिना रसोई
राम बिना है सूनी अयोध्या सारी प्रजा रोई
छोड़ के कलियाँ की गलियाँ काँटों से नाता जोड़ चले

Today our Raam leaves his city of Ayodhya. This darling of the people now severs all relationships with his loved ones and turns his face away from Ayodhya.

Alongside Raam walked his brother Lakshmana who only wanted to serve Raam. And his wife Sita also walked with Rama as his inseparable shadow. This departure has caused much grief and unease to the minds of everyone in the city.

The people felt such sorrow at the parting, as if when a calf is snatched from its mother. Rama turned away from the illusive allure of the palace and comfortable life.

The Palace became lonely without Lakshman and Sita. The people and the city felt like Raam’s leaving was akin to a tree that is with turns only – without any flowers. Raam’s path now is destined to be filled with thorns instead of flowers.