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Ramcharitmanas · Rama

Chapter 7

उत्तरकाण्ड

Uttar Kand

Verses

  1. Verse 1

    caupāī raheu eka dina avadhi adhārā| samujhata mana dukha bhayau apārā|| kārana kavana nātha nahiṃ āyau| jāni kuṭila kidhauṃ mohi bisarāyau|| ahaha dhanya lachimana baṛabhāgī| rāma padārabiṃdu anurāgī|| kapaṭī kuṭila mohi prabhu cīnhā| tāte nātha saṃga nahiṃ līnhā|| jauṃ karanī samujhai prabhu morī| nahiṃ nistāra kalapa sata korī|| jana avaguna prabhu māna na kāū| dīna baṃdhu ati mṛdula subhāū|| mori jiya~ bharosa dṛṛha soī| milihahiṃ rāma saguna subha hoī|| bīteṃ avadhi rahahi jauṃ prānā| adhama kavana jaga mohi samānā||

    Meaning

    Only one day of the appointed term now remained, and that term had been the one prop of his life; as he realized it, the grief in his mind grew boundless. 'For what cause has my lord not come? Did he judge me crooked and so put me out of mind? Ah, blessed is Lakshmana, greatly fortunate, who is devoted to the lotus-feet of Rama. The Lord knew me for a deceiver and a crooked man, and so did not take me with him. If my Lord should weigh what I have done, there is no deliverance for me through a hundred crore ages. Yet the Lord never counts a servant's faults; he is the friend of the helpless, of a nature exceedingly tender. This alone is the firm trust of my heart, that Rama will meet me, for the omens are auspicious. And if my breath still stays in me once the term has passed, who in all the world will be as base as I?'

  2. Verse 2

    caupāī dekhata hanūmāna ati haraṣeu| pulaka gāta locana jala baraṣeu|| mana maha~ bahuta bhā~ti sukha mānī| boleu śravana sudhā sama bānī|| jāsu biraha~ socahu dina rātī| raṭahu niraṃtara guna gana pā~tī|| raghukula tilaka sujana sukhadātā| āyau kusala deva muni trātā|| ripu rana jīti sujasa sura gāvata| sītā sahita anuja prabhu āvata|| sunata bacana bisare saba dūkhā| tṛṣāvaṃta jimi pāi piyūṣā|| ko tumha tāta kahā~ te āe| mohi parama priya bacana sunāe|| māruta suta maiṃ kapi hanumānā| nāmu mora sunu kṛpānidhānā|| dīnabaṃdhu raghupati kara kiṃkara| sunata bharata bheṃṭeu uṭhi sādara|| milata prema nahiṃ hṛdaya~ samātā| nayana stravata jala pulakita gātā|| kapi tava darasa sakala dukha bīte| mile āju mohi rāma pirīte|| bāra bāra būjhī kusalātā| to kahu~ deu~ kāha sunu bhrātā|| ehi saṃdesa sarisa jaga māhīṃ| kari bicāra dekheu~ kachu nāhīṃ|| nāhina tāta urina maiṃ tohī| aba prabhu carita sunāvahu mohī|| taba hanumaṃta nāi pada māthā| kahe sakala raghupati guna gāthā|| kahu kapi kabahu~ kṛpāla gosāīṃ| sumirahiṃ mohi dāsa kī nāīṃ||

    Meaning

    Seeing him, Hanuman was overjoyed; his body thrilled and his eyes rained tears. Feeling gladness of many kinds within, he spoke words that were nectar to the ear: 'He in whose separation you grieve day and night, whose ranks of virtues you tell over without ceasing, the ornament of Raghu's line, giver of joy to the good, deliverer of gods and sages, has come safe and well. Having conquered the foe in battle, his fair fame sung by the gods, the Lord is coming with Sita and his younger brother.' Hearing these words Bharata forgot every sorrow, as a thirsting man forgets his thirst on being given nectar. 'Who are you, dear one, and from where have you come? You have spoken to me the words dearest of all.' 'I am the son of the wind, the monkey Hanuman; hear my name, O treasury of grace, a servant of Raghupati, the friend of the helpless.' At that Bharata rose and embraced him with reverence. As they met, the love in his heart would not be contained; his eyes streamed and his body thrilled. 'Monkey, at the sight of you all my sorrow is over; today I have met my beloved Rama himself.' Again and again he asked after their welfare, and said, 'What am I to give you? Listen, brother, I have thought and can see nothing in the world equal to this message. I cannot repay you, dear one. Now recite to me the deeds of my Lord.' Then Hanuman bowed his head at his feet and told the whole tale of Raghupati's virtues. 'Tell me, monkey,' said Bharata, 'does the gracious Master ever remember me, even as his servant?'

  3. Verse 3

    caupāī haraṣi bharata kosalapura āe| samācāra saba gurahi sunāe|| puni maṃdira maha~ bāta janāī| āvata nagara kusala raghurāī|| sunata sakala jananīṃ uṭhi dhāīṃ| kahi prabhu kusala bharata samujhāī|| samācāra purabāsinha pāe| nara aru nāri haraṣi saba dhāe|| dadhi durbā rocana phala phūlā| nava tulasī dala maṃgala mūlā|| bhari bhari hema thāra bhāminī| gāvata caliṃ siṃdhu siṃdhuragāminī|| je jaisehiṃ taisehiṃ uṭi dhāvahiṃ| bāla bṛddha kaha~ saṃga na lāvahiṃ|| eka ekanha kaha~ būjhahiṃ bhāī| tumha dekhe dayāla raghurāī|| avadhapurī prabhu āvata jānī| bhaī sakala sobhā kai khānī|| bahai suhāvana tribidha samīrā| bhai sarajū ati nirmala nīrā||

    Meaning

    Rejoicing, Bharata came to the city of Kosala and told all the news to his guru; then he made it known within the palace that Raghurai was coming to the city safe and well. Hearing it, all the mothers sprang up and ran, and Bharata reassured them, telling them the Lord was well. When the townspeople had the news, men and women alike ran out in joy. Curd, durva grass, rocana, fruit and flowers, and fresh tulsi leaves, the root of all auspiciousness - fair women heaped these upon golden platters and went their way singing, stepping with the gait of elephants. Whoever was in whatever state got up just so and ran, and none stopped to bring child or elder along. One asked another, 'Brother, have you seen the merciful Raghurai?' Knowing that the Lord was coming, Ayodhya became a very mine of beauty; a delightful breeze of three kinds blew, and the water of the Sarayu turned exceedingly clear.

  4. Verse 4

    caupāī ihā~ bhānukula kamala divākara| kapinha dekhāvata nagara manohara|| sunu kapīsa aṃgada laṃkesā| pāvana purī rucira yaha desā|| jadyapi saba baikuṃṭha bakhānā| beda purāna bidita jagu jānā|| avadhapurī sama priya nahiṃ soū| yaha prasaṃga jānai kou koū|| janmabhūmi mama purī suhāvani| uttara disi baha sarajū pāvani|| jā majjana te binahiṃ prayāsā| mama samīpa nara pāvahiṃ bāsā|| ati priya mohi ihā~ ke bāsī| mama dhāmadā purī sukha rāsī|| haraṣe saba kapi suni prabhu bānī| dhanya avadha jo rāma bakhānī||

    Meaning

    Here, the sun that opens the lotus of the solar race was showing the monkeys the enchanting city. 'Hear me, king of the monkeys, and Angada, and lord of Lanka: this city is holy and this land is lovely. Though all extol Vaikuntha, though it is known in the Vedas and the Puranas and famed throughout the world, yet not even that is as dear to me as Ayodhya; this is a matter only a rare soul knows. This delightful city is my birthplace, and on its northern side flows the purifying Sarayu; by bathing in it men win a dwelling near me without any effort at all. Those who live here are exceedingly dear to me; this city, a treasury of joy, bestows my own abode.' Hearing the Lord's words all the monkeys rejoiced: blessed indeed is Ayodhya, which Rama himself praises.

  5. Verse 5

    caupāī āe bharata saṃga saba logā| kṛsa tana śrīraghubīra biyogā|| bāmadeva basiṣṭha munināyaka| dekhe prabhu mahi dhari dhanu sāyaka|| dhāi dhare gura carana saroruha| anuja sahita ati pulaka tanoruha|| bheṃṭi kusala būjhī munirāyā| hamareṃ kusala tumhārihiṃ dāyā|| sakala dvijanha mili nāyau māthā| dharma dhuraṃdhara raghukulanāthā|| gahe bharata puni prabhu pada paṃkaja| namata jinhahi sura muni saṃkara aja|| pare bhūmi nahiṃ uṭhata uṭhāe| bara kari kṛpāsiṃdhu ura lāe|| syāmala gāta roma bhae ṭhāṛhe| nava rājīva nayana jala bāṛhe||

    Meaning

    Bharata came, and with him all the people, their bodies wasted by separation from Shri Raghubira. Seeing Vamadeva and Vasishtha, the chief of sages, the Lord laid his bow and arrows upon the ground, and with his younger brother ran and clasped the guru's lotus-feet, the hair on his body bristling with joy. The king of sages embraced him and asked after his welfare; 'We are well,' came the answer, 'by your grace alone.' The lord of Raghu's line, upholder of dharma, met all the brahmanas together and bowed his head before them. Then Bharata seized the Lord's lotus-feet, the feet before which gods and sages, Shankara and Brahma bow. He lay upon the ground and would not rise though they raised him; the ocean of grace lifted him with his own arms and pressed him to his breast. On that dark body every hair stood erect, and tears welled up in those eyes like fresh lotuses.

  6. Verse 6

    caupāī bharatānuja lachimana puni bheṃṭe| dusaha biraha saṃbhava dukha meṭe|| sītā carana bharata siru nāvā| anuja sameta parama sukha pāvā|| prabhu biloki haraṣe purabāsī| janita biyoga bipati saba nāsī|| premātura saba loga nihārī| kautuka kīnha kṛpāla kharārī|| amita rūpa pragaṭe tehi kālā| jathājoga mile sabahi kṛpālā|| kṛpādṛṣṭi raghubīra bilokī| kie sakala nara nāri bisokī|| chana mahiṃ sabahi mile bhagavānā| umā marama yaha kāhu~ na jānā|| ehi bidhi sabahi sukhī kari rāmā| āgeṃ cale sīla guna dhāmā|| kausalyādi mātu saba dhāī| nirakhi baccha janu dhenu lavāī||

    Meaning

    Then Bharata's younger brother and Lakshmana embraced, and the pain born of unbearable separation was wiped away. Bharata bowed his head at Sita's feet and, with his younger brother, gained the highest joy. The townsfolk rejoiced to behold the Lord, and every misery born of parting was destroyed. Seeing all the people frantic with love, the merciful foe of Khara worked a wonder: in that moment he manifested countless forms and met every one of them as was fitting. Raghubira looked upon them with a glance of grace and made every man and woman free of sorrow. In an instant the Lord had met them all, and this secret, Uma, no one understood. Having in this way made all of them happy, Rama, the abode of gentleness and virtue, moved on ahead. Kaushalya and all the mothers came running, like cows newly calved that catch sight of their young.

  7. Verse 7

    caupāī sāsunha sabani milī baidehī| carananhi lāgi haraṣu ati tehī|| dehiṃ asīsa būjhi kusalātā| hoi acala tumhāra ahivātā|| saba raghupati mukha kamala bilokahiṃ| maṃgala jāni nayana jala rokahiṃ|| kanaka thāra ārati utārahiṃ| bāra bāra prabhu gāta nihārahiṃ|| nānā bhā~ti nichāvari karahīṃ| paramānaṃda haraṣa ura bharahīṃ|| kausalyā puni puni raghubīrahi| citavati kṛpāsiṃdhu ranadhīrahi|| hṛdaya~ bicārati bārahiṃ bārā| kavana bhā~ti laṃkāpati mārā|| ati sukumāra jugala mere bāre| nisicara subhaṭa mahābala bhāre||

    Meaning

    Videha's daughter met all her mothers-in-law and bowed at their feet, and their joy at this was very great. Asking after her welfare, they gave their blessing: may your wedded state stand unshaken. All of them gaze upon Raghupati's lotus face, and knowing the hour an auspicious one they hold back the water in their eyes. With golden platters they wave the lamps of arti, dwelling again and again upon the Lord's form. In many ways they wave gifts about him in offering, and their hearts fill with supreme bliss and delight. Kaushalya looks again and again at Raghubira, the ocean of mercy, steadfast in battle, and turns it over in her heart again and again: by what means did he kill the lord of Lanka? My two boys are so very tender, and those night-rangers were mighty champions of enormous strength.

  8. Verse 8

    caupāī laṃkāpati kapīsa nala nīlā| jāmavaṃta aṃgada subhasīlā|| hanumadādi saba bānara bīrā| dhare manohara manuja sarīrā|| bharata saneha sīla brata nemā| sādara saba baranahiṃ ati premā|| dekhi nagarabāsinha kai rītī| sakala sarāhahi prabhu pada prītī|| puni raghupati saba sakhā bolāe| muni pada lāgahu sakala sikhāe|| gura basiṣṭa kulapūjya hamāre| inha kī kṛpā~ danuja rana māre|| e saba sakhā sunahu muni mere| bhae samara sāgara kaha~ bere|| mama hita lāgi janma inha hāre| bharatahu te mohi adhika piāre|| suni prabhu bacana magana saba bhae| nimiṣa nimiṣa upajata sukha nae||

    Meaning

    The lord of Lanka, the monkey king, Nala and Nila, Jambavan and Angada of gracious nature, Hanuman and all the monkey heroes had taken on winning human forms. With reverence and the deepest love they all told over Bharata's affection, his character, his vow and his discipline; and seeing the ways of the townsfolk, all of them praised the love these bore the Lord's feet. Then Raghupati called all his companions and taught them to bow at the sage's feet: Guru Vasishtha is the one our house holds in worship, and it was by his grace that the demons were slain in the fighting. Then to the sage he said, listen, holy one: these are all my friends, and they became rafts to me across the ocean of war. For my sake they staked their very lives; they are dearer to me even than Bharata. Hearing the Lord's words all were lost in rapture, and moment by moment fresh happiness welled up in them.

  9. Verse 9

    caupāī kaṃcana kalasa bicitra sa~vāre| sabahiṃ dhare saji nija nija dvāre|| baṃdanavāra patākā ketū| sabanhi banāe maṃgala hetū|| bīthīṃ sakala sugaṃdha siṃcāī| gajamani raci bahu cauka purāī|| nānā bhā~ti sumaṃgala sāje| haraṣi nagara nisāna bahu bāje|| jaha~ taha~ nāri nichāvara karahīṃ| dehiṃ asīsa haraṣa ura bharahīṃ|| kaṃcana thāra āratī nānā| jubatī sajeṃ karahiṃ subha gānā|| karahiṃ āratī āratihara keṃ| raghukula kamala bipina dinakara keṃ|| pura sobhā saṃpati kalyānā| nigama seṣa sāradā bakhānā|| teu yaha carita dekhi ṭhagi rahahīṃ| umā tāsu guna nara kimi kahahīṃ||

    Meaning

    Golden jars, wondrously worked, everyone set out in array at his own door; festoons, flags and banners were all made for the sake of auspiciousness. Every lane was sprinkled with fragrant water, and many squares were traced out and filled in with elephant-pearls. Auspicious decorations of every kind were arranged, and in joy many kettledrums sounded through the city. Here and there the women wave gifts in offering and give their blessing, their hearts brimming with delight. Young women set many arti lamps upon golden platters and sing auspicious songs; they perform the arti of the remover of distress, who is the sun to the lotus-grove of Raghu's line. The beauty of the city, its wealth and its blessedness are told by the Vedas, by Shesha and by Sharada; yet even they stand spellbound at the sight of this doing. Uma, how then are men to tell his virtues?

  10. Verse 10

    caupāī prabhu jānī kaikeī lajānī| prathama tāsu gṛha gae bhavānī|| tāhi prabodhi bahuta sukha dīnhā| puni nija bhavana gavana hari kīnhā|| kṛpāsiṃdhu jaba maṃdira gae| pura nara nāri sukhī saba bhae|| gura basiṣṭa dvija lie bulāī| āju sugharī sudina samudāī|| saba dvija dehu haraṣi anusāsana| rāmacaṃdra baiṭhahiṃ siṃghāsana|| muni basiṣṭa ke bacana suhāe| sunata sakala bipranha ati bhāe|| kahahiṃ bacana mṛdu bipra anekā| jaga abhirāma rāma abhiṣekā|| aba munibara bilaṃba nahiṃ kīje| mahārāja kaha~ tilaka karījai||

    Meaning

    Bhavani, the Lord knew that Kaikeyi was ashamed, and so he went first to her house. Reassuring her, he gave her great happiness, and then Hari went on to his own palace. When the ocean of grace entered his palace, all the men and women of the city were made happy. Guru Vasishtha had the brahmins summoned: today the hour is favourable, and a whole gathering of good signs makes the day auspicious. All you brahmins, gladly give the word that Ramachandra may take his seat upon the throne. Sage Vasishtha's words were pleasing ones, and hearing them all the brahmins were greatly delighted. Many brahmins answered in gentle speech: Rama's anointing is a delight to the world. Best of sages, make no delay now; set the tilak upon the great king.

  11. Verse 11

    caupāī avadhapurī ati rucira banāī| devanha sumana bṛṣṭi jhari lāī|| rāma kahā sevakanha bulāī| prathama sakhanha anhavāvahu jāī|| sunata bacana jaha~ taha~ jana dhāe| sugrīvādi turata anhavāe|| puni karunānidhi bharatu ha~kāre| nija kara rāma jaṭā niruāre|| anhavāe prabhu tīniu bhāī| bhagata bachala kṛpāla raghurāī|| bharata bhāgya prabhu komalatāī| seṣa koṭi sata sakahiṃ na gāī|| puni nija jaṭā rāma bibarāe| gura anusāsana māgi nahāe|| kari majjana prabhu bhūṣana sāje| aṃga anaṃga dekhi sata lāje||

    Meaning

    Ayodhya was made exceedingly lovely, and the gods let fall a steady shower of flowers. Rama called the servants and said, go first and have my friends bathed. At his word the attendants ran this way and that, and Sugriva and the rest were bathed at once. Then the store of compassion called for Bharata, and with his own hands Rama untangled his matted hair. The Lord bathed all three of his brothers himself, Raghuraja, gracious and fond of his devotees. Bharata's good fortune and the Lord's tenderness a thousand million Sheshas could not sing. Then Rama loosed out his own matted locks and, having asked the guru's leave, bathed. His bathing done, the Lord put on his ornaments, and a hundred love-gods were abashed to look upon his limbs.

  12. Verse 12

    caupāī prabhu biloki muni mana anurāgā| turata dibya siṃghāsana māgā|| rabi sama teja so barani na jāī| baiṭhe rāma dvijanha siru nāī|| janakasutā sameta raghurāī| pekhi praharaṣe muni samudāī|| beda maṃtra taba dvijanha ucāre| nabha sura muni jaya jayati pukāre|| prathama tilaka basiṣṭa muni kīnhā| puni saba bipranha āyasu dīnhā|| suta biloki haraṣīṃ mahatārī| bāra bāra āratī utārī|| bipranha dāna bibidha bidhi dīnhe| jācaka sakala ajācaka kīnhe|| siṃghāsana para tribhuana sāī| dekhi suranha duṃdubhīṃ bajāīṃ||

    Meaning

    At the sight of the Lord the sage's heart overflowed with love, and he at once called for a divine throne. Its splendour was like the sun's, beyond describing. Bowing his head to the brahmins, Rama took his seat upon it. Seeing Raghuraja there with Janaka's daughter, the whole assembly of sages was overjoyed. Then the brahmins chanted the Vedic mantras, while in the sky gods and sages cried out victory, victory. Sage Vasishtha made the first tilak mark, and then gave the word to all the brahmins. The mothers rejoiced to behold their son, and waved the arti lamps over him again and again. Gifts of many kinds were given to the brahmins, and every suppliant was left with nothing more to ask for. Seeing the Master of the three worlds upon the throne, the gods sounded their kettledrums.

  13. Verse 13

    chaṃda jaya saguna nirguna rūpa rūpa anūpa bhūpa siromane| dasakaṃdharādi pracaṃḍa nisicara prabala khala bhuja bala hane|| avatāra nara saṃsāra bhāra bibhaṃji dāruna dukha dahe| jaya pranatapāla dayāla prabhu saṃjukta sakti namāmahe||1|| tava biṣama māyā basa surāsura nāga nara aga jaga hare| bhava paṃtha bhramata amita divasa nisi kāla karma gunani bhare|| je nātha kari karunā biloke tribidhi dukha te nirbahe| bhava kheda chedana daccha hama kahu~ raccha rāma namāmahe||2|| je gyāna māna bimatta tava bhava harani bhakti na ādarī| te pāi sura durlabha padādapi parata hama dekhata harī|| bisvāsa kari saba āsa parihari dāsa tava je hoi rahe| japi nāma tava binu śrama tarahiṃ bhava nātha so samarāmahe||3|| je carana siva aja pūjya raja subha parasi munipatinī tarī| nakha nirgatā muni baṃditā treloka pāvani surasarī|| dhvaja kulisa aṃkusa kaṃja juta bana phirata kaṃṭaka kina lahe| pada kaṃja dvaṃda mukuṃda rāma ramesa nitya bhajāmahe||4|| abyaktamūlamanādi taru tvaca cāri nigamāgama bhane| ṣaṭa kaṃdha sākhā paṃca bīsa aneka parna sumana ghane|| phala jugala bidhi kaṭu madhura beli akeli jehi āśrita rahe| pallavata phūlata navala nita saṃsāra biṭapa namāmahe||5|| je brahma ajamadvaitamanubhavagamya manapara dhyāvahīṃ| te kahahu~ jānahu~ nātha hama tava saguna jasa nita gāvahīṃ|| karunāyatana prabhu sadagunākara deva yaha bara māgahīṃ| mana bacana karma bikāra taji tava carana hama anurāgahīṃ||6|| dohā/soraṭhā saba ke dekhata bedanha binatī kīnhi udāra| aṃtardhāna bhae puni gae brahma āgāra||13(ka)|| bainateya sunu saṃbhu taba āe jaha~ raghubīra| binaya karata gadagada girā pūrita pulaka sarīra||13(kha)||

    Meaning

    The Vedas sang their praise: Glory to you, at once with attributes and without them, of matchless form, crest-jewel among kings, who with the strength of your arms struck down the ten-headed Ravana and the other fierce, powerful and wicked night-rangers; taking birth as a man you broke the world's burden and burnt away its cruel griefs. Glory to you, merciful Lord, guardian of every suppliant who bows before you; we make our obeisance to you, who are joined with your Shakti. O Hari, held fast by your formidable Maya, gods and demons, serpents and men, all that moves and all that does not, wander the road of birth and death through days and nights beyond counting, filled with time, with works and with the strands of nature. Those upon whom you look in compassion, Lord, are carried past the threefold pain; skilled to cut away the anguish of existence, guard us — Rama, we bow to you. Those drunk with the pride of knowledge, who never honoured that devotion to you which ends rebirth, we have watched fall, O Hari, even from a station the gods find hard to reach; while those who trust you and, letting every other hope go, remain your servants, cross this existence without toil by repeating your name — that name, Lord, we keep in remembrance. Those feet that Shiva and Brahma worship, whose blessed dust at a touch delivered the sage's wife, Ahalya; from whose nail issued the celestial river Ganga, praised by sages, purifier of the three worlds; marked with flag, thunderbolt, goad and lotus, yet scarred by thorns as they walked the forest — that pair of lotus feet of Mukunda, of Rama, the lord of Shri, we worship for ever. The Vedas and the scriptures speak of a beginningless tree whose root is the unmanifest, with four barks, six trunks, twenty-five branches, countless leaves and thick blossom; it bears two kinds of fruit, bitter and sweet, and a single creeper clings to it for support; ever putting out new leaf and flower — to that tree of the world we bow. Let those who meditate on Brahman, unborn, without a second, beyond the mind and known only in experience, speak of it and know it, Lord; we for our part sing your qualified glory always. Abode of compassion, mine of every good quality, we beg this one boon of you, O God: that, leaving behind the corruption of thought, word and deed, we may love your feet. In the sight of all the Vedas made this generous supplication, and then vanished and went to Brahma's abode. Hear, son of Vinata: Shambhu then came where Raghubira was, and began his prayer with a voice choked by feeling and his body thrilling.

  14. Verse 14

    chaṃda jaya rāma ramāramanaṃ samanaṃ| bhava tāpa bhayākula pāhi janaṃ|| avadhesa suresa ramesa bibho| saranāgata māgata pāhi prabho||1|| dasasīsa bināsana bīsa bhujā| kṛta dūri mahā mahi bhūri rujā|| rajanīcara bṛṃda pataṃga rahe| sara pāvaka teja pracaṃḍa dahe||2|| mahi maṃḍala maṃḍana cārutaraṃ| dhṛta sāyaka cāpa niṣaṃga baraṃ|| mada moha mahā mamatā rajanī| tama puṃja divākara teja anī||3|| manajāta kirāta nipāta kie| mṛga loga kubhoga sarena hie|| hati nātha anāthani pāhi hare| biṣayā bana pāva~ra bhūli pare||4|| bahu roga biyoganhi loga hae| bhavadaṃghri nirādara ke phala e|| bhava siṃdhu agādha pare nara te| pada paṃkaja prema na je karate||5|| ati dīna malīna dukhī nitahīṃ| jinha ke pada paṃkaja prīti nahīṃ|| avalaṃba bhavaṃta kathā jinha ke|| priya saṃta anaṃta sadā tinha keṃ||6|| nahiṃ rāga na lobha na māna madā||tinha keṃ sama baibhava vā bipadā|| ehi te tava sevaka hota mudā| muni tyāgata joga bharosa sadā||7|| kari prema niraṃtara nema lie~| pada paṃkaja sevata suddha hie~|| sama māni nirādara ādarahī| saba saṃta sukhī bicaraṃti mahī||8|| muni mānasa paṃkaja bhṛṃga bhaje| raghubīra mahā ranadhīra aje|| tava nāma japāmi namāmi harī| bhava roga mahāgada māna arī||9|| guna sīla kṛpā paramāyatanaṃ| pranamāmi niraṃtara śrīramanaṃ|| raghunaṃda nikaṃdaya dvaṃdvaghanaṃ| mahipāla bilokaya dīna janaṃ||10||

    Meaning

    Shiva prayed: Glory to Rama, delight of Lakshmi, queller of affliction: your servant is scorched and terrified by the round of birth and death — save him. Lord of Ayodhya, lord of the gods, lord of Shri, all-pervading one, a suppliant begs of you — protect me, Lord. You destroyed the ten-headed one of twenty arms and took from the earth its great and grievous sickness; the hosts of the night-rangers were as moths, and the fierce blaze of your arrows burnt them up. Loveliest ornament of the earth's round, you bear bow, arrows and a noble quiver; against the night of pride, delusion and monstrous possessiveness, that heaped mass of darkness, you are the sun's marshalled rays. The hunter born of the mind lays men low as deer, piercing their hearts with the arrows of evil pleasures; strike him down, Lord, and guard the helpless, wretches who have lost their way in the forest of the senses. People are struck by many a disease and many a parting, and these are the fruit of slighting your feet; those men who bear no love for your lotus feet lie fallen in the fathomless ocean of becoming. Wretched, sullied and for ever miserable are they who have no love for your lotus feet; but those whose support is your story hold the saints and the endless Lord dear always. In them is neither passion nor greed, neither pride nor arrogance, and wealth and calamity weigh alike with them. For this reason sages gladly give up their long reliance on yoga and become your servants: loving without a break, holding fast to their observance, they serve your lotus feet with a pure heart, and counting dishonour and honour as one, all such saints move happily about the earth. I worship the bee that haunts the lotus of the sages' minds, Raghubira, unconquered, mighty and steadfast in battle. I repeat your name and bow to you, Hari, foe of pride and of that great malady which is worldly existence. Supreme abode of virtue, of goodness and of grace, I bow without ceasing to the beloved of Shri. Delight of Raghu's line, destroy the thick press of opposites; ruler of the earth, look upon this poor servant.

  15. Verse 15

    caupāī sunu khagapati yaha kathā pāvanī| tribidha tāpa bhava bhaya dāvanī|| mahārāja kara subha abhiṣekā| sunata lahahiṃ nara birati bibekā|| je sakāma nara sunahiṃ je gāvahiṃ| sukha saṃpati nānā bidhi pāvahiṃ|| sura durlabha sukha kari jaga māhīṃ| aṃtakāla raghupati pura jāhīṃ|| sunahiṃ bimukta birata aru biṣaī| lahahiṃ bhagati gati saṃpati naī|| khagapati rāma kathā maiṃ baranī| svamati bilāsa trāsa dukha haranī|| birati bibeka bhagati dṛṛha karanī| moha nadī kaha~ suṃdara taranī|| nita nava maṃgala kausalapurī| haraṣita rahahiṃ loga saba kurī|| nita nai prīti rāma pada paṃkaja| sabakeṃ jinhahi namata siva muni aja|| maṃgana bahu prakāra pahirāe| dvijanha dāna nānā bidhi pāe||

    Meaning

    Listen, king of the birds: this story purifies, and it quells the threefold afflictions and the fear of birth and death. Merely by hearing of the great king's auspicious consecration men come by dispassion and discernment. Those still full of desire who hear it or sing it obtain happiness and riches of every kind; having enjoyed in the world pleasures that even gods find hard to win, at the end they go to Raghupati's own city. Of those who hear it, the liberated gain devotion, the dispassionate gain the final state, and the worldly-minded gain fresh prosperity. King of the birds, I have told the story of Rama as my own understanding played upon it: it carries off terror and grief, it makes dispassion, discernment and devotion firm, and it is a fair boat upon the river of delusion. In the city of Kosala there was fresh rejoicing daily, and the people of every family lived glad. Love for Rama's lotus feet, which Shiva, the sages and Brahma bow to, grew new in every heart each day. Beggars were clothed in all manner of raiment, and the twice-born received gifts of many kinds.

  16. Verse 16

    caupāī bisare gṛha sapanehu~ sudhi nāhīṃ| jimi paradroha saṃta mana māhī|| taba raghupati saba sakhā bolāe| āi sabanhi sādara siru nāe|| parama prīti samīpa baiṭhāre| bhagata sukhada mṛdu bacana ucāre|| tumha ati kīnha mori sevakāī| mukha para kehi bidhi karauṃ baṛāī|| tāte mohi tumha ati priya lāge| mama hita lāgi bhavana sukha tyāge|| anuja rāja saṃpati baidehī| deha geha parivāra sanehī|| saba mama priya nahiṃ tumhahi samānā| mṛṣā na kahau~ mora yaha bānā|| saba ke priya sevaka yaha nītī| moreṃ adhika dāsa para prītī||

    Meaning

    Their homes were forgotten; not even in dreams did the thought of them return, just as the thought of harming another never enters a saint's mind. Then Raghupati summoned all his companions, and they came and bowed their heads in reverence. With the greatest affection he seated them near him and spoke gentle words that gladden devotees: 'You have served me beyond measure; how am I to praise you to your face? For this you have become exceedingly dear to me, that for my sake you gave up the comfort of home. My younger brothers, the kingdom, its wealth, Vaidehi, body, house, family, my well-wishers — all are dear to me, yet not one of them as you are. I do not say this falsely; this is my way. That a servant is dear to all is the common rule, but my love for my servants is greater still.'

  17. Verse 17

    caupāī suni prabhu bacana magana saba bhae| ko hama kahā~ bisari tana gae|| ekaṭaka rahe jori kara āge| sakahiṃ na kachu kahi ati anurāge|| parama prema tinha kara prabhu dekhā| kahā bibidha bidhi gyāna biseṣā|| prabhu sanmukha kachu kahana na pārahiṃ| puni puni carana saroja nihārahiṃ|| taba prabhu bhūṣana basana magāe| nānā raṃga anūpa suhāe|| sugrīvahi prathamahiṃ pahirāe| basana bharata nija hātha banāe|| prabhu prerita lachimana pahirāe| laṃkāpati raghupati mana bhāe|| aṃgada baiṭha rahā nahiṃ ḍolā| prīti dekhi prabhu tāhi na bolā||

    Meaning

    Hearing the Lord's words they were all swept away — who are we, where are we? — and lost all awareness of their bodies. They stood before him with folded hands, gazing without a blink, unable to utter anything for the depth of their love. The Lord saw their supreme love and expounded to them in many ways a special wisdom. In his presence they could say nothing, but looked again and again upon his lotus feet. Then the Lord called for ornaments and garments of many colours, matchless and lovely. Sugriva was robed first, and Bharata arranged his garments with his own hands. At the Lord's bidding Lakshmana robed the lord of Lanka, and this pleased Raghupati's heart. Angada stayed sitting and did not stir; seeing his love, the Lord did not call to him.

  18. Verse 18

    caupāī sunu sarbagya kṛpā sukha siṃdho| dīna dayākara ārata baṃdho|| maratī bera nātha mohi bālī| gayau tumhārehi koṃcheṃ ghālī|| asarana sarana biradu saṃbhārī| mohi jani tajahu bhagata hitakārī|| moreṃ tumha prabhu gura pitu mātā| jāu~ kahā~ taji pada jalajātā|| tumhahi bicāri kahahu naranāhā| prabhu taji bhavana kāja mama kāhā|| bālaka gyāna buddhi bala hīnā| rākhahu sarana nātha jana dīnā|| nīci ṭahala gṛha kai saba karihau~| pada paṃkaja biloki bhava tarihau~|| asa kahi carana pareu prabhu pāhī| aba jani nātha kahahu gṛha jāhī||

    Meaning

    'Hear me, all-knowing one, ocean of grace and of joy, merciful to the humble, kinsman of the afflicted. At the hour of his death, Lord, Bali laid me in your very lap and departed. Remember your title as refuge of the refugeless, and do not forsake me, benefactor of your devotees. To me you are lord, teacher, father and mother; where shall I go, leaving your lotus feet? Consider it yourself and tell me, king of men: with my Lord left behind, what business have I at home? I am a child, wanting in knowledge, wit and strength; keep this poor servant in your shelter, Lord. I shall do every lowly task about the house, and gazing on your lotus feet I shall cross the sea of becoming.' Saying this, Angada fell at his feet: 'Save me, Lord — do not now bid me go home.'

  19. Verse 19

    caupāī bharata anuja saumitra sametā| paṭhavana cale bhagata kṛta cetā|| aṃgada hṛdaya~ prema nahiṃ thorā| phiri phiri citava rāma kīṃ orā|| bāra bāra kara daṃḍa pranāmā| mana asa rahana kahahiṃ mohi rāmā|| rāma bilokani bolani calanī| sumiri sumiri socata ha~si milanī|| prabhu rukha dekhi binaya bahu bhāṣī| caleu hṛdaya~ pada paṃkaja rākhī|| ati ādara saba kapi pahu~cāe| bhāinha sahita bharata puni āe|| taba sugrīva carana gahi nānā| bhā~ti binaya kīnhe hanumānā|| dina dasa kari raghupati pada sevā| puni tava carana dekhihau~ devā|| punya puṃja tumha pavanakumārā| sevahu jāi kṛpā āgārā|| asa kahi kapi saba cale turaṃtā| aṃgada kahai sunahu hanumaṃtā||

    Meaning

    Mindful of all that his devotees had done, Bharata set out with his younger brother and with Saumitri (Lakshmana) to see the departing hosts on their way. The love in Angada's heart was not small: again and again he turned to look Rama's way, again and again he made full prostration, thinking within himself, 'Would that Rama should bid me stay.' Recalling over and over Rama's glance, his speech, his gait, and the smiling welcome with which he met him, Angada was lost in grief. Reading the Lord's mind, he uttered much entreaty and went his way with those lotus-feet set in his heart. With great honour all the monkeys were escorted on their road, and Bharata with his brothers returned. Then Hanuman clasped Sugriva's feet and entreated him in many ways: 'Let me serve Raghupati's feet ten days more, and then, my lord, I shall behold your feet again.' 'You are a mass of merit, son of the Wind,' said Sugriva; 'go and serve the very abode of grace.' So saying, all the monkeys set off at once; and Angada said, 'Hear me, Hanuman.'

  20. Verse 20

    caupāī puni kṛpāla liyo boli niṣādā| dīnhe bhūṣana basana prasādā|| jāhu bhavana mama sumirana karehū| mana krama bacana dharma anusarehū|| tumha mama sakhā bharata sama bhrātā| sadā rahehu pura āvata jātā|| bacana sunata upajā sukha bhārī| pareu carana bhari locana bārī|| carana nalina ura dhari gṛha āvā| prabhu subhāu parijananhi sunāvā|| raghupati carita dekhi purabāsī| puni puni kahahiṃ dhanya sukharāsī|| rāma rāja baiṃṭheṃ trelokā| haraṣita bhae gae saba sokā|| bayaru na kara kāhū sana koī| rāma pratāpa biṣamatā khoī||

    Meaning

    Then the merciful Lord called the Nishada chief to him and bestowed on him raiment and ornaments as a favour. 'Go to your home and keep me in remembrance; follow dharma in thought, word and deed. You are my friend, and a brother to me as Bharata is; come and go to the city always.' At these words a great gladness rose in him; he fell at the Lord's feet with his eyes brimming. Setting those lotus-feet in his heart he came home and told his household of the Lord's nature. Seeing Raghupati's ways the townsfolk said again and again, 'Blessed is Rama, the very store of joy.' With Rama seated upon the throne the three worlds rejoiced and every sorrow departed. None bore enmity towards anyone; Rama's majesty had banished all disparity.

  21. Verse 21

    caupāī daihika daivika bhautika tāpā| rāma rāja nahiṃ kāhuhi byāpā|| saba nara karahiṃ paraspara prītī| calahiṃ svadharma nirata śruti nītī|| cāriu carana dharma jaga māhīṃ| pūri rahā sapanehu~ agha nāhīṃ|| rāma bhagati rata nara aru nārī| sakala parama gati ke adhikārī|| alpamṛtyu nahiṃ kavaniu pīrā| saba suṃdara saba biruja sarīrā|| nahiṃ daridra kou dukhī na dīnā| nahiṃ kou abudha na lacchana hīnā|| saba nirdaṃbha dharmarata punī| nara aru nāri catura saba gunī|| saba gunagya paṃḍita saba gyānī| saba kṛtagya nahiṃ kapaṭa sayānī||

    Meaning

    The three afflictions — those of the body, those sent by fate, and those of the elements — troubled no one in Rama's realm. All men bore love towards one another and walked in their own dharma, holding fast to the discipline the Vedas teach. Dharma stood upon all four of its feet throughout the world, and sin was not known even in dreams. Men and women alike were given to devotion to Rama, and all were fit for the highest goal. There was no untimely death and no pain of any kind; all were comely and every body was free of disease. None was poor, none miserable or forlorn; none was dull of wit or wanting in auspicious marks. All were without pretence, devoted to dharma and pure; men and women alike were accomplished and full of virtue. All could judge merit, all were learned, all had wisdom; all were grateful, and none turned cleverness to deceit.

  22. Verse 22

    caupāī bhūmi sapta sāgara mekhalā| eka bhūpa raghupati kosalā|| bhuana aneka roma prati jāsū| yaha prabhutā kachu bahuta na tāsū|| so mahimā samujhata prabhu kerī| yaha baranata hīnatā ghanerī|| sou mahimā khagesa jinha jānī| phirī ehiṃ carita tinhahu~ rati mānī|| sou jāne kara phala yaha līlā| kahahiṃ mahā munibara damasīlā|| rāma rāja kara sukha saṃpadā| barani na sakai phanīsa sāradā|| saba udāra saba para upakārī| bipra carana sevaka nara nārī|| eka nāri brata rata saba jhārī| te mana baca krama pati hitakārī||

    Meaning

    The earth girdled by the seven seas had one king alone, Raghupati of Kosala. Yet for him upon each pore of whose body many universes rest, such lordship is no great thing. Set beside the greatness of the Lord as it is understood, to tell of this kingship is to belittle him greatly. And even those, O king of birds, who have known that greatness have turned back to this story and taken delight in it; the great sages, masters of themselves, declare that this play is the very fruit of knowing it. The happiness and abundance of Rama's reign neither the lord of serpents nor Sharada can tell. All were generous, all did good to others; men and women alike were servants at the feet of the brahmanas. Every man without exception kept the vow of one wife, and the women in thought, word and deed sought their husbands' good.

  23. Verse 23

    caupāī phūlahiṃ pharahiṃ sadā taru kānana| rahahi eka sa~ga gaja paṃcānana|| khaga mṛga sahaja bayaru bisarāī| sabanhi paraspara prīti baṛhāī|| kūjahiṃ khaga mṛga nānā bṛṃdā| abhaya carahiṃ bana karahiṃ anaṃdā|| sītala surabhi pavana baha maṃdā| gūṃjata ali lai cali makaraṃdā|| latā biṭapa māgeṃ madhu cavahīṃ| manabhāvato dhenu paya stravahīṃ|| sasi saṃpanna sadā raha dharanī| tretā~ bhai kṛtajuga kai karanī|| pragaṭīṃ girinha bibidha mani khānī| jagadātamā bhūpa jaga jānī|| saritā sakala bahahiṃ bara bārī| sītala amala svāda sukhakārī|| sāgara nija marajādā~ rahahīṃ| ḍārahiṃ ratna taṭanhi nara lahahīṃ|| sarasija saṃkula sakala taṛāgā| ati prasanna dasa disā bibhāgā||

    Meaning

    The trees of the woods flowered and bore fruit always, and elephant and lion dwelt side by side. Birds and beasts forgot their inborn enmity, and love grew among them all. Birds sang, and herds of many kinds of deer roamed the forest without fear and made merry. A cool, fragrant breeze blew softly, and bees hummed as they carried away the nectar. Creepers and trees dropped honey for the asking, and cows gave milk to the heart's desire. The earth was ever rich with crops: in the Treta age the working of the Satya-yuga had come again. The mountains disclosed mines of gems of every kind, knowing the Soul of the world to be the world's king. All rivers ran with excellent water, cool, clear, sweet-tasting and refreshing. The seas kept within their bounds and cast up jewels upon their shores for men to gather; every pool was thick with lotuses, and all ten quarters were bright with gladness.

  24. Verse 24

    caupāī koṭinha bājimedha prabhu kīnhe| dāna aneka dvijanha kaha~ dīnhe|| śruti patha pālaka dharma dhuraṃdhara| gunātīta aru bhoga puraṃdara|| pati anukūla sadā raha sītā| sobhā khāni susīla binītā|| jānati kṛpāsiṃdhu prabhutāī| sevati carana kamala mana lāī|| jadyapi gṛha~ sevaka sevakinī| bipula sadā sevā bidhi gunī|| nija kara gṛha paricarajā karaī| rāmacaṃdra āyasu anusaraī|| jehi bidhi kṛpāsiṃdhu sukha mānai| soi kara śrī sevā bidhi jānai|| kausalyādi sāsu gṛha māhīṃ| sevai sabanhi māna mada nāhīṃ|| umā ramā brahmādi baṃditā| jagadaṃbā saṃtatamaniṃditā||

    Meaning

    The Lord performed horse sacrifices by the crore and gave the twice-born gifts beyond counting. He guarded the path of the Vedas and bore the whole burden of dharma; he was beyond the three gunas, and in enjoyment he was Indra himself. Sita was ever agreeable to her husband, a mine of beauty, gentle in conduct and modest. She knew the greatness of the Ocean of Compassion and served his lotus-feet with a mind fixed upon them. Though the house held menservants and maidservants in plenty, always skilled in every manner of service, she did the household work with her own hands and followed Ramachandra's bidding. Whatever gave the Ocean of Grace pleasure, that Sita did, for she knew the whole art of service. Her mothers-in-law, Kaushalya and the rest, were in the house, and she served them all with no trace of pride or vanity. Uma, she is Lakshmi herself, adored by Brahma and the other gods, the Mother of the world, whom none may ever reproach.

  25. Verse 25

    caupāī sevahiṃ sānakūla saba bhāī| rāma carana rati ati adhikāī|| prabhu mukha kamala bilokata rahahīṃ| kabahu~ kṛpāla hamahi kachu kahahīṃ|| rāma karahiṃ bhrātanha para prītī| nānā bhā~ti sikhāvahiṃ nītī|| haraṣita rahahiṃ nagara ke logā| karahiṃ sakala sura durlabha bhogā|| ahanisi bidhihi manāvata rahahīṃ| śrīraghubīra carana rati cahahīṃ|| dui suta sundara sītā~ jāe| lava kusa beda purānanha gāe|| dou bijaī binaī guna maṃdira| hari pratibiṃba manahu~ ati suṃdara|| dui dui suta saba bhrātanha kere| bhae rūpa guna sīla ghanere||

    Meaning

    All the brothers serve him with willing obedience, and their love for Rama's feet grows ever greater. They keep gazing upon the Lord's lotus face, hoping that the merciful one may give them some command. Rama shows his brothers great affection and instructs them in right conduct in many ways. The people of the city live in gladness, enjoying every delight that even the gods find hard to win. Night and day they entreat the Creator, asking for nothing but love for Raghubira's feet. Sita bore two beautiful sons, Lava and Kusha, of whom the Vedas and Puranas sing: both of them victorious, modest, temples of every virtue, and lovely as though they were reflections of Hari himself. Each of the brothers too had two sons, abounding in beauty, in virtue and in gentleness of nature.

  26. Verse 26

    caupāī prātakāla saraū kari majjana| baiṭhahiṃ sabhā~ saṃga dvija sajjana|| beda purāna basiṣṭa bakhānahiṃ| sunahiṃ rāma jadyapi saba jānahiṃ|| anujanha saṃjuta bhojana karahīṃ| dekhi sakala jananīṃ sukha bharahīṃ|| bharata satruhana donau bhāī| sahita pavanasuta upabana jāī|| būjhahiṃ baiṭhi rāma guna gāhā| kaha hanumāna sumati avagāhā|| sunata bimala guna ati sukha pāvahiṃ| bahuri bahuri kari binaya kahāvahiṃ|| saba keṃ gṛha gṛha hohiṃ purānā| rāmacarita pāvana bidhi nānā|| nara aru nāri rāma guna gānahiṃ| karahiṃ divasa nisi jāta na jānahiṃ||

    Meaning

    At daybreak, after bathing in the Sarayu, Rama takes his seat in the assembly together with the brahmins and men of worth. Vasishtha expounds the Vedas and the Puranas, and Rama listens, though he knows all things already. He eats his meal in the company of his younger brothers, and the sight of it fills all the mothers with happiness. Bharata and Shatrughna, the two brothers, go out to the garden with the son of the wind, and sitting there they ask for the story of Rama's virtues; Hanuman, sounding its depths with his fine understanding, tells it. Hearing those spotless virtues they are filled with delight, and again and again they entreat him to say more. In house after house the Puranas are recited and the purifying deeds of Rama are told in many ways. Men and women alike sing Rama's praises, and day and night pass without their knowing it.

  27. Verse 27

    caupāī nāradādi sanakādi munīsā| darasana lāgi kosalādhīsā|| dina prati sakala ajodhyā āvahiṃ| dekhi nagaru birāgu bisarāvahiṃ|| jātarūpa mani racita aṭārīṃ| nānā raṃga rucira gaca ḍhārīṃ|| pura cahu~ pāsa koṭa ati suṃdara| race ka~gūrā raṃga raṃga bara|| nava graha nikara anīka banāī| janu gherī amarāvati āī|| mahi bahu raṃga racita gaca kā~cā| jo biloki munibara mana nācā|| dhavala dhāma ūpara nabha cuṃbata| kalasa manahu~ rabi sasi duti niṃdata|| bahu mani racita jharokhā bhrājahiṃ| gṛha gṛha prati mani dīpa birājahiṃ||

    Meaning

    Narada, Sanaka and the other lords among sages come to Ayodhya day after day for a sight of the Lord of Kosala, and looking upon the city they let their dispassion slip away from them. Its upper chambers are wrought of gold and gem, and its floors are laid in many lovely colours. On all four sides of the city stands a most beautiful rampart, its battlements raised in fine varied hues, as though the host of the nine planets had drawn itself up in ranks and come to besiege Amaravati. The ground is paved with crystal of many colours, at the sight of which the hearts of the greatest sages dance. White mansions rise up to kiss the sky, their pinnacles seeming to shame the brightness of sun and moon. Lattice windows set with many jewels glitter, and in every house jewel-lamps shine.

  28. Verse 28

    caupāī sumana bāṭikā sabahiṃ lagāī| bibidha bhā~ti kari jatana banāī|| latā lalita bahu jāti suhāī| phūlahiṃ sadā baṃsata ki nāī|| guṃjata madhukara mukhara manohara| māruta tribidha sadā baha suṃdara|| nānā khaga bālakanhi jiāe| bolata madhura uṛāta suhāe|| mora haṃsa sārasa pārāvata| bhavanani para sobhā ati pāvata|| jaha~ taha~ dekhahiṃ nija parichāhīṃ| bahu bidhi kūjahiṃ nṛtya karāhīṃ|| suka sārikā paṛhāvahiṃ bālaka| kahahu rāma raghupati janapālaka|| rāja duāra sakala bidhi cārū| bīthīṃ cauhaṭa rūcira bajārū||

    Meaning

    Everyone has laid out flower gardens, fashioned with care in all manner of ways. Graceful creepers of many kinds delight the eye and blossom always as though it were spring. Bees hum aloud, a charming sound, and the threefold breeze - cool, gentle and fragrant - blows sweetly at all times. The children have reared birds of many sorts, which call sweetly and look lovely as they fly. Peacocks, swans, cranes and doves gain great beauty perched upon the houses; catching sight of their own reflections here and there, they coo in many notes and break into dance. The children teach the parrots and the mynas to say, 'Rama, Raghupati, protector of his people.' The royal gateway is graceful in every way, and the lanes, the crossroads and the markets are all a delight.

  29. Verse 29

    caupāī dūri pharāka rucira so ghāṭā| jaha~ jala piahiṃ bāji gaja ṭhāṭā|| panighaṭa parama manohara nānā| tahā~ na puruṣa karahiṃ asnānā|| rājaghāṭa saba bidhi suṃdara bara| majjahiṃ tahā~ barana cāriu nara|| tīra tīra devanha ke maṃdira| cahu~ disi tinha ke upabana suṃdara|| kahu~ kahu~ saritā tīra udāsī| basahiṃ gyāna rata muni saṃnyāsī|| tīra tīra tulasikā suhāī| bṛṃda bṛṃda bahu muninha lagāī|| pura sobhā kachu barani na jāī| bāhera nagara parama rucirāī|| dekhata purī akhila agha bhāgā| bana upabana bāpikā taṛāgā||

    Meaning

    Set well apart from the rest lies a lovely ghat, where troops of horses and elephants drink their water. There are many charming ghats for the drawing of water, and at these no man bathes. The royal ghat is excellent and beautiful in every way, and there men of all four orders bathe. Along the banks stand temples of the gods, with fair gardens on every side of them. Here and there upon the river's edge live detached sages and sannyasis given to knowledge. All down the banks grow beautiful tulasi plants, set out clump upon clump by many sages. The splendour of the city cannot be told at all, and outside it too the country is supremely lovely. At the mere sight of the city every sin takes flight; and everywhere there are woods and gardens, step-wells and lakes.

  30. Verse 30

    caupāī jaha~ taha~ nara raghupati guna gāvahiṃ| baiṭhi parasapara ihai sikhāvahiṃ|| bhajahu pranata pratipālaka rāmahi| sobhā sīla rūpa guna dhāmahi|| jalaja bilocana syāmala gātahi| palaka nayana iva sevaka trātahi|| dhṛta sara rucira cāpa tūnīrahi| saṃta kaṃja bana rabi ranadhīrahi|| kāla karāla byāla khagarājahi| namata rāma akāma mamatā jahi|| lobha moha mṛgajūtha kirātahi| manasija kari hari jana sukhadātahi|| saṃsaya soka nibiṛa tama bhānuhi| danuja gahana ghana dahana kṛsānuhi|| janakasutā sameta raghubīrahi| kasa na bhajahu bhaṃjana bhava bhīrahi|| bahu bāsanā masaka hima rāsihi| sadā ekarasa aja abināsihi|| muni raṃjana bhaṃjana mahi bhārahi| tulasidāsa ke prabhuhi udārahi||

    Meaning

    Here and there the people sing Raghupati's virtues, and sitting together they teach one another just this: worship Rama, who cherishes all who bow to him, the abode of splendour, of noble nature, of beauty and of virtue; the lotus-eyed, the dark of limb, who guards his servants as the eyelid guards the eye; who bears arrows and a lovely bow and quiver, the sun to the lotus-bed of saints, unshaken in battle; the king of birds to the dread serpent of Time, who takes away the desire and the possessiveness of those who bow before him; the hunter to the deer-herd of greed and delusion, the lion to the elephant of lust, the giver of joy to his own people; the sun to the thick darkness of doubt and sorrow, the fire that burns the dense thicket of demons. Why then do you not worship Raghubira along with Janaka's daughter, he who shatters the terror of birth and death, the heap of frost to the gnats of countless cravings, ever unchanging, unborn and imperishable, the delight of sages, the remover of the earth's burden, the generous Lord of Tulsidas?

  31. Verse 31

    caupāī jaba te rāma pratāpa khagesā| udita bhayau ati prabala dinesā|| pūri prakāsa raheu tihu~ lokā| bahutenha sukha bahutana mana sokā|| jinhahi soka te kahau~ bakhānī| prathama abidyā nisā nasānī|| agha ulūka jaha~ tahā~ lukāne| kāma krodha kairava sakucāne|| bibidha karma guna kāla subhāū| e cakora sukha lahahiṃ na kāū|| matsara māna moha mada corā| inha kara hunara na kavanihu~ orā|| dharama taṛāga gyāna bigyānā| e paṃkaja bikase bidhi nānā|| sukha saṃtoṣa birāga bibekā| bigata soka e koka anekā||

    Meaning

    Ever since Rama's glory, O king of birds, rose up as a sun of overwhelming strength, its light has filled all three worlds; by it many were made happy, and in the hearts of many there was grief. Let me tell you plainly who those grieving ones are. First, the night of ignorance was destroyed. The owls of sin slunk away into hiding here and there, and lust and anger, the night-lilies, shrank and closed. Action of every kind, quality, time and inborn nature are chakora birds that now never find their delight. Envy, pride, delusion and arrogance are thieves whose cunning avails them nothing on any side. Righteousness is the pool in which knowledge and realization, the lotuses, have opened in kind after kind; and joy, contentment, dispassion and discernment are the many ruddy geese whose sorrow is at an end.

  32. Verse 32

    caupāī bhrātanha sahita rāmu eka bārā| saṃga parama priya pavanakumārā|| suṃdara upabana dekhana gae| saba taru kusumita pallava nae|| jāni samaya sanakādika āe| teja puṃja guna sīla suhāe|| brahmānaṃda sadā layalīnā| dekhata bālaka bahukālīnā|| rūpa dhareṃ janu cāriu bedā| samadarasī muni bigata bibhedā|| āsā basana byasana yaha tinhahīṃ| raghupati carita hoi taha~ sunahīṃ|| tahā~ rahe sanakādi bhavānī| jaha~ ghaṭasaṃbhava munibara gyānī|| rāma kathā munibara bahu baranī| gyāna joni pāvaka jimi aranī||

    Meaning

    One day Rama went with his brothers, and with the Wind's son whom he loved above all, to look at a lovely grove where every tree stood in flower with fresh new leaves. Judging the moment right, Sanaka and his brothers arrived there: masses of radiance, gracious in virtue and temper, for ever absorbed in the bliss of Brahman, and to the eye small boys, though of vast age. It was as though the four Vedas had taken bodily form; sages of even vision, in whom every distinction had ceased. The quarters of the sky were their only clothing, and this was their one indulgence: wherever Raghupati's story is told, there they go and listen. They had been staying, Bhavani, where the wise and eminent jar-born sage Agastya dwells, and that great sage had recounted much of Rama's story, which brings wisdom to birth as the fire-stick brings fire.

  33. Verse 33

    caupāī kīnha daṃḍavata tīniu~ bhāī| sahita pavanasuta sukha adhikāī|| muni raghupati chabi atula bilokī| bhae magana mana sake na rokī|| syāmala gāta saroruha locana| suṃdaratā maṃdira bhava mocana|| ekaṭaka rahe nimeṣa na lāvahiṃ| prabhu kara joreṃ sīsa navāvahiṃ|| tinha kai dasā dekhi raghubīrā| stravata nayana jala pulaka sarīrā|| kara gahi prabhu munibara baiṭhāre| parama manohara bacana ucāre|| āju dhanya maiṃ sunahu munīsā| tumhareṃ darasa jāhiṃ agha khīsā|| baṛe bhāga pāiba satasaṃgā| binahiṃ prayāsa hohiṃ bhava bhaṃgā||

    Meaning

    All three brothers, and the Wind's son with them, made full prostration, their joy overflowing. The sages looked upon Raghupati's matchless beauty and were lost in it, unable to hold their minds back: the dark body, the lotus eyes, the very house of loveliness, the release from birth and death. They gazed on without stirring an eyelid, while the Lord, his palms joined, bowed his head to them. Seeing their condition, Raghubira's eyes ran with tears and a thrill passed over his body. Taking them by the hand, the Lord seated the great sages and spoke words of utter sweetness: 'Hear me, lords among sages, today I am blessed; at the sight of you sins are worn away. Only by great good fortune is the company of the holy obtained, and by it the bonds of worldly existence are broken without any effort at all.'

  34. Verse 34

    caupāī suni prabhu bacana haraṣi muni cārī| pulakita tana astuti anusārī|| jaya bhagavaṃta anaṃta anāmaya| anagha aneka eka karunāmaya|| jaya nirguna jaya jaya guna sāgara| sukha maṃdira suṃdara ati nāgara|| jaya iṃdirā ramana jaya bhūdhara| anupama aja anādi sobhākara|| gyāna nidhāna amāna mānaprada| pāvana sujasa purāna beda bada|| tagya kṛtagya agyatā bhaṃjana| nāma aneka anāma niraṃjana|| sarba sarbagata sarba urālaya| basasi sadā hama kahu~ paripālaya|| dvaṃda bipati bhava phaṃda bibhaṃjaya| hradi basi rāma kāma mada gaṃjaya||

    Meaning

    Hearing the Lord's words the four sages rejoiced, and with the hair of their bodies standing on end they took up a hymn of praise. 'Victory to you, Lord, endless, untouched by any affliction, sinless, many and yet one, made wholly of compassion. Victory to the one without attributes; victory, victory to the ocean of attributes; house of happiness, beautiful, and courteous beyond measure. Victory to Indira's beloved, victory to the upholder of the earth, peerless, unborn, without beginning, a mine of splendour. Storehouse of wisdom, yourself free of pride and the giver of honour to others, whose purifying fame the Vedas and Puranas declare. Knower of truth, mindful of every service done to you, breaker of ignorance, of many names and yet nameless, unstained. You are all, you pervade all, you dwell in the heart of all; since you live there always, keep us in your care. Shatter the pairs of opposites, calamity, and the noose of worldly existence; dwelling in our hearts, Rama, crush our desire and our pride.'

  35. Verse 35

    caupāī dehu bhagati raghupati ati pāvani| tribidha tāpa bhava dāpa nasāvani|| pranata kāma suradhenu kalapataru| hoi prasanna dījai prabhu yaha baru|| bhava bāridhi kuṃbhaja raghunāyaka| sevata sulabha sakala sukha dāyaka|| mana saṃbhava dāruna dukha dāraya| dīnabaṃdhu samatā bistāraya|| āsa trāsa iriṣādi nivāraka| binaya bibeka birati bistāraka|| bhūpa mauli mana maṃḍana dharanī| dehi bhagati saṃsṛti sari taranī|| muni mana mānasa haṃsa niraṃtara| carana kamala baṃdita aja saṃkara|| raghukula ketu setu śruti racchaka| kāla karama subhāu guna bhacchaka|| tārana tarana harana saba dūṣana| tulasidāsa prabhu tribhuvana bhūṣana||

    Meaning

    The sages went on: 'Grant us devotion to you, Raghupati, that most cleansing devotion which destroys the threefold torment and the fever of worldly existence. To those who bow before you, you are the wish-granting cow and the wish-granting tree; be pleased, Lord, and give us this one boon. To the ocean of worldly existence you are the jar-born sage who drank the sea dry, O Lord of the Raghus, easily won by service and the giver of every happiness. Tear away the cruel griefs that the mind itself breeds; friend of the destitute, spread evenness of mind in us. You turn back craving, fear, envy and the rest, and you spread humility, discernment and detachment. Crown of kings, ornament of the earth, grant us devotion, the boat that carries one over the river of birth and rebirth. You are the swan that never leaves the Manasa lake of the sages' minds, your lotus feet worshipped by Brahma and Shankara. Banner of the house of Raghu, guardian of the embankment of the Vedas, devourer of time, of action, of inborn nature and of the gunas. You carry others across and are yourself the crossing, remover of every fault, the Lord of Tulsidas, the ornament of the three worlds.'

  36. Verse 36

    caupāī sanakādika bidhi loka sidhāe| bhrātanha rāma carana siru nāe|| pūchata prabhuhi sakala sakucāhīṃ| citavahiṃ saba mārutasuta pāhīṃ|| suni cahahiṃ prabhu mukha kai bānī| jo suni hoi sakala bhrama hānī|| aṃtarajāmī prabhu sabha jānā| būjhata kahahu kāha hanumānā|| jori pāni kaha taba hanumaṃtā| sunahu dīnadayāla bhagavaṃtā|| nātha bharata kachu pū~chana cahahīṃ| prasna karata mana sakucata ahahīṃ|| tumha jānahu kapi mora subhāū| bharatahi mohi kachu aṃtara kāū|| suni prabhu bacana bharata gahe caranā| sunahu nātha pranatārati haranā||

    Meaning

    Sanaka and his brothers went their way to Brahma's world, and the brothers bowed their heads at Rama's feet. Every one of them shrank from putting his question to the Lord, and they all kept glancing towards the son of the Wind; they wished to hear from the Lord's own mouth the speech that would put an end to all doubt. The Lord, who dwells within and knows all, understood everything, and yet he asked, 'Tell me, Hanuman, what is it?' Then Hanuman spoke with joined palms: 'Hear me, Blessed One, merciful to the lowly. Master, Bharata wishes to ask something, but his mind hesitates to put the question.' 'Monkey, you know my nature,' said Rama; 'was there ever the least difference between Bharata and me?' Hearing the Lord's words, Bharata clasped his feet and said, 'Hear me, master, you who take away the distress of all who bow before you.'

  37. Verse 37

    caupāī karau~ kṛpānidhi eka ḍhiṭhāī| maiṃ sevaka tumha jana sukhadāī|| saṃtanha kai mahimā raghurāī| bahu bidhi beda purānanha gāī|| śrīmukha tumha puni kīnhi baṛāī| tinha para prabhuhi prīti adhikāī|| sunā cahau~ prabhu tinha kara lacchana| kṛpāsiṃdhu guna gyāna bicacchana|| saṃta asaṃta bheda bilagāī| pranatapāla mohi kahahu bujhāī|| saṃtanha ke lacchana sunu bhrātā| aganita śruti purāna bikhyātā|| saṃta asaṃtanhi kai asi karanī| jimi kuṭhāra caṃdana ācaranī|| kāṭai parasu malaya sunu bhāī| nija guna dei sugaṃdha basāī||

    Meaning

    Bharata said, 'Storehouse of compassion, I am about to commit one impertinence — I am your servant, and you are the giver of joy to those who serve you. Lord of the Raghus, the Vedas and Puranas have sung the greatness of saints in many ways, and you too have praised them with your own blessed lips; the Lord's love for them is exceedingly great. Ocean of mercy, discerning in virtue and in wisdom, I wish to hear the marks by which such men are known. Protector of those who take refuge, set apart for me the difference between the saintly and the unsaintly, and explain it until I understand.' Rama said, 'Hear the marks of saints, brother — they are past counting, and the Vedas and Puranas have made them known. The conduct of the saintly and of the unsaintly is like the way of the axe and the sandal tree: the axe fells the sandal, brother, and the sandal gives it its own quality and leaves it steeped in fragrance.'

  38. Verse 38

    caupāī biṣaya alaṃpaṭa sīla gunākara| para dukha dukha sukha sukha dekhe para|| sama abhūtaripu bimada birāgī| lobhāmaraṣa haraṣa bhaya tyāgī|| komalacita dīnanha para dāyā| mana baca krama mama bhagati amāyā|| sabahi mānaprada āpu amānī| bharata prāna sama mama te prānī|| bigata kāma mama nāma parāyana| sāṃti birati binatī muditāyana|| sītalatā saralatā mayatrī| dvija pada prīti dharma janayatrī|| e saba lacchana basahiṃ jāsu ura| jānehu tāta saṃta saṃtata phura|| sama dama niyama nīti nahiṃ ḍolahiṃ| paruṣa bacana kabahū~ nahiṃ bolahiṃ||

    Meaning

    'They are untouched by the objects of sense, mines of good conduct and virtue; another's grief they take for grief and another's joy for joy. Even-minded, counting no creature an enemy, free of arrogance and unattached, they have let go of greed, resentment, elation and fear. Tender of heart and merciful to the lowly, in thought, word and deed they keep a devotion to me that has no guile in it. They give honour to all and claim none for themselves; such beings, Bharata, are dear to me as my own life. Desire has left them, my name is their whole reliance, and they are the dwelling-place of peace, dispassion, humility and gladness. Coolness, straightness, friendliness, and love for the feet of the twice-born, which is the mother of all righteousness — in whose heart all these marks abide, know him, dear brother, to be a saint truly and for ever. They never waver from evenness, self-restraint, discipline and right conduct, and never at any time utter a harsh word.'

  39. Verse 39

    caupāī sanahu asaṃtanha kera subhāū| bhūlehu~ saṃgati karia na kāū|| tinha kara saṃga sadā dukhadāī| jimi kalapahi ghālai harahāī|| khalanha hṛdaya~ ati tāpa biseṣī| jarahiṃ sadā para saṃpati dekhī|| jaha~ kahu~ niṃdā sunahiṃ parāī| haraṣahiṃ manahu~ parī nidhi pāī|| kāma krodha mada lobha parāyana| nirdaya kapaṭī kuṭila malāyana|| bayaru akārana saba kāhū soṃ| jo kara hita anahita tāhū soṃ|| jhūṭhai lenā jhūṭhai denā| jhūṭhai bhojana jhūṭha cabenā|| bolahiṃ madhura bacana jimi morā| khāi mahā ati hṛdaya kaṭhorā||

    Meaning

    'Now hear the nature of the unsaintly, and never, even in forgetfulness, keep their company. Their fellowship brings sorrow always, as a stray cow that has learnt to feed on others' fields ruins the standing crop. The hearts of the wicked burn with an exceeding fever; at the sight of another's prosperity they are for ever aflame. Wherever they hear another spoken ill of, they are as glad as though a treasure had fallen in their path. Given over to lust, anger, arrogance and greed, they are pitiless, false, crooked, storehouses of filth. They bear enmity without cause towards every man, and do harm even to the one who does them good. False is their taking and false their giving, false their meals and false the morsel they chew. Their words come sweet as the peacock's cry, yet their hearts are utterly hard — for that same bird devours the deadliest snakes.'

  40. Verse 40

    caupāī lobhai oṛhana lobhai ḍāsana| sistrodara para jamapura trāsa na|| kāhū kī jauṃ sunahiṃ baṛāī| svāsa lehiṃ janu jūṛī āī|| jaba kāhū kai dekhahiṃ bipatī| sukhī bhae mānahu~ jaga nṛpatī|| svāratha rata parivāra birodhī| laṃpaṭa kāma lobha ati krodhī|| mātu pitā gura bipra na mānahiṃ| āpu gae aru ghālahiṃ ānahiṃ|| karahiṃ moha basa droha parāvā| saṃta saṃga hari kathā na bhāvā|| avaguna siṃdhu maṃdamati kāmī| beda bidūṣaka paradhana svāmī|| bipra droha para droha biseṣā| daṃbha kapaṭa jiya~ dhareṃ subeṣā||

    Meaning

    'Greed is the cloak they wrap about them and greed the bed they lie on; slaves to the belly and to lust, they have no dread of Yama's city. If they hear anyone praised they draw their breath heavily, as though an ague had come upon them; and when they see another in distress they are as pleased as if they had become kings of the world. Wedded to their own interest, at odds with their own household, dissolute, lustful, greedy and quick to rage, they hold neither mother nor father nor teacher nor brahmin in any regard; ruined themselves, they drag others down with them. Deluded, they work spite against others, and neither the company of saints nor the tale of Hari is to their liking. Oceans of vice, dull of wit and lecherous, they scoff at the Vedas and make themselves masters of what belongs to others. Malice towards brahmins they carry beyond all their other malice, and with pride and fraud in the heart they put on a fair and holy garb.'

  41. Verse 41

    caupāī para hita sarisa dharma nahiṃ bhāī| para pīṛā sama nahiṃ adhamāī|| nirnaya sakala purāna beda kara| kaheu~ tāta jānahiṃ kobida nara|| nara sarīra dhari je para pīrā| karahiṃ te sahahiṃ mahā bhava bhīrā|| karahiṃ moha basa nara agha nānā| svāratha rata paraloka nasānā|| kālarūpa tinha kaha~ maiṃ bhrātā| subha aru asubha karma phala dātā|| asa bicāri je parama sayāne| bhajahiṃ mohi saṃsṛta dukha jāne|| tyāgahiṃ karma subhāsubha dāyaka| bhajahiṃ mohi sura nara muni nāyaka|| saṃta asaṃtanha ke guna bhāṣe| te na parahiṃ bhava jinha lakhi rākhe||

    Meaning

    'There is no piety, brother, like doing good to another, and no baseness like giving another pain. This is the settled verdict of all the Vedas and Puranas; I have told it to you, dear one, and the learned know it. Those who take a human body and then torment others endure the great terror of birth and death. Deluded, men commit sin upon sin, and, wrapped up in their own interest, ruin their prospects in the world to come. To such men I am Death itself, brother — the one who metes out the fruit of deeds fair and foul. Weighing this, those who are truly wise worship me, knowing the sorrow of the round of birth and death; they renounce works that yield fruit both good and evil, and worship me, the lord of gods, of men and of sages. I have set out the qualities of the good and of the wicked; those who have marked them well and kept them in mind do not fall into the ocean of rebirth.'

  42. Verse 42

    caupāī śrīmukha bacana sunata saba bhāī| haraṣe prema na hṛdaya~ samāī|| karahiṃ binaya ati bārahiṃ bārā| hanūmāna hiya~ haraṣa apārā|| puni raghupati nija maṃdira gae| ehi bidhi carita karata nita nae|| bāra bāra nārada muni āvahiṃ| carita punīta rāma ke gāvahiṃ|| nita nava carana dekhi muni jāhīṃ| brahmaloka saba kathā kahāhīṃ|| suni biraṃci atisaya sukha mānahiṃ| puni puni tāta karahu guna gānahiṃ|| sanakādika nāradahi sarāhahiṃ| jadyapi brahma nirata muni āhahiṃ|| suni guna gāna samādhi bisārī|| sādara sunahiṃ parama adhikārī||

    Meaning

    Hearing these words from the blessed lips, all the brothers were filled with a delight their hearts could not hold, and again and again they made humble submission; in Hanuman's breast the joy was boundless. Then Raghupati went to his own palace, performing in this way deeds that were new every day. Again and again the sage Narada would come and sing the holy acts of Rama; seeing the ever-new pastimes, the sage would go and recite the whole story in the world of Brahma. Virinchi heard it with the greatest delight and said over and over, 'Dear son, sing his praises.' Sanaka and the sages with him praised Narada; and though those sages are absorbed in the Absolute, on hearing that song of Rama's virtues they let their trance slip from them and listened with reverence, being of the highest fitness to hear it.

  43. Verse 43

    caupāī eka bāra raghunātha bolāe| gura dvija purabāsī saba āe|| baiṭhe gura muni aru dvija sajjana| bole bacana bhagata bhava bhaṃjana|| sanahu sakala purajana mama bānī| kahau~ na kachu mamatā ura ānī|| nahiṃ anīti nahiṃ kachu prabhutāī| sunahu karahu jo tumhahi sohāī|| soi sevaka priyatama mama soī| mama anusāsana mānai joī|| jauṃ anīti kachu bhāṣauṃ bhāī| tauṃ mohi barajahu bhaya bisarāī|| baṛeṃ bhāga mānuṣa tanu pāvā| sura durlabha saba graṃthinha gāvā|| sādhana dhāma moccha kara dvārā| pāi na jehiṃ paraloka sa~vārā||

    Meaning

    Once Raghunatha called them together, and the guru, the brahmins and all the townsfolk came. When the guru, the sages, the brahmins and the good men of the city had taken their seats, he who breaks the round of birth and death for his devotees spoke: 'Hear my words, all you people of the city. I do not say this out of any attachment held in my heart; there is no injustice in it, nor any assertion of lordship. Hear me out, and then do whatever pleases you. He alone is my servant and dearest to me who obeys my rule. If I should say anything unjust, brothers, put your fear aside and check me. It is by great good fortune that this human body has been obtained, and every scripture sings that it is hard for the gods themselves to win. It is the home of all spiritual effort and the door through which liberation is reached; yet there are those who gain it and make no provision for the world to come.'

  44. Verse 44

    caupāī ehi tana kara phala biṣaya na bhāī| svargau svalpa aṃta dukhadāī|| nara tanu pāi biṣaya~ mana dehīṃ| palaṭi sudhā te saṭha biṣa lehīṃ|| tāhi kabahu~ bhala kahai na koī| guṃjā grahai parasa mani khoī|| ākara cāri laccha caurāsī| joni bhramata yaha jiva abināsī|| phirata sadā māyā kara prerā| kāla karma subhāva guna gherā|| kabahu~ka kari karunā nara dehī| deta īsa binu hetu sanehī|| nara tanu bhava bāridhi kahu~ bero| sanmukha maruta anugraha mero|| karanadhāra sadagura dṛṛha nāvā| durlabha sāja sulabha kari pāvā||

    Meaning

    'The fruit of this body is not sense-enjoyment, brother; even heaven is a paltry thing, and its end is sorrow. Those who win a human body and then set their minds on the objects of sense are fools who hand over nectar and take poison in return. No one ever speaks well of such a man: he lets go the stone that turns iron to gold and gathers up a worthless gunja berry. Through the four orders of creation and the eighty-four lakh forms of birth this undying soul goes wandering, always driven on by Maya, ringed round by time, by action, by its own inborn nature and by the gunas. Now and then the Lord, who loves without reason of any kind, takes pity and grants it a human body. That body is the boat for crossing the sea of worldly life, my grace is the wind that blows straight behind it, and the true guru is the steersman; the boat is sound, and gear so hard to come by has fallen to him with ease.'

  45. Verse 45

    caupāī jauṃ paraloka ihā~ sukha cahahū| suni mama bacana hrṛdaya~ dṛṛha gahahū|| sulabha sukhada māraga yaha bhāī| bhagati mori purāna śruti gāī|| gyāna agama pratyūha anekā| sādhana kaṭhina na mana kahu~ ṭekā|| karata kaṣṭa bahu pāvai koū| bhakti hīna mohi priya nahiṃ soū|| bhakti sutaṃtra sakala sukha khānī| binu satasaṃga na pāvahiṃ prānī|| punya puṃja binu milahiṃ na saṃtā| satasaṃgati saṃsṛti kara aṃtā|| punya eka jaga mahu~ nahiṃ dūjā| mana krama bacana bipra pada pūjā|| sānukūla tehi para muni devā| jo taji kapaṭu karai dvija sevā||

    Meaning

    'If you wish for happiness here and in the world beyond, hear my words and hold them firmly in your heart. This road is easy and full of joy, brother — devotion to me, of which the Puranas and the Vedas have sung. Knowledge is hard of access and beset with many obstacles; its discipline is severe and the mind finds no support in it. Some man may reach it through much hardship, yet if he is without devotion he is not dear to me. Devotion stands free and is the mine of every happiness, but creatures do not obtain it without the company of the good. Without a great store of merit no one meets the saints, and it is the company of saints that puts an end to the round of birth and death. In this world there is one merit and there is no second: worship of the feet of the brahmins in thought, word and deed. Sages and gods are gracious to the man who lays deceit aside and serves the brahmins.'

  46. Verse 46

    caupāī kahahu bhagati patha kavana prayāsā| joga na makha japa tapa upavāsā|| sarala subhāva na mana kuṭilāī| jathā lābha saṃtoṣa sadāī|| mora dāsa kahāi nara āsā| karai tau kahahu kahā bisvāsā|| bahuta kahau~ kā kathā baṛhāī| ehi ācarana basya maiṃ bhāī|| baira na bigraha āsa na trāsā| sukhamaya tāhi sadā saba āsā|| anāraṃbha aniketa amānī| anagha aroṣa daccha bigyānī|| prīti sadā sajjana saṃsargā| tṛna sama biṣaya svarga apabargā|| bhagati paccha haṭha nahiṃ saṭhatāī| duṣṭa tarka saba dūri bahāī||

    Meaning

    'Tell me, what toil is there in the path of devotion? It calls for no yoga, no sacrifice, no muttered prayer, no penance and no fasting — only a straightforward nature, a mind with no crookedness in it, and contentment always with whatever comes to hand. If a man goes by the name of my servant and still sets his hopes on men, then tell me, what is his faith worth? Why should I stretch the matter out with many words? It is this conduct, brother, that masters me. He bears no enmity and picks no quarrel, he has neither craving nor dread, and for him happiness lies on every side always. He undertakes nothing for himself, is tied to no dwelling, is without conceit, without sin, without anger, able and truly wise. His love is always for the company of the good, and sense-pleasures, heaven, and liberation itself he holds as light as a blade of grass. He takes the side of devotion, but with no obstinacy and no folly, and he has swept every perverse argument far away.'

  47. Verse 47

    caupāī sunata sudhāsama bacana rāma ke| gahe sabani pada kṛpādhāma ke|| janani janaka gura baṃdhu hamāre| kṛpā nidhāna prāna te pyāre|| tanu dhanu dhāma rāma hitakārī| saba bidhi tumha pranatārati hārī|| asi sikha tumha binu dei na koū| mātu pitā svāratha rata oū|| hetu rahita jaga juga upakārī| tumha tumhāra sevaka asurārī|| svāratha mīta sakala jaga māhīṃ| sapanehu~ prabhu paramāratha nāhīṃ|| sabake bacana prema rasa sāne| suni raghunātha hṛdaya~ haraṣāne|| nija nija gṛha gae āyasu pāī| baranata prabhu batakahī suhāī||

    Meaning

    Hearing Rama's words, sweet as nectar, they all clasped the feet of that abode of grace. 'You are our mother and father, our teacher and our kinsman,' they said, 'storehouse of compassion, dearer to us than our own breath. Rama, you are the well-wisher of our body, our wealth and our home; in every way you take away the sorrow of those who bow before you. No one but you gives counsel like this — even a mother and a father are bound up in their own interest. In this world only two do good without any motive: you, enemy of the demons, and your servants. All friendship in the world is friendship for gain; not even in a dream, Lord, does anyone care for the highest good.' Hearing the words of them all, steeped in the savour of love, Raghunatha rejoiced at heart. Then, taking his leave, they went each to his own house, telling over the Lord's delightful talk as they went.

  48. Verse 48

    caupāī eka bāra basiṣṭa muni āe| jahā~ rāma sukhadhāma suhāe|| ati ādara raghunāyaka kīnhā| pada pakhāri pādodaka līnhā|| rāma sunahu muni kaha kara jorī| kṛpāsiṃdhu binatī kachu morī|| dekhi dekhi ācarana tumhārā| hota moha mama hṛdaya~ apārā|| mahimā amita beda nahiṃ jānā| maiṃ kehi bhā~ti kahau~ bhagavānā|| uparohitya karma ati maṃdā| beda purāna sumṛti kara niṃdā|| jaba na leu~ maiṃ taba bidhi mohī| kahā lābha āgeṃ suta tohī|| paramātamā brahma nara rūpā| hoihi raghukula bhūṣana bhūpā||

    Meaning

    Once the sage Vasishtha came to where Rama, the abode of bliss, was seated in his beauty. Raghunatha showed him great honour, washing his feet and taking the water in which they had been washed. With joined palms the sage said, 'Hear me, Rama; ocean of mercy, I have a small request. Watching your conduct again and again, a boundless bewilderment comes over my heart. Your greatness is beyond measure and the Vedas themselves do not know it — in what manner, then, shall I speak of it, Lord? The office of family priest is a very low calling, and the Vedas, the Puranas and the Smritis all condemn it. When I would not take it up, Brahma said to me, "Son, hereafter there will be a great gain in it for you: the Supreme Spirit, Brahman himself, will take human form and be a king, the ornament of the house of Raghu."'

  49. Verse 49

    caupāī japa tapa niyama joga nija dharmā| śruti saṃbhava nānā subha karmā|| gyāna dayā dama tīratha majjana| jaha~ lagi dharma kahata śruti sajjana|| āgama nigama purāna anekā| paṛhe sune kara phala prabhu ekā|| taba pada paṃkaja prīti niraṃtara| saba sādhana kara yaha phala suṃdara|| chūṭai mala ki malahi ke dhoe~| ghṛta ki pāva koi bāri biloe~|| prema bhagati jala binu raghurāī| abhiaṃtara mala kabahu~ na jāī|| soi sarbagya tagya soi paṃḍita| soi guna gṛha bigyāna akhaṃḍita|| daccha sakala lacchana juta soī| jākeṃ pada saroja rati hoī||

    Meaning

    The sage Vasishtha said: 'Muttered prayer, austerity, religious observance, yoga, the duty that belongs to one's own station, and the many auspicious rites that spring from the Vedas; knowledge, compassion, self-restraint, bathing at holy fords — everything that the Vedas and good men call dharma; the Agamas, the Vedas, the many Puranas that men read and hear — the fruit of all of it, my Lord, is one alone: unceasing love for your lotus feet. This is the lovely fruit that every discipline bears. Is grime ever lifted by washing it in grime? Will churning water ever yield ghee? Without the water of loving devotion, O Lord of the Raghus, the stain within is never washed out. He alone knows all things, he alone knows what is real, he alone is learned; he is the dwelling of every virtue and of unbroken wisdom; he alone is capable and marked with every good sign — he in whom love for your lotus feet has taken root.'

  50. Verse 50

    caupāī asa kahi muni basiṣṭa gṛha āe| kṛpāsiṃdhu ke mana ati bhāe|| hanūmāna bharatādika bhrātā| saṃga lie sevaka sukhadātā|| puni kṛpāla pura bāhera gae| gaja ratha turaga magāvata bhae|| dekhi kṛpā kari sakala sarāhe| die ucita jinha jinha tei cāhe|| harana sakala śrama prabhu śrama pāī| gae jahā~ sītala ava~rāī|| bharata dīnha nija basana ḍasāī| baiṭhe prabhu sevahiṃ saba bhāī|| mārutasuta taba mārūta karaī| pulaka bapuṣa locana jala bharaī|| hanūmāna sama nahiṃ baṛabhāgī| nahiṃ kou rāma carana anurāgī|| girijā jāsu prīti sevakāī| bāra bāra prabhu nija mukha gāī||

    Meaning

    So saying, the sage Vasishtha returned to his own house, and his words pleased the heart of the Ocean of Compassion greatly. Then the Lord, who gives joy to his servants, took Hanuman and Bharata and his other brothers along with him. The gracious one went out beyond the city and had elephants, chariots and horses brought before him; looking them over he praised them all kindly, and gave to each man, as was fitting, whatever he desired. He who takes away all weariness grew weary himself, and went to where a cool mango grove stood. Bharata spread out his own garment for him; the Lord seated himself upon it and all his brothers waited on him. Then the son of the Wind began to fan him, the hair on his body bristling and his eyes brimming with tears. Girija, there is none so blessed as Hanuman, none so devoted to Rama's feet — one whose love and whose service the Lord has sung again and again with his own lips.

  51. Verse 51

    caupāī māmavalokaya paṃkaja locana| kṛpā bilokani soca bimocana|| nīla tāmarasa syāma kāma ari| hṛdaya kaṃja makaraṃda madhupa hari|| jātudhāna barūtha bala bhaṃjana| muni sajjana raṃjana agha gaṃjana|| bhūsura sasi nava bṛṃda balāhaka| asarana sarana dīna jana gāhaka|| bhuja bala bipula bhāra mahi khaṃḍita| khara dūṣana birādha badha paṃḍita|| rāvanāri sukharūpa bhūpabara| jaya dasaratha kula kumuda sudhākara|| sujasa purāna bidita nigamāgama| gāvata sura muni saṃta samāgama|| kārunīka byalīka mada khaṃḍana| saba bidhi kusala kosalā maṃḍana|| kali mala mathana nāma mamatāhana| tulasīdāsa prabhu pāhi pranata jana||

    Meaning

    Look upon me, O lotus-eyed one; your glance of grace sets a man free from every care. Dark as a blue lotus, O Hari, you are the bee at the nectar of the lotus-heart of the foe of Kama (Shiva). You shatter the strength of the demon hordes, you gladden sages and good men and grind sin away. To the twice-born you are the moon, to their throngs a fresh rain-cloud; refuge of the refugeless, who takes up the lowly as his own. By the might of your arms you broke the earth's vast burden, and you are adept at the slaying of Khara, Dushana and Viradha. Foe of Ravana, embodiment of joy, best of kings — victory to you, moon of nectar to the white lilies of Dasharatha's line! Your fair fame is known in the Puranas, the Vedas and the Agamas, and assemblies of gods, sages and saints sing it. Compassionate one, breaker of false pride, skilled in every way, ornament of Kosala, whose name churns away the filth of the Kali age and slays the sense of 'mine' — Tulsidas prays: my Lord, protect this suppliant who bows before you.

  52. Verse 52

    caupāī girijā sunahu bisada yaha kathā| maiṃ saba kahī mori mati jathā|| rāma carita sata koṭi apārā| śruti sāradā na baranai pārā|| rāma anaṃta anaṃta gunānī| janma karma anaṃta nāmānī|| jala sīkara mahi raja gani jāhīṃ| raghupati carita na barani sirāhīṃ|| bimala kathā hari pada dāyanī| bhagati hoi suni anapāyanī|| umā kahiu~ saba kathā suhāī| jo bhusuṃḍi khagapatihi sunāī|| kachuka rāma guna kaheu~ bakhānī| aba kā kahauṃ so kahahu bhavānī|| suni subha kathā umā haraṣānī| bolī ati binīta mṛdu bānī|| dhanya dhanya maiṃ dhanya purārī| suneu~ rāma guna bhava bhaya hārī||

    Meaning

    Shiva said: 'Hear, Girija, this luminous tale — I have told all of it as far as my own understanding could reach. Rama's deeds are a hundred million and past all bound; neither the Vedas nor Sharada can describe them to the end. Rama is infinite, infinite are his virtues, and infinite his births, his acts, his names. One might count the drops of water or the specks of dust upon the earth, but the telling of Raghupati's deeds can never be brought to a close. This pure story bestows the state of Hari himself, and by hearing it a man wins a devotion that never falters. Uma, I have told the whole lovely tale, the one that Bhusundi related to the king of birds. I have set forth something of Rama's virtues; what more shall I say now? Tell me, Bhavani.' Hearing the auspicious story Uma was filled with delight and spoke in words most humble and gentle: 'Blessed, blessed, blessed am I, O Purari, that I have heard the virtues of Rama, which carry away the fear of birth and death.'

  53. Verse 53

    caupāī rāma carita je sunata aghāhīṃ| rasa biseṣa jānā tinha nāhīṃ|| jīvanamukta mahāmuni jeū| hari guna sunahīṃ niraṃtara teū|| bhava sāgara caha pāra jo pāvā| rāma kathā tā kaha~ dṛṛha nāvā|| biṣainha kaha~ puni hari guna grāmā| śravana sukhada aru mana abhirāmā|| śravanavaṃta asa ko jaga māhīṃ| jāhi na raghupati carita sohāhīṃ|| te jaṛa jīva nijātmaka ghātī| jinhahi na raghupati kathā sohātī|| haricaritra mānasa tumha gāvā| suni maiṃ nātha amiti sukha pāvā|| tumha jo kahī yaha kathā suhāī| kāgabhasuṃḍi garuṛa prati gāī||

    Meaning

    Parvati said: 'Those who grow sated with hearing Rama's story have never known its special savour. Even the great sages who are liberated while yet in the body listen to Hari's virtues without pause. For whoever would cross to the far shore of the ocean of existence, Rama's story is a sturdy boat; and for men sunk in the senses too, the whole host of Hari's virtues is sweet to the ear and delightful to the mind. Who in this world has ears and is not charmed by Raghupati's deeds? Those dull creatures whom Raghupati's tale does not please are the slayers of their own selves. My Lord, you have sung this Manasa lake of Hari's exploits, and hearing it I have gained joy beyond measure. This lovely story that you have told — Kakabhusundi sang it to Garuda.'

  54. Verse 54

    caupāī nara sahastra maha~ sunahu purārī| kou eka hoi dharma bratadhārī|| dharmasīla koṭika maha~ koī| biṣaya bimukha birāga rata hoī|| koṭi birakta madhya śruti kahaī| samyaka gyāna sakṛta kou lahaī|| gyānavaṃta koṭika maha~ koū| jīvanamukta sakṛta jaga soū|| tinha sahastra mahu~ saba sukha khānī| durlabha brahmalīna bigyānī|| dharmasīla birakta aru gyānī| jīvanamukta brahmapara prānī|| saba te so durlabha surarāyā| rāma bhagati rata gata mada māyā|| so haribhagati kāga kimi pāī| bisvanātha mohi kahahu bujhāī||

    Meaning

    Hear, O Purari: among a thousand men scarcely one holds to dharma and keeps his vows. Among ten million such righteous men, one turns his back on the objects of sense and delights in dispassion. Among ten million of the dispassionate, the Vedas declare, hardly one attains perfect knowledge. Among ten million knowers, hardly one in the world is liberated while still alive. And among thousands of these, rare indeed is the man of realization merged in Brahman, the mine of all happiness. The righteous, the dispassionate, the wise, the man liberated in life, the being established in Brahman — rarer than all of them, O king of the gods, is the one devoted to Rama, free of pride and beyond illusion. How then did a crow come by such devotion to Hari? O Lord of the universe, make it plain to me.

  55. Verse 55

    caupāī yaha prabhu carita pavitra suhāvā| kahahu kṛpāla kāga kaha~ pāvā|| tumha kehi bhā~ti sunā madanārī| kahahu mohi ati kautuka bhārī|| garuṛa mahāgyānī guna rāsī| hari sevaka ati nikaṭa nivāsī|| tehiṃ kehi hetu kāga sana jāī| sunī kathā muni nikara bihāī|| kahahu kavana bidhi bhā saṃbādā| dou haribhagata kāga uragādā|| gauri girā suni sarala suhāī| bole siva sādara sukha pāī|| dhanya satī pāvana mati torī| raghupati carana prīti nahiṃ thorī|| sunahu parama punīta itihāsā| jo suni sakala loka bhrama nāsā|| upajai rāma carana bisvāsā| bhava nidhi tara nara binahiṃ prayāsā||

    Meaning

    Parvati said, 'This pure and lovely story of the Lord — tell me, gracious one, where did the crow come by it? And you, foe of Kama, in what manner did you hear it? Tell me, for my wonder is very great. Garuda is greatly wise and abounds in every virtue, a servant of Hari who dwells very close to him; for what reason, then, did he pass over the whole company of sages and go to a crow to hear the tale? Tell me how that conversation came about between those two devotees of Hari, the crow and the devourer of serpents.' Hearing Gauri's guileless and pleasing speech, Shiva was gladdened and answered with respect: 'You are blessed, Sati; pure is your understanding, and your love for Raghupati's feet is no small thing. Hear now this most holy history, which when heard destroys the delusion of all the worlds; from it faith in Rama's feet is born, and a man crosses the ocean of birth and death with no effort at all.'

  56. Verse 56

    caupāī maiṃ jimi kathā sunī bhava mocani| so prasaṃga sunu sumukhi sulocani|| prathama daccha gṛha tava avatārā| satī nāma taba rahā tumhārā|| daccha jagya taba bhā apamānā| tumha ati krodha taje taba prānā|| mama anucaranha kīnha makha bhaṃgā| jānahu tumha so sakala prasaṃgā|| taba ati soca bhayau mana moreṃ| dukhī bhayau~ biyoga priya toreṃ|| suṃdara bana giri sarita taṛāgā| kautuka dekhata phirau~ berāgā|| giri sumera uttara disi dūrī| nīla saila eka sundara bhūrī|| tāsu kanakamaya sikhara suhāe| cāri cāru more mana bhāe|| tinha para eka eka biṭapa bisālā| baṭa pīpara pākarī rasālā|| sailopari sara suṃdara sohā| mani sopāna dekhi mana mohā||

    Meaning

    'Hear, fair-faced and lovely-eyed one, the occasion on which I myself heard this story that frees one from rebirth. First you were born in Daksha's house, and your name then was Sati. At Daksha's sacrifice you were slighted, and in great anger you gave up your life; my attendants then wrecked that sacrifice — you know the whole of that episode. Great sorrow filled my mind afterwards, and I grieved at being parted from you, my beloved. Detached from all things, I wandered about looking upon lovely woods and hills, rivers and lakes. Far away to the north of Mount Sumeru stands a blue mountain, beautiful and vast, with four fair peaks of gold that greatly pleased my mind; upon each of them stood a single huge tree — a banyan, a pipal, a pakar and a mango. On the summit of the mountain shone a beautiful lake with steps of jewels, and the sight of it enchanted the heart.'

  57. Verse 57

    caupāī tehiṃ giri rucira basai khaga soī| tāsu nāsa kalpāṃta na hoī|| māyā kṛta guna doṣa anekā| moha manoja ādi abibekā|| rahe byāpi samasta jaga māhīṃ| tehi giri nikaṭa kabahu~ nahiṃ jāhīṃ|| taha~ basi harihi bhajai jimi kāgā| so sunu umā sahita anurāgā|| pīpara taru tara dhyāna so dharaī| jāpa jagya pākari tara karaī|| ā~ba chāha~ kara mānasa pūjā| taji hari bhajanu kāju nahiṃ dūjā|| bara tara kaha hari kathā prasaṃgā| āvahiṃ sunahiṃ aneka bihaṃgā|| rāma carita bicītra bidhi nānā| prema sahita kara sādara gānā|| sunahiṃ sakala mati bimala marālā| basahiṃ niraṃtara je tehiṃ tālā|| jaba maiṃ jāi so kautuka dekhā| ura upajā ānaṃda biseṣā||

    Meaning

    'On that lovely mountain lives that very bird, and even at the dissolution of a kalpa he does not perish. The many merits and faults wrought by Maya — infatuation, desire and every other form of unwisdom — pervade the whole world, yet they never come near that hill. Hear with love, Uma, how the crow dwells there and worships Hari. Beneath the pipal he holds his meditation; beneath the pakar he performs his sacrifice of muttered prayer; in the shade of the mango he offers worship within the mind; apart from the worship of Hari he has no other business at all. Under the banyan he recites the story of Hari, and many birds come and listen; in wondrous ways of many kinds he sings Rama's deeds with love and reverence, and all the pure-minded swans that dwell always in that lake listen to him. When I went and saw that marvel, a rare joy sprang up in my heart.'

  58. Verse 58

    caupāī girijā kaheu~ so saba itihāsā| maiṃ jehi samaya gayau~ khaga pāsā|| aba so kathā sunahu jehī hetū| gayau kāga pahiṃ khaga kula ketū|| jaba raghunātha kīnhi rana krīṛā| samujhata carita hoti mohi brīṛā|| iṃdrajīta kara āpu ba~dhāyo| taba nārada muni garuṛa paṭhāyo|| baṃdhana kāṭi gayo uragādā| upajā hṛdaya~ pracaṃḍa biṣādā|| prabhu baṃdhana samujhata bahu bhā~tī| karata bicāra uraga ārātī|| byāpaka brahma biraja bāgīsā| māyā moha pāra paramīsā|| so avatāra suneu~ jaga māhīṃ| dekheu~ so prabhāva kachu nāhīṃ||

    Meaning

    'Girija, I have now told you the whole account of the time when I went to the bird. Hear next the story of why the banner of the race of birds went to the crow. When Raghunatha carried on his sport of war — and it shames me even to call that deed to mind — he let himself be bound by Indrajit, and the sage Narada then sent Garuda. The eater of serpents cut the bonds and went his way, but a fierce dejection rose up in his heart. Turning the Lord's bondage over in his mind in many ways, the foe of serpents pondered thus: the all-pervading Brahman, untouched by passion, lord of speech, beyond Maya and delusion, the supreme Ruler — I had heard that he had come down into the world; yet of that power I saw nothing at all.'

  59. Verse 59

    caupāī nānā bhā~ti manahi samujhāvā| pragaṭa na gyāna hṛdaya~ bhrama chāvā|| kheda khinna mana tarka baṛhāī| bhayau mohabasa tumharihiṃ nāī|| byākula gayau devariṣi pāhīṃ| kahesi jo saṃsaya nija mana māhīṃ|| suni nāradahi lāgi ati dāyā| sunu khaga prabala rāma kai māyā|| jo gyāninha kara cita apaharaī| bariāī bimoha mana karaī|| jehiṃ bahu bāra nacāvā mohī| soi byāpī bihaṃgapati tohī|| mahāmoha upajā ura toreṃ| miṭihi na begi kaheṃ khaga moreṃ|| caturānana pahiṃ jāhu khagesā| soi karehu jehi hoi nidesā||

    Meaning

    'In many ways he sought to reason with his own mind, but knowledge would not come forth, and delusion spread over his heart. Wearied and grieved, piling argument upon argument, he fell under infatuation, exactly as you once did. Distraught, he went to the divine sage and told him the doubt that lay in his mind. Hearing it, Narada was filled with pity and said, "Listen, bird: mighty is the Maya of Rama, which steals away the wits even of the wise and takes the mind captive by force. That very Maya which has made me dance many a time has now laid hold of you, lord of birds. Great delusion has arisen in your heart, and at a mere word from me it will not swiftly pass. Go, king of birds, to the four-faced Brahma, and do whatever he directs."'

  60. Verse 60

    caupāī taba khagapati biraṃci pahiṃ gayaū| nija saṃdeha sunāvata bhayaū|| suni biraṃci rāmahi siru nāvā| samujhi pratāpa prema ati chāvā|| mana mahu~ karai bicāra bidhātā| māyā basa kabi kobida gyātā|| hari māyā kara amiti prabhāvā| bipula bāra jehiṃ mohi nacāvā|| aga jagamaya jaga mama uparājā| nahiṃ ācaraja moha khagarājā|| taba bole bidhi girā suhāī| jāna mahesa rāma prabhutāī|| bainateya saṃkara pahiṃ jāhū| tāta anata pūchahu jani kāhū|| taha~ hoihi tava saṃsaya hānī| caleu bihaṃga sunata bidhi bānī||

    Meaning

    'Then the lord of birds went to Virinchi and laid his own doubt before him. Hearing it, Brahma bowed his head to Rama, and as he called that majesty to mind a great love came over him. The Creator reflected within himself: "Poets, scholars and men of knowledge are all in the power of Maya; measureless is the might of Hari's Maya, which has set even me dancing many times over. This world of moving and unmoving things was raised up by me — no wonder, then, king of birds, that delusion has seized you." Then Brahma spoke in pleasing words: "Mahesha knows the greatness of Rama. Son of Vinata, go to Shankara; ask no one else anywhere, dear child. There your doubt shall be destroyed." Hearing Brahma's words, the bird set off.'

  61. Verse 61

    caupāī tehiṃ mama pada sādara siru nāvā| puni āpana saṃdeha sunāvā|| suni tā kari binatī mṛdu bānī| parema sahita maiṃ kaheu~ bhavānī|| milehu garuṛa māraga maha~ mohī| kavana bhā~ti samujhāvauṃ tohī|| tabahi hoi saba saṃsaya bhaṃgā| jaba bahu kāla karia satasaṃgā|| sunia tahā~ hari kathā suhāī| nānā bhā~ti muninha jo gāī|| jehi mahu~ ādi madhya avasānā| prabhu pratipādya rāma bhagavānā|| nita hari kathā hota jaha~ bhāī| paṭhavau~ tahā~ sunahi tumha jāī|| jāihi sunata sakala saṃdehā| rāma carana hoihi ati nehā||

    Meaning

    Shiva said: He bowed his head reverently at my feet and then laid his own doubt before me. Hearing his petition, made in soft words, I answered him with love, O Bhavani: 'Garuda, you have met me here upon the road; in what fashion am I to instruct you? Every doubt is broken only when a man keeps the company of the good for a long while. There one hears the lovely story of Hari, which sages have sung in many ways, and in which, at its beginning, in its middle and at its close, Lord Rama alone is the theme set forth. Where the tale of Hari is told day after day, brother, there I am sending you; go and listen. As you listen every doubt will depart, and great love will spring up for Rama's feet.'

  62. Verse 62

    caupāī milahiṃ na raghupati binu anurāgā| kie~ joga tapa gyāna birāgā|| uttara disi suṃdara giri nīlā| taha~ raha kākabhusuṃḍi susīlā|| rāma bhagati patha parama prabīnā| gyānī guna gṛha bahu kālīnā|| rāma kathā so kahai niraṃtara| sādara sunahiṃ bibidha bihaṃgabara|| jāi sunahu taha~ hari guna bhūrī| hoihi moha janita dukha dūrī|| maiṃ jaba tehi saba kahā bujhāī| caleu haraṣi mama pada siru nāī|| tāte umā na maiṃ samujhāvā| raghupati kṛpā~ maramu maiṃ pāvā|| hoihi kīnha kabahu~ abhimānā| so khauvai caha kṛpānidhānā|| kachu tehi te puni maiṃ nahiṃ rākhā| samujhai khaga khagahī kai bhāṣā|| prabhu māyā balavaṃta bhavānī| jāhi na moha kavana asa gyānī||

    Meaning

    'Without love Raghupati is never found — not by yoga, not by austerity, not by knowledge or dispassion. In the northern quarter stands a beautiful blue mountain, and there dwells the gentle-natured Kakabhushundi, supremely accomplished on the path of devotion to Rama, wise, a house of virtues, and of very great age. He tells the story of Rama without ceasing, and excellent birds of many kinds listen to him with reverence. Go there and hear the abundant virtues of Hari, and the sorrow born of delusion will be carried far from you.' When I had explained all this to him, he bowed his head at my feet and went away rejoicing. This, Uma, is why I did not resolve his doubt myself: by Raghupati's grace I had understood the secret of it. He must at some time have given way to pride, and the Treasury of Compassion wishes to strip it from him. Partly for this reason too I did not keep him beside me: one bird understands the speech of another. The Lord's Maya is mighty, Bhavani; where is the wise man whom she does not bewilder?

  63. Verse 63

    caupāī gayau garuṛa jaha~ basai bhusuṃḍā| mati akuṃṭha hari bhagati akhaṃḍā|| dekhi saila prasanna mana bhayaū| māyā moha soca saba gayaū|| kari taṛāga majjana jalapānā| baṭa tara gayau hṛdaya~ haraṣānā|| bṛddha bṛddha bihaṃga taha~ āe| sunai rāma ke carita suhāe|| kathā araṃbha karai soi cāhā| tehī samaya gayau khaganāhā|| āvata dekhi sakala khagarājā| haraṣeu bāyasa sahita samājā|| ati ādara khagapati kara kīnhā| svāgata pūchi suāsana dīnhā|| kari pūjā sameta anurāgā| madhura bacana taba boleu kāgā||

    Meaning

    Garuda went to where Bhushundi dwells, whose understanding is never blunted and whose devotion to Hari is unbroken. At the sight of that mountain his mind grew glad, and illusion, delusion and every anxiety left him. He bathed in the lake and drank of its water, and with a joyful heart went beneath the banyan tree. Birds of great age had gathered there to hear the lovely deeds of Rama, and Bhushundi was about to begin the tale when at that very moment the lord of birds arrived. Seeing the king of birds approaching, the crow and the whole assembly with him rejoiced. He did the lord of birds much honour, enquired after his welfare and gave him a fine seat; and having worshipped him with love, the crow then spoke sweet words.

  64. Verse 64

    caupāī sunahu tāta jehi kārana āyau~| so saba bhayau darasa tava pāyau~|| dekhi parama pāvana tava āśrama| gayau moha saṃsaya nānā bhrama|| aba śrīrāma kathā ati pāvani| sadā sukhada dukha puṃja nasāvani|| sādara tāta sunāvahu mohī| bāra bāra binavau~ prabhu tohī|| sunata garuṛa kai girā binītā| sarala suprema sukhada supunītā|| bhayau tāsu mana parama uchāhā| lāga kahai raghupati guna gāhā|| prathamahiṃ ati anurāga bhavānī| rāmacarita sara kahesi bakhānī|| puni nārada kara moha apārā| kahesi bahuri rāvana avatārā|| prabhu avatāra kathā puni gāī| taba sisu carita kahesi mana lāī||

    Meaning

    Garuda said: 'Listen, revered sir. The purpose for which I came has all been fulfilled in gaining the sight of you. Beholding this most purifying hermitage of yours, my delusion, my doubt and my many errors are gone. Now, sir, recite to me with reverence that most cleansing story of Rama, which always gives joy and destroys the whole heap of sorrow. Again and again, my lord, I entreat you.' Hearing Garuda's speech, humble, guileless, loving, delightful and pure, a supreme eagerness rose in Bhushundi's mind and he began to tell the tale of Raghupati's virtues. First, O Bhavani, with the greatest love he expounded the lake of Rama's deeds; then Narada's boundless infatuation; then he told of Ravana's birth. After that he sang the story of the Lord's descent, and then with a rapt mind related the deeds of his childhood.

  65. Verse 65

    caupāī bahuri rāma abhiṣeka prasaṃgā| puni nṛpa bacana rāja rasa bhaṃgā|| purabāsinha kara biraha biṣādā| kahesi rāma lachimana saṃbādā|| bipina gavana kevaṭa anurāgā| surasari utari nivāsa prayāgā|| bālamīka prabhu milana bakhānā| citrakūṭa jimi base bhagavānā|| sacivāgavana nagara nṛpa maranā| bharatāgavana prema bahu baranā|| kari nṛpa kriyā saṃga purabāsī| bharata gae jaha~ prabhu sukha rāsī|| puni raghupati bahu bidhi samujhāe| lai pādukā avadhapura āe|| bharata rahani surapati suta karanī| prabhu aru atri bheṃṭa puni baranī||

    Meaning

    Then came the occasion of Rama's installation, and then the king's word, which shattered the joy of the coronation; the citizens' anguish at the parting; and he told the discourse between Rama and Lakshmana. He told of the going to the forest, the ferryman's love, the crossing of the heavenly river and the halt at Prayaga; he described the Lord's meeting with Valmiki, and how the Lord dwelt at Chitrakuta. He told of the minister's return to the city, the king's death, and the coming of Bharata, describing his love at length; how, when the king's funeral rites had been performed, Bharata went with the citizens to where the Lord, the sum of all bliss, abode; how Raghupati then reasoned with him in many ways, and how he came to Avadhapura bearing the sandals. Bharata's manner of living, the deed of Indra's son, and then the meeting of the Lord with Atri were described in turn.

  66. Verse 66

    caupāī kahi daṃḍaka bana pāvanatāī| gīdha maitrī puni tehiṃ gāī|| puni prabhu paṃcavaṭīṃ kṛta bāsā| bhaṃjī sakala muninha kī trāsā|| puni lachimana upadesa anūpā| sūpanakhā jimi kīnhi kurūpā|| khara dūṣana badha bahuri bakhānā| jimi saba maramu dasānana jānā|| dasakaṃdhara mārīca batakahīṃ| jehi bidhi bhaī so saba tehiṃ kahī|| puni māyā sītā kara haranā| śrīraghubīra biraha kachu baranā|| puni prabhu gīdha kriyā jimi kīnhī| badhi kabaṃdha sabarihi gati dīnhī|| bahuri biraha baranata raghubīrā| jehi bidhi gae sarobara tīrā||

    Meaning

    He told how the Dandaka forest was made holy, and then sang of the friendship with the vulture; then how the Lord made his dwelling at Panchavati and dispelled the fear of all the sages. Then came the matchless instruction given to Lakshmana, and how Shurpanakha was disfigured; then he described the slaying of Khara and Dushana, and how the ten-headed one came to know the whole matter. He recounted the talk between Ravana and Maricha just as it fell out, and then the carrying off of the illusory Sita, telling something of Raghubira's grief in separation. Then he told how the Lord performed the vulture's last rites, slew Kabandha and granted the highest state to Shabari; and then, describing Raghubira's lament in separation, how he came to the shore of the lake.

  67. Verse 67

    caupāī jehi bidhi kapipati kīsa paṭhāe| sītā khoja sakala disi dhāe|| bibara prabesa kīnha jehi bhā~tī| kapinha bahori milā saṃpātī|| suni saba kathā samīrakumārā| nāghata bhayau payodhi apārā|| laṃkā~ kapi prabesa jimi kīnhā| puni sītahi dhīraju jimi dīnhā|| bana ujāri rāvanahi prabodhī| pura dahi nāgheu bahuri payodhī|| āe kapi saba jaha~ raghurāī| baidehī ki kusala sunāī|| sena sameti jathā raghubīrā| utare jāi bārinidhi tīrā|| milā bibhīṣana jehi bidhi āī| sāgara nigraha kathā sunāī||

    Meaning

    Bhushundi told how the monkey king sent his monkeys out and how they ran off in every direction in search of Sita; how they made their way into the cave, and how Sampati afterwards met with them; how the son of the Wind, hearing the whole account, leapt across the boundless ocean; how he entered Lanka and there gave Sita heart again; how he laid the grove waste, read Ravana a lesson, burnt the city and leapt back over the sea; how all the monkeys came to where the Lord of Raghus was and brought word that Vaidehi was safe; how Raghubira with his army went down and halted on the shore of the ocean; how Vibhishana came and joined him there, and the tale of how the sea was brought to submission.

  68. Verse 68

    caupāī nisicara nikara marana bidhi nānā| raghupati rāvana samara bakhānā|| rāvana badha maṃdodari sokā| rāja bibhīṣaṇa deva asokā|| sītā raghupati milana bahorī| suranha kīnha astuti kara jorī|| puni puṣpaka caṛhi kapinha sametā| avadha cale prabhu kṛpā niketā|| jehi bidhi rāma nagara nija āe| bāyasa bisada carita saba gāe|| kahesi bahori rāma abhiṣaikā| pura baranata nṛpanīti anekā|| kathā samasta bhusuṃḍa bakhānī| jo maiṃ tumha sana kahī bhavānī|| suni saba rāma kathā khaganāhā| kahata bacana mana parama uchāhā||

    Meaning

    He described the many ways in which the hosts of night-rangers perished, and the battle of Raghupati with Ravana; Ravana's slaying and Mandodari's grief, Vibhishana's enthronement and the gods delivered from sorrow; then Sita's reunion with Raghupati, and how the gods with folded hands sang his praise. Then how the Lord, the very home of compassion, mounted the Pushpaka with the monkeys and set out for Ayodhya, and how he came at last to his own city: all these shining deeds the crow sang over. After that he told of Rama's consecration, describing the city and many a maxim of kingly rule. Bhushundi expounded the whole story, the same, Bhavani, that I have told to you. Hearing the entire tale of Rama, the lord of birds spoke out, his mind filled with the highest delight.

  69. Verse 69

    caupāī dekhi carita ati nara anusārī| bhayau hṛdaya~ mama saṃsaya bhārī|| soi bhrama aba hita kari maiṃ mānā| kīnha anugraha kṛpānidhānā|| jo ati ātapa byākula hoī| taru chāyā sukha jānai soī|| jauṃ nahiṃ hota moha ati mohī| milateu~ tāta kavana bidhi tohī|| sunateu~ kimi hari kathā suhāī| ati bicitra bahu bidhi tumha gāī|| nigamāgama purāna mata ehā| kahahiṃ siddha muni nahiṃ saṃdehā|| saṃta bisuddha milahiṃ pari tehī| citavahiṃ rāma kṛpā kari jehī|| rāma kṛpā~ tava darasana bhayaū| tava prasāda saba saṃsaya gayaū||

    Meaning

    'Seeing conduct so entirely like a man's, a heavy doubt rose up in my heart; yet that very confusion I now count a blessing, for the Ocean of Mercy was all the while showing me his favour. Only one who has been tormented by fierce heat knows the comfort of a tree's shade. Had I not been sunk in so deep a delusion, dear master, by what means would I ever have met you? How would I have heard this lovely story of Hari, so full of wonder, which you have sung in so many ways? This is the verdict of the Vedas, the Agamas and the Puranas, and adepts and sages say the same, and there is no doubt of it: a saint of untainted purity is met by that man alone on whom Rama looks with grace. By Rama's grace I have had sight of you, and by your favour every doubt of mine is gone.'

  70. Verse 70

    caupāī boleu kākabhasuṃḍa bahorī| nabhaga nātha para prīti na thorī|| saba bidhi nātha pūjya tumha mere| kṛpāpātra raghunāyaka kere|| tumhahi na saṃsaya moha na māyā| mo para nātha kīnha tumha dāyā|| paṭhai moha misa khagapati tohī| raghupati dīnhi baṛāī mohī|| tumha nija moha kahī khaga sāīṃ| so nahiṃ kachu ācaraja gosāīṃ|| nārada bhava biraṃci sanakādī| je munināyaka ātamabādī|| moha na aṃdha kīnha kehi kehī| ko jaga kāma nacāva na jehī|| tṛsnā~ kehi na kīnha baurāhā| kehi kara hṛdaya krodha nahiṃ dāhā||

    Meaning

    Then Kakabhushundi spoke again, and his love for the lord of birds was not a little thing. 'In every way, master, you are worthy of my worship, for you are one upon whom Raghunayaka's grace rests. Doubt does not touch you, nor delusion, nor maya; it is kindness that you have shown me, my lord. By sending you here on the pretext of a delusion, Raghupati has given honour to me. You have spoken, king of birds, of a delusion of your own; there is nothing in that to wonder at, master. Narada and Shiva, Brahma, Sanaka and his brothers, and those foremost among sages who discourse upon the Self — whom has delusion not made blind? Who is there in the world that desire does not set dancing? Whom has craving not driven mad? Whose heart has anger not scorched?'

  71. Verse 71

    caupāī guna kṛta sanyapāta nahiṃ kehī| kou na māna mada tajeu nibehī|| jobana jvara kehi nahiṃ balakāvā| mamatā kehi kara jasa na nasāvā|| macchara kāhi kalaṃka na lāvā| kāhi na soka samīra ḍolāvā|| ciṃtā sā~pini ko nahiṃ khāyā| ko jaga jāhi na byāpī māyā|| kīṭa manoratha dāru sarīrā| jehi na lāga ghuna ko asa dhīrā|| suta bita loka īṣanā tīnī| kehi ke mati inha kṛta na malīnī|| yaha saba māyā kara parivārā| prabala amiti ko baranai pārā|| siva caturānana jāhi ḍerāhīṃ| apara jīva kehi lekhe māhīṃ||

    Meaning

    'Who is free of the delirium bred by the gunas? Pride and its intoxication have left no one unscathed. Whom has the fever of youth not made rave? Whose good name has possessiveness not ruined? Whom has envy not marked with disgrace? Whom has the wind of grief not shaken? Who has not been devoured by that she-serpent, anxiety? Who is there in the world that maya has not overspread? Longings are the worm and the body is the timber: who is so steadfast that the borer has not fastened upon him? And the three hungers, for a son, for wealth, for standing in the world — whose understanding have these not fouled? All this is the household of maya, mighty and past all counting; who has the power to describe it? Shiva and the four-faced Brahma themselves stand in dread of her; of what account, then, are lesser creatures?'

  72. Verse 72

    caupāī jo māyā saba jagahi nacāvā| jāsu carita lakhi kāhu~ na pāvā|| soi prabhu bhrū bilāsa khagarājā| nāca naṭī iva sahita samājā|| soi saccidānaṃda ghana rāmā| aja bigyāna rūpo bala dhāmā|| byāpaka byāpya akhaṃḍa anaṃtā| akhila amoghasakti bhagavaṃtā|| aguna adabhra girā gotītā| sabadarasī anavadya ajītā|| nirmama nirākāra niramohā| nitya niraṃjana sukha saṃdohā|| prakṛti pāra prabhu saba ura bāsī| brahma nirīha biraja abināsī|| ihā~ moha kara kārana nāhīṃ| rabi sanmukha tama kabahu~ ki jāhīṃ||

    Meaning

    'That maya who sets the whole world dancing, and whose workings none has ever managed to trace — she, king of birds, dances with her entire troupe like an actress at the mere play of the Lord's eyebrows. And that Lord is Rama, a solid mass of being, consciousness and bliss, unborn, pure knowledge in form, the seat of all strength. He pervades and is pervaded, undivided and endless, whole, of unfailing power, the Blessed One; without attributes, abundant beyond measure, beyond speech and the senses, seeing all things, faultless, unconquered; free of mine-ness, without form, without delusion, eternal, stainless, a solid mass of joy; beyond Prakriti, the Lord who dwells in every heart, Brahman, without craving, untouched by passion, imperishable. In him there is no ground whatever for delusion: can darkness ever hold its place before the sun?'

  73. Verse 73

    caupāī asi raghupati līlā uragārī| danuja bimohani jana sukhakārī|| je mati malina biṣayabasa kāmī| prabhu moha dharahiṃ imi svāmī|| nayana doṣa jā kaha~ jaba hoī| pīta barana sasi kahu~ kaha soī|| jaba jehi disi bhrama hoi khagesā| so kaha pacchima uyau dinesā|| naukārūṛha calata jaga dekhā| acala moha basa āpuhi lekhā|| bālaka bhramahiṃ na bhramahiṃ gṛhādīṃ| kahahiṃ paraspara mithyābādī|| hari biṣaika asa moha bihaṃgā| sapanehu~ nahiṃ agyāna prasaṃgā|| māyābasa matimaṃda abhāgī| hṛdaya~ jamanikā bahubidhi lāgī|| te saṭha haṭha basa saṃsaya karahīṃ| nija agyāna rāma para dharahīṃ||

    Meaning

    Such, O enemy of serpents, is Raghupati's play: it bewilders the demons and brings delight to His own people. Those whose minds are soiled, who are slaves of the senses and of appetite — it is they who in this fashion fasten delusion upon the Lord, their own master. When a man's eyes are diseased he calls the moon yellow; and when a man loses his sense of direction, O king of birds, he says the sun has risen in the west. Seated in a moving boat he sees the world slipping past, and in his confusion reckons himself the one at rest. Children spin themselves round, and it is not the houses and the rest that spin; yet they call one another liars over it. Just so, O bird, is the delusion that is laid at Hari's door; in Him there is no question of ignorance, not even in a dream. The dull-witted and the luckless, held fast by Maya, have curtains of many kinds hung across their hearts; those fools cling stubbornly to their doubts and fasten their own ignorance upon Rama.

  74. Verse 74

    caupāī sunu khagesa raghupati prabhutāī| kahau~ jathāmati kathā suhāī|| jehi bidhi moha bhayau prabhu mohī| sou saba kathā sunāvau~ tohī|| rāma kṛpā bhājana tumha tātā| hari guna prīti mohi sukhadātā|| tāte nahiṃ kachu tumhahiṃ durāvau~| parama rahasya manohara gāvau~|| sunahu rāma kara sahaja subhāū| jana abhimāna na rākhahiṃ kāū|| saṃsṛta mūla sūlaprada nānā| sakala soka dāyaka abhimānā|| tāte karahiṃ kṛpānidhi dūrī| sevaka para mamatā ati bhūrī|| jimi sisu tana brana hoi gosāī| mātu cirāva kaṭhina kī nāīṃ||

    Meaning

    Listen, king of birds, to the greatness of Raghupati; I tell the lovely tale so far as my own wit will reach. How delusion once came upon me, my lord — that whole story too I shall relate to you. You are a vessel of Rama's grace, dear one, and your love for Hari's virtues is a joy to me; therefore I keep nothing hidden from you, and sing the supreme and enchanting mystery. Hear the natural way of Rama: He never lets pride remain in a servant of His. Pride is the root of worldly existence, the giver of many pangs, the bringer of every sorrow; and so the treasury of mercy takes it away, for His tenderness towards His servant is exceedingly great. It is as when a boil rises on a child's body, master, and the mother has it lanced, seeming hard of heart.

  75. Verse 75

    caupāī rāma kṛpā āpani jaṛatāī| kahau~ khagesa sunahu mana lāī|| jaba jaba rāma manuja tanu dharahīṃ| bhakta hetu līlā bahu karahīṃ|| taba taba avadhapurī maiṃ jāū~| bālacarita biloki haraṣāū~|| janma mahotsava dekhau~ jāī| baraṣa pā~ca taha~ rahau~ lobhāī|| iṣṭadeva mama bālaka rāmā| sobhā bapuṣa koṭi sata kāmā|| nija prabhu badana nihāri nihārī| locana suphala karau~ uragārī|| laghu bāyasa bapu dhari hari saṃgā| dekhau~ bālacarita bahuraṃgā|| dohā/soraṭhā larikāīṃ jaha~ jaha~ phirahiṃ taha~ taha~ saṃga uṛāu~| jūṭhani parai ajira maha~ so uṭhāi kari khāu~||75(ka)|| eka bāra atisaya saba carita kie raghubīra| sumirata prabhu līlā soi pulakita bhayau sarīra||75(kha)||

    Meaning

    Of Rama's grace and of my own dullness I now speak; hear it with a fixed mind, O king of birds. Whenever Rama takes on a human body and performs His many sports for the sake of His devotees, each time I go to the city of Ayodhya and rejoice to watch His childhood doings. I go and witness the great festival of His birth, and stay on there five years, held fast by longing. My chosen deity is Rama the child, the beauty of whose body is that of a hundred crore Kamas. Gazing and gazing on the face of my own Lord I make my eyes fruitful, O enemy of serpents; taking the small body of a crow I keep close to Hari and watch the many colours of His childish play. Wherever He wanders in His childhood I fly along at His side, and the leavings of His food that fall in the courtyard I pick up and eat. Once Raghubira performed all His childhood feats in a surpassing manner; and at the very remembrance of that play of my Lord my body has thrilled all over with joy.

  76. Verse 76

    caupāī kahai bhasuṃḍa sunahu khaganāyaka| rāmacarita sevaka sukhadāyaka|| nṛpamaṃdira suṃdara saba bhā~tī| khacita kanaka mani nānā jātī|| barani na jāi rucira a~ganāī| jaha~ khelahiṃ nita cāriu bhāī|| bālabinoda karata raghurāī| bicarata ajira janani sukhadāī|| marakata mṛdula kalevara syāmā| aṃga aṃga prati chabi bahu kāmā|| nava rājīva aruna mṛdu caranā| padaja rucira nakha sasi duti haranā|| lalita aṃka kulisādika cārī| nūpura cārū madhura ravakārī|| cāru puraṭa mani racita banāī| kaṭi kiṃkina kala mukhara suhāī||

    Meaning

    Bhushundi says: hear, lord of birds — the doings of Rama bring joy to His servants. The king's palace was beautiful in every way, inlaid with gold and with gems of many kinds; its lovely courtyard is past all describing, where the four brothers played every day. There the young Lord of Raghus moved about at His childish games, gladdening His mother's heart. His soft dark body was like emerald, and in every limb was the beauty of many Kamas. His tender feet were red as fresh lotuses, His toes lovely, the nails robbing the moon of its lustre; on His soles were the four graceful marks, the thunderbolt and the rest, and His fine anklets rang sweetly. About His waist, wrought of pure gold and set with gems, a girdle of little bells sounded prettily and became Him well.

  77. Verse 77

    caupāī aruna pāni nakha karaja manohara| bāhu bisāla bibhūṣana suṃdara|| kaṃdha bāla kehari dara grīvā| cāru cibuka ānana chabi sīṃvā|| kalabala bacana adhara arunāre| dui dui dasana bisada bara bāre|| lalita kapola manohara nāsā| sakala sukhada sasi kara sama hāsā|| nīla kaṃja locana bhava mocana| bhrājata bhāla tilaka gorocana|| bikaṭa bhṛkuṭi sama śravana suhāe| kuṃcita kaca mecaka chabi chāe|| pīta jhīni jhagulī tana sohī| kilakani citavani bhāvati mohī|| rūpa rāsi nṛpa ajira bihārī| nācahiṃ nija pratibiṃba nihārī|| mohi sana karahīṃ bibidha bidhi krīṛā| baranata mohi hoti ati brīṛā|| kilakata mohi dharana jaba dhāvahiṃ| calau~ bhāgi taba pūpa dekhāvahiṃ||

    Meaning

    His palms were rosy, His nails and fingers charming, His arms broad and lovely with their ornaments. His shoulders were like a lion cub's and His throat like a conch, His chin lovely, His face the very boundary of beauty. His words came prattling and indistinct from ruddy lips, and two by two shone His small, bright, beautiful teeth. His cheeks were graceful and His nose charming, and His smile delighted everyone like the rays of the moon. His eyes were blue lotuses that release one from birth and death, and a tilak of gorochana shone upon His brow; His brows were arched, His ears well matched and comely, His dark curling locks spread loveliness about Him. A thin yellow frock graced His body, and His crowing laughter and His glances delight me still. That mass of beauty, sporting in the king's courtyard, would catch sight of His own reflection and dance before it. He would play with me in all manner of ways — to describe it makes me deeply bashful. Crowing with delight He would run to seize me, and when I flew off He would hold out a sweet cake and show it to me.

  78. Verse 78

    caupāī etanā mana ānata khagarāyā| raghupati prerita byāpī māyā|| so māyā na dukhada mohi kāhīṃ| āna jīva iva saṃsṛta nāhīṃ|| nātha ihā~ kachu kārana ānā| sunahu so sāvadhāna harijānā|| gyāna akhaṃḍa eka sītābara| māyā basya jīva sacarācara|| jauṃ saba keṃ raha gyāna ekarasa| īsvara jīvahi bheda kahahu kasa|| māyā basya jīva abhimānī| īsa basya māyā gunakhānī|| parabasa jīva svabasa bhagavaṃtā| jīva aneka eka śrīkaṃtā|| mudhā bheda jadyapi kṛta māyā| binu hari jāi na koṭi upāyā||

    Meaning

    The moment such a thought entered my mind, O king of birds, Maya, prompted by Raghupati, spread over me. Yet that Maya brought me no pain of any kind, nor did it bind me to the round of birth and death as it binds other souls; there was some other cause at work here, my lord — hear it attentively, O bearer of Hari. Sita's lord alone is knowledge, one and undivided, while beings moving and unmoving are subject to Maya. If knowledge stood uniform in every one of them, tell me, what difference would be left between the Lord and the soul? The soul, filled with egoism, is under Maya's rule; and Maya, that mine of the qualities, is under the rule of the Lord. The soul is dependent, the Lord is His own master; souls are many, the consort of Shri is one. And though this difference is unreal, the making of Maya, it will not depart without Hari, though a man try ten million devices.

  79. Verse 79

    caupāī aisehiṃ hari binu bhajana khagesā| miṭai na jīvanha kera kalesā|| hari sevakahi na byāpa abidyā| prabhu prerita byāpai tehi bidyā|| tāte nāsa na hoi dāsa kara| bheda bhagati bhāṛhi bihaṃgabara|| bhrama te cakita rāma mohi dekhā| biha~se so sunu carita biseṣā|| tehi kautuka kara maramu na kāhū~| jānā anuja na mātu pitāhū~|| jānu pāni dhāe mohi dharanā| syāmala gāta aruna kara caranā|| taba maiṃ bhāgi caleu~ uragāmī| rāma gahana kaha~ bhujā pasārī|| jimi jimi dūri uṛāu~ akāsā| taha~ bhuja hari dekhau~ nija pāsā||

    Meaning

    Just so, O lord of birds, without the worship of Hari the anguish of living beings is never brought to an end. Nescience gets no hold on a servant of Hari; what works upon him, at the Lord's own prompting, is knowledge. For that reason a servant of his is never undone; rather, O best of birds, his devotion — the kind that keeps the sweet distinction between servant and Lord — only grows. Rama saw me struck dumb by that delusion and broke into a smile; now hear this extraordinary sport of his. Nobody grasped the secret of that play, neither his younger brothers nor his mother and father. On knees and hands he came scrambling after me to catch me, his body dark, his hands and feet a rosy red. Then I took wing and fled, O devourer of serpents, while Rama stretched out his arm to seize me. Yet however far I flew off into the sky, there I saw Hari's arm right beside me.

  80. Verse 80

    caupāī mūdeu~ nayana trasita jaba bhayau~| puni citavata kosalapura gayaū~|| mohi biloki rāma musukāhīṃ| biha~sata turata gayau~ mukha māhīṃ|| udara mājha sunu aṃḍaja rāyā| dekheu~ bahu brahmāṃḍa nikāyā|| ati bicitra taha~ loka anekā| racanā adhika eka te ekā|| koṭinha caturānana gaurīsā| aganita uḍagana rabi rajanīsā|| aganita lokapāla jama kālā| aganita bhūdhara bhūmi bisālā|| sāgara sari sara bipina apārā| nānā bhā~ti sṛṣṭi bistārā|| sura muni siddha nāga nara kiṃnara| cāri prakāra jīva sacarācara||

    Meaning

    When terror took hold of me I shut my eyes, and when I looked again I found myself in the city of Kosala. Rama smiled at the sight of me, and as he laughed I passed at once into his mouth. Within his belly, hear me, O king of the egg-born, I saw whole clusters of universes. There were many worlds of the strangest sort, each fashioned more wonderfully than the last: millions of four-faced Brahmas and of Shiva, the lord of Gauri; uncounted hosts of stars, suns and moons; uncounted guardians of the quarters, Yamas and Deaths; uncounted mountains and vast tracts of land; oceans, rivers, lakes and forests without end, and creation spread out in every fashion; gods, sages, adepts, serpent-folk, men and kinnaras, the four kinds of living beings, moving and unmoving.

  81. Verse 81

    caupāī loka loka prati bhinna bidhātā| bhinna biṣnu siva manu disitrātā|| nara gaṃdharba bhūta betālā| kiṃnara nisicara pasu khaga byālā|| deva danuja gana nānā jātī| sakala jīva taha~ ānahi bhā~tī|| mahi sari sāgara sara giri nānā| saba prapaṃca taha~ ānai ānā|| aṃḍakosa prati prati nija rupā| dekheu~ jinasa aneka anūpā|| avadhapurī prati bhuvana ninārī| sarajū bhinna bhinna nara nārī|| dasaratha kausalyā sunu tātā| bibidha rūpa bharatādika bhrātā|| prati brahmāṃḍa rāma avatārā| dekhau~ bālabinoda apārā||

    Meaning

    In world after world there was a different Brahma, a different Vishnu, Shiva, Manu and set of guardians of the quarters; men, gandharvas, ghosts and goblins, kinnaras, night-rangers, beasts, birds and serpents; gods, demons and their hosts of many races — every creature there was of another kind. Earth, rivers, seas, lakes and mountains of many sorts: the whole phenomenal show was one thing here and quite another there. Each cosmic egg had a form all its own, and I saw kinds beyond number, every one past compare. Every world had its own separate Ayodhya, its own Sarayu, its own men and women, its Dasharatha and Kaushalya — hear me, dear one — and Bharata and the other brothers in forms of many kinds. In every universe Rama had taken birth, and I beheld his boundless childhood play.

  82. Verse 82

    caupāī bhramata mohi brahmāṃḍa anekā| bīte manahu~ kalpa sata ekā|| phirata phirata nija āśrama āyau~| taha~ puni rahi kachu kāla gavā~yau~|| nija prabhu janma avadha suni pāyau~| nirbhara prema haraṣi uṭhi dhāyau~|| dekhau~ janma mahotsava jāī| jehi bidhi prathama kahā maiṃ gāī|| rāma udara dekheu~ jaga nānā| dekhata banai na jāi bakhānā|| taha~ puni dekheu~ rāma sujānā| māyā pati kṛpāla bhagavānā|| karau~ bicāra bahori bahorī| moha kalila byāpita mati morī|| ubhaya gharī maha~ maiṃ saba dekhā| bhayau~ bhramita mana moha biseṣā||

    Meaning

    As I wandered through those many universes it seemed to me that a hundred kalpas went by. Roaming on and on I came at last to my own hermitage, and staying there too I let some time pass. Then I heard that my Lord had been born in Ayodhya, and brimming over with love I rose up in joy and ran. I went and watched the great festival of his birth, exactly in the manner I have already sung to you. Inside Rama's belly I saw world upon world — a thing one can only see, never tell. And there again I saw the all-knowing Rama, lord of maya, the gracious Lord himself. I turned it over in my mind again and again, my wits still clogged with the mire of delusion, for within the space of two gharis I had seen all of this; and my mind was thrown into utter bewilderment.

  83. Verse 83

    caupāī dekhi carita yaha so prabhutāī| samujhata deha dasā bisarāī|| dharani pareu~ mukha āva na bātā| trāhi trāhi ārata jana trātā|| premākula prabhu mohi bilokī| nija māyā prabhutā taba rokī|| kara saroja prabhu mama sira dhareū| dīnadayāla sakala dukha hareū|| kīnha rāma mohi bigata bimohā| sevaka sukhada kṛpā saṃdohā|| prabhutā prathama bicāri bicārī| mana maha~ hoi haraṣa ati bhārī|| bhagata bachalatā prabhu kai dekhī| upajī mama ura prīti biseṣī|| sajala nayana pulakita kara jorī| kīnhiu~ bahu bidhi binaya bahorī||

    Meaning

    Seeing this exploit and that sovereign power, the moment I understood it I lost all awareness of my body. I dropped to the ground; no word would come from my mouth but 'Save me, save me, protector of the afflicted!' Seeing me overcome with love, the Lord then held back his maya and his majesty. He laid his lotus hand upon my head and, tender to the lowly, took away all my sorrow. Rama made me free of bewilderment — he who is the delight of his servants, grace heaped upon grace. As I turned over again and again that first vision of his greatness, an immense gladness rose in my mind. Seeing the Lord's fondness for his devotees, a special love sprang up in my heart, and with brimming eyes and a thrill running through my body I joined my palms and made my supplication once more in many ways.

  84. Verse 84

    caupāī gyāna bibeka birati bigyānā| muni durlabha guna je jaga nānā|| āju deu~ saba saṃsaya nāhīṃ| māgu jo tohi bhāva mana māhīṃ|| suni prabhu bacana adhika anurāgeu~| mana anumāna karana taba lāgeū~|| prabhu kaha dena sakala sukha sahī| bhagati āpanī dena na kahī|| bhagati hīna guna saba sukha aise| lavana binā bahu biṃjana jaise|| bhajana hīna sukha kavane kājā| asa bicāri boleu~ khagarājā|| jauṃ prabhu hoi prasanna bara dehū| mo para karahu kṛpā aru nehū|| mana bhāvata bara māgau~ svāmī| tumha udāra ura aṃtarajāmī||

    Meaning

    The Lord said: 'Knowledge and discernment, dispassion and realization, and the many virtues of this world that even sages win only with difficulty — today I give them all to you, have no doubt of it. Ask whatever pleases your mind.' Hearing the Lord's words my love for him swelled, and I began to weigh the matter within. He had promised to grant every happiness, that was certain, but he had not said he would give his own devotion. Virtues and all pleasures, without devotion, are like a spread of many dishes without salt; what is happiness worth if it is empty of worship? Reflecting so, O king of birds, I spoke: 'If you are pleased, Lord, and would grant a boon, then show me your grace and your affection. I ask the boon my heart longs for, Master — you are open-handed, and you know what lies within.'

  85. Verse 85

    caupāī evamastu kahi raghukulanāyaka| bole bacana parama sukhadāyaka|| sunu bāyasa taiṃ sahaja sayānā| kāhe na māgasi asa baradānā|| saba sukha khāni bhagati taiṃ māgī| nahiṃ jaga kou tohi sama baṛabhāgī|| jo muni koṭi jatana nahiṃ lahahīṃ| je japa joga anala tana dahahīṃ|| rījheu~ dekhi tori caturāī| māgehu bhagati mohi ati bhāī|| sunu bihaṃga prasāda aba moreṃ| saba subha guna basihahiṃ ura toreṃ|| bhagati gyāna bigyāna birāgā| joga caritra rahasya bibhāgā|| jānaba taiṃ sabahī kara bhedā| mama prasāda nahiṃ sādhana khedā||

    Meaning

    Saying 'So be it,' the Lord of Raghu's line spoke words of the deepest delight: 'Listen, crow, you are shrewd by nature - why should you not ask for such a boon? You have begged for devotion, the mine of every joy, and there is none in the world so fortunate as you; for sages fail to win it by a million contrivances, though they burn up their bodies in the fire of muttered prayer and yoga. I am won over by your cleverness; you asked for devotion, and that has pleased me greatly. Hear me, bird: by my grace all auspicious virtues shall now take up their dwelling in your heart. Devotion, knowledge, realization, dispassion, yoga, my doings, their mysteries and the divisions of them - the distinctions of all these you shall know by my favour alone, without the toil of any discipline.'

  86. Verse 86

    caupāī aba sunu parama bimala mama bānī| satya sugama nigamādi bakhānī|| nija siddhāṃta sunāvau~ tohī| sunu mana dharu saba taji bhaju mohī|| mama māyā saṃbhava saṃsārā| jīva carācara bibidhi prakārā|| saba mama priya saba mama upajāe| saba te adhika manuja mohi bhāe|| tinha maha~ dvija dvija maha~ śrutidhārī| tinha mahu~ nigama dharama anusārī|| tinha maha~ priya birakta puni gyānī| gyānihu te ati priya bigyānī|| tinha te puni mohi priya nija dāsā| jehi gati mori na dūsari āsā|| puni puni satya kahau~ tohi pāhīṃ| mohi sevaka sama priya kou nāhīṃ|| bhagati hīna biraṃci kina hoī| saba jīvahu sama priya mohi soī|| bhagativaṃta ati nīcau prānī| mohi prānapriya asi mama bānī||

    Meaning

    'Now hear my supremely pure word, true and easy, and expounded by the Vedas and the rest. I declare to you my own settled conclusion: listen, take it to heart, forsake all else and worship me. This world arises out of my Maya, with living creatures moving and unmoving of many kinds. All are dear to me, all are of my own making, but men please me above the rest. Among men the twice-born; among the twice-born those who hold the Vedas; among these those who follow the law the scriptures lay down. Among them the dispassionate are dear, and after them the wise; and dearer than the wise is he who has realized. Dearer still than these is my own servant, who has no second hope, no recourse but me. Again and again I tell you truly: none is as dear to me as my servant. One void of devotion, though he were Brahma himself, is dear to me only as any creature is; but a being of the very lowest sort who has devotion is dear to me as my own life - such is my word.'

  87. Verse 87

    caupāī eka pitā ke bipula kumārā| hohiṃ pṛthaka guna sīla acārā|| kou paṃḍiṃta kou tāpasa gyātā| kou dhanavaṃta sūra kou dātā|| kou sarbagya dharmarata koī| saba para pitahi prīti sama hoī|| kou pitu bhagata bacana mana karmā| sapanehu~ jāna na dūsara dharmā|| so suta priya pitu prāna samānā| jadyapi so saba bhā~ti ayānā|| ehi bidhi jīva carācara jete| trijaga deva nara asura samete|| akhila bisva yaha mora upāyā| saba para mohi barābari dāyā|| tinha maha~ jo parihari mada māyā| bhajai mohi mana baca arū kāyā||

    Meaning

    'One father has many sons, and they differ in quality, temper and conduct: one is learned, one an ascetic and a knower, one wealthy, one brave, one open-handed, one knows everything and another is set upon his religious duty - and the father's love falls equally upon them all. But one among them is his father's devotee in word, thought and deed, and does not know, even in a dream, any other duty; that son is dear to the father as his own life, though in every way he be a simpleton. So it is with all living things, moving and unmoving - the lower creatures, gods, men and demons together. This whole universe is of my making, and my compassion rests equally upon all; and among them all stands he who casts off pride and delusion and worships me in thought, word and body -'

  88. Verse 88

    caupāī kabahū~ kāla na byāpihi tohī| sumiresu bhajesu niraṃtara mohī|| prabhu bacanāmṛta suni na aghāū~| tanu pulakita mana ati haraṣāū~|| so sukha jānai mana aru kānā| nahiṃ rasanā pahiṃ jāi bakhānā|| prabhu sobhā sukha jānahiṃ nayanā| kahi kimi sakahiṃ tinhahi nahiṃ bayanā|| bahu bidhi mohi prabodhi sukha deī| lage karana sisu kautuka teī|| sajala nayana kachu mukha kari rūkhā| citai mātu lāgī ati bhūkhā|| dekhi mātu ātura uṭhi dhāī| kahi mṛdu bacana lie ura lāī|| goda rākhi karāva paya pānā| raghupati carita lalita kara gānā||

    Meaning

    'Time shall never lay hold upon you; remember me and worship me without a break.' Hearing the nectar of the Lord's words I could not have my fill; my body thrilled and my mind was flooded with joy. That happiness the mind and the ears know, but the tongue cannot tell it out; the eyes know the joy of the Lord's beauty, yet how should they speak, having no tongue? Having instructed me in so many ways and given me this delight, he fell to his childish play once more. With brimming eyes and his face gone a little sullen he looked towards his mother, as one grown very hungry. Seeing it she rose and ran to him in haste, spoke tender words and pressed him to her breast; and holding him in her lap she gave him milk to drink and sang the lovely deeds of Raghupati.

  89. Verse 89

    caupāī maiṃ puni avadha raheu~ kachu kālā| dekheu~ bālabinoda rasālā|| rāma prasāda bhagati bara pāyau~| prabhu pada baṃdi nijāśrama āyau~|| taba te mohi na byāpī māyā| jaba te raghunāyaka apanāyā|| yaha saba gupta carita maiṃ gāvā| hari māyā~ jimi mohi nacāvā|| nija anubhava aba kahau~ khagesā| binu hari bhajana na jāhi kalesā|| rāma kṛpā binu sunu khagarāī| jāni na jāi rāma prabhutāī|| jāneṃ binu na hoi paratītī| binu paratīti hoi nahiṃ prītī|| prīti binā nahiṃ bhagati diṛhāī| jimi khagapati jala kai cikanāī|| dohā/soraṭhā binu gura hoi ki gyāna gyāna ki hoi birāga binu| gāvahiṃ beda purāna sukha ki lahia hari bhagati binu||89(ka)|| kou biśrāma ki pāva tāta sahaja saṃtoṣa binu| calai ki jala binu nāva koṭi jatana paci paci maria||89(kha)||

    Meaning

    I stayed on in Ayodhya for a time, watching those delightful child-sports. By Rama's grace I had won the boon of devotion, and bowing at the Lord's feet I returned to my own hermitage. From the day the Lord of Raghus made me his own, Maya has never touched me. All this hidden story I have sung - how the Maya of Hari set me dancing. Now, king of birds, I tell you what I have known for myself: without the worship of Hari sorrows do not depart. Hear me, lord of the birds: without Rama's grace the greatness of Rama cannot be known; without knowing it there is no conviction, and without conviction no love; and without love devotion never grows firm - it is then, king of birds, no more real than the oiliness of water. Can knowledge arise without a teacher, or knowledge stand without dispassion? The Vedas and Puranas sing it: can happiness be had without devotion to Hari? Can anyone find rest, dear one, without the contentment that is natural to him? Will a boat move where there is no water, though one wear oneself out and perish in a million contrivances?

  90. Verse 90

    caupāī binu saṃtoṣa na kāma nasāhīṃ| kāma achata sukha sapanehu~ nāhīṃ|| rāma bhajana binu miṭahiṃ ki kāmā| thala bihīna taru kabahu~ ki jāmā|| binu bigyāna ki samatā āvai| kou avakāsa ki nabha binu pāvai|| śraddhā binā dharma nahiṃ hoī| binu mahi gaṃdha ki pāvai koī|| binu tapa teja ki kara bistārā| jala binu rasa ki hoi saṃsārā|| sīla ki mila binu budha sevakāī| jimi binu teja na rūpa gosāī|| nija sukha binu mana hoi ki thīrā| parasa ki hoi bihīna samīrā|| kavaniu siddhi ki binu bisvāsā| binu hari bhajana na bhava bhaya nāsā|| dohā/soraṭhā binu bisvāsa bhagati nahiṃ tehi binu dravahiṃ na rāmu| rāma kṛpā binu sapanehu~ jīva na laha biśrāmu||90(ka)|| asa bicāri matidhīra taji kutarka saṃsaya sakala| bhajahu rāma raghubīra karunākara suṃdara sukhada||90(kha)||

    Meaning

    Without contentment desires are not destroyed, and while desire remains there is no happiness even in a dream. Can longings be wiped out without the worship of Rama? Does a tree ever sprout where there is no ground? Can evenness of mind come without realization, or can anyone find room where there is no sky? Without faith there is no religion - can scent be got apart from earth? Can radiance spread abroad without austerity, or can the world hold savour without water? Can good character be gained without service to the wise, just as, master, there is no form without light? Can the mind be steady without the joy that is its own, or can touch exist with no air? Can any perfection be reached without trust? And without the worship of Hari the terror of birth and death is not undone. Without trust there is no devotion, and lacking that Rama's heart does not melt; and without Rama's grace a creature does not find rest even in a dream. Weighing this, O steadfast of mind, put away all crooked argument and every doubt, and worship Rama, the hero of Raghu's line, the mine of compassion, beautiful and giver of joy.

  91. Verse 91

    caupāī nija mati sarisa nātha maiṃ gāī| prabhu pratāpa mahimā khagarāī|| kaheu~ na kachu kari juguti biseṣī| yaha saba maiṃ nija nayananhi dekhī|| mahimā nāma rūpa guna gāthā| sakala amita anaṃta raghunāthā|| nija nija mati muni hari guna gāvahiṃ| nigama seṣa siva pāra na pāvahiṃ|| tumhahi ādi khaga masaka prajaṃtā| nabha uṛāhiṃ nahiṃ pāvahiṃ aṃtā|| timi raghupati mahimā avagāhā| tāta kabahu~ kou pāva ki thāhā|| rāmu kāma sata koṭi subhaga tana| durgā koṭi amita ari mardana|| sakra koṭi sata sarisa bilāsā| nabha sata koṭi amita avakāsā||

    Meaning

    O lord, king of the birds, I have sung the Lord's power and glory only so far as my own wit could carry me. I have said nothing by any special contrivance of words; all of it I have seen with my own eyes. The glory, the Name, the form and the whole tale of Raghunatha's virtues are without measure and without end. Sages sing Hari's virtues each according to his own understanding, and the Vedas, Shesha and Shiva never reach the further shore. From you down to the gnat, the birds fly through the sky, yet not one of them finds its limit; so it is with Raghupati's glory, which is fathomless. Dear one, can anyone ever touch its bottom? Rama's body is lovely as a thousand million Kamas, and he grinds down his enemies like measureless millions of Durgas. In splendour he is the equal of a thousand million Indras, and in the room he contains he is like a thousand million skies, boundless.

  92. Verse 92

    caupāī prabhu agādha sata koṭi patālā| samana koṭi sata sarisa karālā|| tīratha amita koṭi sama pāvana| nāma akhila agha pūga nasāvana|| himagiri koṭi acala raghubīrā| siṃdhu koṭi sata sama gaṃbhīrā|| kāmadhenu sata koṭi samānā| sakala kāma dāyaka bhagavānā|| sārada koṭi amita caturāī| bidhi sata koṭi sṛṣṭi nipunāī|| biṣnu koṭi sama pālana kartā| rudra koṭi sata sama saṃhartā|| dhanada koṭi sata sama dhanavānā| māyā koṭi prapaṃca nidhānā|| bhāra dharana sata koṭi ahīsā| niravadhi nirupama prabhu jagadīsā||

    Meaning

    The Lord is unfathomable as a thousand million nether worlds and terrible as a thousand million lords of death. He purifies like countless millions of holy fords, and his Name destroys the whole heap of sin. Raghubira is unshakable as ten million Himalayas and grave as a thousand million oceans. He is like a thousand million wish-granting cows, the Lord who bestows every desire. His cleverness is that of measureless millions of Saradas, his skill in creation that of a thousand million Brahmas. He preserves like ten million Vishnus and destroys like a thousand million Rudras. He is rich as a thousand million lords of wealth, and the treasure-house of the whole show spun out by ten million Mayas. He bears the earth's weight like a thousand million lords of serpents. Limitless and beyond compare is the Lord of the world.

  93. Verse 93

    caupāī suni bhusuṃḍi ke bacana suhāe| haraṣita khagapati paṃkha phulāe|| nayana nīra mana ati haraṣānā| śrīraghupati pratāpa ura ānā|| pāchila moha samujhi pachitānā| brahma anādi manuja kari mānā|| puni puni kāga carana siru nāvā| jāni rāma sama prema baṛhāvā|| gura binu bhava nidhi tarai na koī| jauṃ biraṃci saṃkara sama hoī|| saṃsaya sarpa graseu mohi tātā| dukhada lahari kutarka bahu brātā|| tava sarūpa gāruṛi raghunāyaka| mohi jiāyau jana sukhadāyaka|| tava prasāda mama moha nasānā| rāma rahasya anūpama jānā||

    Meaning

    Hearing Bhushundi's delightful words the king of the birds rejoiced and his feathers bristled with joy. Tears filled his eyes, his mind was flooded with gladness, and he took Sri Raghupati's majesty into his heart. Remembering his former delusion he grieved over it, that he had taken the beginningless Brahma for a mere man. Again and again he bowed his head at the crow's feet and, knowing him to be Rama's own equal, let his love grow. 'Without a guru no one crosses the ocean of existence, though he were the equal of Brahma or Shankara. The serpent of doubt had swallowed me, father, with its many painful waves of crooked reasoning. You, who are the very form of the Lord of Raghus, are the snake-healer who brought me back to life, giver of joy to your servants. By your grace my delusion is destroyed and I have come to know the matchless mystery of Rama.'

  94. Verse 94

    caupāī tumha sarbagya tanya tama pārā| sumati susīla sarala ācārā|| gyāna birati bigyāna nivāsā| raghunāyaka ke tumha priya dāsā|| kārana kavana deha yaha pāī| tāta sakala mohi kahahu bujhāī|| rāma carita sara suṃdara svāmī| pāyahu kahā~ kahahu nabhagāmī|| nātha sunā maiṃ asa siva pāhīṃ| mahā pralayahu~ nāsa tava nāhīṃ|| mudhā bacana nahiṃ īsvara kahaī| sou moreṃ mana saṃsaya ahaī|| aga jaga jīva nāga nara devā| nātha sakala jagu kāla kalevā|| aṃḍa kaṭāha amita laya kārī| kālu sadā duratikrama bhārī||

    Meaning

    'You are all-knowing, a knower of the truth, beyond the darkness of ignorance, of fine understanding, gentle nature and simple conduct. You are the dwelling place of knowledge, dispassion and realization, and a beloved servant of the Lord of Raghus. For what cause did you come by this body? Father, explain the whole of it to me. And where did you find this lovely lake of Rama's story? Tell me, master, sky-farer. Lord, I have heard this from Shiva, that even in the great dissolution there is no destruction for you. God speaks no idle word, and yet even that remains a doubt in my mind, for the moving and the unmoving, souls, serpents, men and gods, the whole world, lord, is food for Time. Time dissolves world-eggs beyond number; Time is mighty always, and never to be got past.'

  95. Verse 95

    caupāī garuṛa girā suni haraṣeu kāgā| boleu umā parama anurāgā|| dhanya dhanya tava mati uragārī| prasna tumhāri mohi ati pyārī|| suni tava prasna saprema suhāī| bahuta janama kai sudhi mohi āī|| saba nija kathā kahau~ maiṃ gāī| tāta sunahu sādara mana lāī|| japa tapa makha sama dama brata dānā| birati bibeka joga bigyānā|| saba kara phala raghupati pada premā| tehi binu kou na pāvai chemā|| ehi tana rāma bhagati maiṃ pāī| tāte mohi mamatā adhikāī|| jehi teṃ kachu nija svāratha hoī| tehi para mamatā kara saba koī||

    Meaning

    Hearing Garuda's words the crow rejoiced, O Uma, and spoke with the deepest affection: 'Blessed, blessed is your understanding, O enemy of serpents; your question is most dear to me. Hearing your loving and gracious question, the memory of many births has come back to me. I shall tell over my whole story; listen, dear one, with reverence and an attentive mind. Muttered prayer, austerity, sacrifice, control of mind and senses, vows, charity, dispassion, discrimination, yoga and realization: the fruit of them all is love for Raghupati's feet, and without that no one obtains blessedness. In this body I obtained devotion to Rama, and that is why my fondness for it is so great. Everyone grows fond of whatever serves some interest of his own.'

  96. Verse 96

    caupāī svāratha sā~ca jīva kahu~ ehā| mana krama bacana rāma pada nehā|| soi pāvana soi subhaga sarīrā| jo tanu pāi bhajia raghubīrā|| rāma bimukha lahi bidhi sama dehī| kabi kobida na prasaṃsahiṃ tehī|| rāma bhagati ehiṃ tana ura jāmī| tāte mohi parama priya svāmī|| tajau~ na tana nija icchā maranā| tana binu beda bhajana nahiṃ baranā|| prathama moha~ mohi bahuta bigovā| rāma bimukha sukha kabahu~ na sovā|| nānā janama karma puni nānā| kie joga japa tapa makha dānā|| kavana joni janameu~ jaha~ nāhīṃ| maiṃ khagesa bhrami bhrami jaga māhīṃ|| dekheu~ kari saba karama gosāī| sukhī na bhayau~ abahiṃ kī nāī|| sudhi mohi nātha janma bahu kerī| siva prasāda mati moha~ na gherī||

    Meaning

    'For the soul this alone is true self-interest: love for Rama's feet in thought, word and deed. That body alone is pure, that body alone is fair, on obtaining which one worships Raghubira. If a man turned away from Rama should get a body like Brahma's own, poets and the learned would not praise him. In this body devotion to Rama sprang up in my heart, and therefore, master, it is supremely dear to me. My death waits upon my own will, yet I do not forsake this body, for the Vedas describe no worship apart from a body. In the beginning delusion ruined me utterly; turned away from Rama, I never once slept in happiness. Many were my births, and many again the deeds I did: yoga, muttered prayer, austerity, sacrifice and charity. In what womb was I not born? Lord of birds, I wandered and wandered through the world. Master, I have done every kind of work and seen what comes of it, and never have I been happy as I am now. Lord, I remember many of my births, for by Shiva's grace delusion does not close in upon my mind.'

  97. Verse 97

    caupāī tehi kalijuga kosalapura jāī| janmata bhayau~ sūdra tanu pāī|| siva sevaka mana krama aru bānī| āna deva niṃdaka abhimānī|| dhana mada matta parama bācālā| ugrabuddhi ura daṃbha bisālā|| jadapi raheu~ raghupati rajadhānī| tadapi na kachu mahimā taba jānī|| aba jānā maiṃ avadha prabhāvā| nigamāgama purāna asa gāvā|| kavanehu~ janma avadha basa joī| rāma parāyana so pari hoī|| avadha prabhāva jāna taba prānī| jaba ura basahiṃ rāmu dhanupānī|| so kalikāla kaṭhina uragārī| pāpa parāyana saba nara nārī||

    Meaning

    In that Kali age I went to the city of Kosala and was born there, taking the body of a shudra. In thought, deed and word I was a servant of Shiva, but arrogant, and a reviler of the other gods. Drunk on the pride of wealth, endlessly talkative, harsh of mind, carrying vast hypocrisy in my heart — though I lived in Raghupati's own capital, I recognized nothing of its greatness then. Now I know the power of Ayodhya, for the Vedas, the Agamas and the Puranas sing of it thus: whoever dwells in Ayodhya, in whatever birth, is bound to become devoted to Rama. But a creature comes to know Ayodhya's power only when Rama, bow in hand, comes to dwell in his heart. That Kali age is a hard one, O enemy of serpents, and there men and women alike are given over to sin.

  98. Verse 98

    caupāī barana dharma nahiṃ āśrama cārī| śruti birodha rata saba nara nārī|| dvija śruti becaka bhūpa prajāsana| kou nahiṃ māna nigama anusāsana|| māraga soi jā kahu~ joi bhāvā| paṃḍita soi jo gāla bajāvā|| mithyāraṃbha daṃbha rata joī| tā kahu~ saṃta kahai saba koī|| soi sayāna jo paradhana hārī| jo kara daṃbha so baṛa ācārī|| jau kaha jhū~ṭha masakharī jānā| kalijuga soi gunavaṃta bakhānā|| nirācāra jo śruti patha tyāgī| kalijuga soi gyānī so birāgī|| jākeṃ nakha aru jaṭā bisālā| soi tāpasa prasiddha kalikālā||

    Meaning

    There is no observance of caste duty and none of the four stages of life; every man and woman delights in going against the Vedas. The twice-born sell the scriptures, kings devour their own subjects, and nobody honours the discipline the Vedas lay down. The right road is whatever road a man fancies; the scholar is whoever can talk the loudest. Anyone busy with false undertakings and display is called a saint by all. He passes for shrewd who makes off with another's wealth, and he who puts on the best show is held the great man of observance. If a man can lie and knows how to raise a laugh, the Kali age proclaims him a man of parts. He who keeps no rule at all and has abandoned the path of the Vedas is in Kali the man of wisdom and the man of detachment; and whoever has long nails and great matted locks passes in the Kali age for a famous ascetic.

  99. Verse 99

    caupāī nāri bibasa nara sakala gosāī| nācahiṃ naṭa markaṭa kī nāī|| sūdra dvijanha upadesahiṃ gyānā| meli janeū lehiṃ kudānā|| saba nara kāma lobha rata krodhī| deva bipra śruti saṃta birodhī|| guna maṃdira suṃdara pati tyāgī| bhajahiṃ nāri para puruṣa abhāgī|| saubhāginīṃ bibhūṣana hīnā| bidhavanha ke siṃgāra nabīnā|| gura siṣa badhira aṃdha kā lekhā| eka na sunai eka nahiṃ dekhā|| harai siṣya dhana soka na haraī| so gura ghora naraka mahu~ paraī|| mātu pitā bālakanhi bolābahiṃ| udara bharai soi dharma sikhāvahiṃ||

    Meaning

    All men, my lord, are in the power of women; they dance like a showman's monkey. Shudras lecture the twice-born on wisdom, and putting on the sacred thread they accept gifts they ought not to take. Every man is given to lust and greed and quick to anger, set against gods and brahmins, against scripture and saints. Ill-starred women forsake handsome husbands who are the very house of virtue, and go after other men. Wives whose husbands live go without ornament, while widows deck themselves in the newest finery. Guru and disciple are a case of the deaf and the blind: the one does not hear, the other does not see. The teacher who takes his pupil's wealth but takes away none of his sorrow falls into a dreadful hell. Parents call their children to them and teach them only the dharma that will fill the belly.

  100. Verse 100

    caupāī para triya laṃpaṭa kapaṭa sayāne| moha droha mamatā lapaṭāne|| tei abhedabādī gyānī nara| dekhā meṃ caritra kalijuga kara|| āpu gae aru tinhahū ghālahiṃ| je kahu~ sata māraga pratipālahiṃ|| kalpa kalpa bhari eka eka narakā| parahiṃ je dūṣahiṃ śruti kari tarakā|| je baranādhama teli kumhārā| svapaca kirāta kola kalavārā|| nāri muī gṛha saṃpati nāsī| mūṛa muṛāi hohiṃ sanyāsī|| te bipranha sana āpu pujāvahiṃ| ubhaya loka nija hātha nasāvahiṃ|| bipra niracchara lolupa kāmī| nirācāra saṭha bṛṣalī svāmī|| sūdra karahiṃ japa tapa brata nānā| baiṭhi barāsana kahahiṃ purānā|| saba nara kalpita karahiṃ acārā| jāi na barani anīti apārā||

    Meaning

    Men who chase after others' wives, clever only in deceit, wrapped about with delusion, malice and possessiveness — these are the preachers of non-duality, these are counted the wise. I have seen the ways of the Kali age. Ruined themselves, they ruin as well any who anywhere keep to the path of truth. Those who fault the Vedas with their arguments fall into one hell after another, a whole kalpa in each. Men lowest in caste — oil-pressers and potters, dog-eaters, Kiratas, Kols and liquor-sellers — once their wife has died and the household wealth is gone, shave their heads and turn ascetic. They then have brahmins do them worship, and with their own hands ruin both this world and the next. Brahmins are unlettered, greedy and lustful, without observance, dull-witted, husbands of low-born women. Shudras perform all manner of prayer, austerity and vow, and seated on high seats expound the Puranas. Every man follows a code he has made up for himself; the boundless wrongdoing is past describing.

  101. Verse 101

    chaṃda bahu dāma sa~vārahiṃ dhāma jatī| biṣayā hari līnhi na rahi biratī|| tapasī dhanavaṃta daridra gṛhī| kali kautuka tāta na jāta kahī|| kulavaṃti nikārahiṃ nāri satī| gṛha ānihiṃ cerī niberi gatī|| suta mānahiṃ mātu pitā taba lauṃ| abalānana dīkha nahīṃ jaba lauṃ|| sasurāri piāri lagī jaba teṃ| riparūpa kuṭuṃba bhae taba teṃ|| nṛpa pāpa parāyana dharma nahīṃ| kari daṃḍa biḍaṃba prajā nitahīṃ|| dhanavaṃta kulīna malīna apī| dvija cinha janeu ughāra tapī|| nahiṃ māna purāna na bedahi jo| hari sevaka saṃta sahī kali so|| kabi bṛṃda udāra dunī na sunī| guna dūṣaka brāta na kopi gunī|| kali bārahiṃ bāra dukāla parai| binu anna dukhī saba loga marai||

    Meaning

    Ascetics furnish their houses with plenty of money; sense-pleasure has robbed them and no detachment is left. The man of austerity is rich and the householder poor: the freaks of the Kali age, dear one, are past telling. Men turn out wives of good family and true virtue and bring maidservants into the house, making an end of all decency. Sons honour father and mother only until they have set eyes on a woman's face; from the day the wife's house grows dear, their own kin take on the shape of enemies. Kings are bent on sin and have no dharma; day after day they torment their subjects with punishment. A rich man passes for well born however base he is; the sacred thread alone is the mark of a brahmin, and a naked man is taken for an ascetic. Whoever honours neither Purana nor Veda, him the Kali age holds a true servant of Hari and a genuine saint. Poets there are in crowds, but not one open-handed patron is heard of in the world; there are troops of men who pick holes in merit, but not a single man of merit. In Kali, famine falls again and again, and for want of grain all people die in misery.

  102. Verse 102

    chaṃda abalā kaca bhūṣana bhūri chudhā| dhanahīna dukhī mamatā bahudhā|| sukha cāhahiṃ mūṛha na dharma ratā| mati thori kaṭhori na komalatā||1|| nara pīṛita roga na bhoga kahīṃ| abhimāna birodha akāranahīṃ|| laghu jīvana saṃbatu paṃca dasā| kalapāṃta na nāsa gumānu asā||2|| kalikāla bihāla kie manujā| nahiṃ mānata kvau anujā tanujā| nahiṃ toṣa bicāra na sītalatā| saba jāti kujāti bhae magatā||3|| iriṣā paruṣācchara lolupatā| bhari pūri rahī samatā bigatā|| saba loga biyoga bisoka hue| baranāśrama dharma acāra gae||4|| dama dāna dayā nahiṃ jānapanī| jaṛatā parabaṃcanatā ati ghanī|| tanu poṣaka nāri narā sagare| paraniṃdaka je jaga mo bagare||5||

    Meaning

    Women have their hair for ornament and hunger in plenty; people are penniless and wretched, and yet attachment of every kind abounds. The fools want happiness but take no delight in dharma; their understanding is scant and hard, with no tenderness in it. Men are tormented by disease and find enjoyment nowhere; there is pride and quarrelling without any cause at all. Life is short, a bare fifteen years, yet their conceit is such that they fancy they will not perish even at the dissolution of a kalpa. The Kali age has left mankind in a sorry state: none keeps a thought for a younger sister or a daughter. There is no contentment, no discernment, no coolness of mind; high born and low born alike have all turned beggars. Envy, harsh speech and greed have filled the world to the brim, and evenness of temper is gone. All people are given over to separation and grief; the dharma of caste and stage of life, and right conduct with it, have departed. Self-restraint, charity, compassion and good sense are unknown; stupidity and the cheating of others lie exceedingly thick. Men and women alike do nothing but feed their bodies, and the world is overrun with those who slander others.

  103. Verse 103

    caupāī kṛtajuga saba jogī bigyānī| kari hari dhyāna tarahiṃ bhava prānī|| tretā~ bibidha jagya nara karahīṃ| prabhuhi samarpi karma bhava tarahīṃ|| dvāpara kari raghupati pada pūjā| nara bhava tarahiṃ upāya na dūjā|| kalijuga kevala hari guna gāhā| gāvata nara pāvahiṃ bhava thāhā|| kalijuga joga na jagya na gyānā| eka adhāra rāma guna gānā|| saba bharosa taji jo bhaja rāmahi| prema sameta gāva guna grāmahi|| soi bhava tara kachu saṃsaya nāhīṃ| nāma pratāpa pragaṭa kali māhīṃ|| kali kara eka punīta pratāpā| mānasa punya hohiṃ nahiṃ pāpā||

    Meaning

    In the Krita age all men were yogis and knowers of truth; by meditating on Hari, living beings crossed the ocean of birth and death. In Treta men performed sacrifices of many kinds, and by surrendering their works to the Lord they passed beyond that ocean. In Dvapara they worshipped Raghupati's feet, and by that alone men crossed over; there was no second means. In the Kali age there is only the telling of Hari's virtues: singing them, men find the ocean of existence fordable. In Kali there is neither yoga nor sacrifice nor knowledge; the one support is the singing of Rama's virtues. Whoever abandons every other reliance and worships Rama, singing the whole host of His virtues with love, that man crosses over, and of this there is no doubt at all; the might of the Name stands plain in the Kali age. Kali has one hallowed excellence of its own: merits conceived in the mind bear fruit, but sins conceived there do not.

  104. Verse 104

    caupāī nita juga dharma hohiṃ saba kere| hṛdaya~ rāma māyā ke prere|| suddha satva samatā bigyānā| kṛta prabhāva prasanna mana jānā|| satva bahuta raja kachu rati karmā| saba bidhi sukha tretā kara dharmā|| bahu raja svalpa satva kachu tāmasa| dvāpara dharma haraṣa bhaya mānasa|| tāmasa bahuta rajoguna thorā| kali prabhāva birodha cahu~ orā|| budha juga dharma jāni mana māhīṃ| taji adharma rati dharma karāhīṃ|| kāla dharma nahiṃ byāpahiṃ tāhī| raghupati carana prīti ati jāhī|| naṭa kṛta bikaṭa kapaṭa khagarāyā| naṭa sevakahi na byāpai māyā||

    Meaning

    The characters of all the ages work constantly in every man, arising within the heart at the prompting of Rama's maya. Pure goodness, evenness of mind, true discernment and a contented spirit — know these for the influence of the Krita age. Much goodness, some passion, a relish for ritual action and happiness of every kind — such is the temper of Treta. Much passion, a little goodness and some darkness, with joy and fear in the mind — that is the way of Dvapara. Great darkness and scant passion, with conflict on every side — that is the effect of Kali. Recognizing within their own minds which age's character is stirring, the wise forsake unrighteousness and set their hearts on dharma. But the workings of time do not touch the man who bears deep love for Raghupati's feet: O king of birds, however dreadful the deceptions a juggler contrives, that illusion never takes hold of the juggler's own servant.

  105. Verse 105

    caupāī gayau~ ujenī sunu uragārī| dīna malīna daridra dukhārī|| gae~ kāla kachu saṃpati pāī| taha~ puni karau~ saṃbhu sevakāī|| bipra eka baidika siva pūjā| karai sadā tehi kāju na dūjā|| parama sādhu paramāratha biṃdaka| saṃbhu upāsaka nahiṃ hari niṃdaka|| tehi sevau~ maiṃ kapaṭa sametā| dvija dayāla ati nīti niketā|| bāhija namra dekhi mohi sāīṃ| bipra paṛhāva putra kī nāīṃ|| saṃbhu maṃtra mohi dvijabara dīnhā| subha upadesa bibidha bidhi kīnhā|| japau~ maṃtra siva maṃdira jāī| hṛdaya~ daṃbha ahamiti adhikāī||

    Meaning

    Listen, foe of serpents: I went to Ujjain, wretched, squalid, destitute and full of grief. After some time had passed I came by a little wealth, and there again I took up the service of Shambhu. There lived a brahmin who always performed the Vedic worship of Shiva and had no other occupation whatever. He was a saint of the highest order, one who understood the supreme good, a worshipper of Shambhu yet never a reviler of Hari. Him I served, but with guile in me; and that brahmin was most kind, a very home of right conduct. Seeing me humble on the outside, sir, he taught me as though I were his own son. That best of brahmins gave me the mantra of Shambhu and instructed me in good things in many ways. I would go to Shiva's temple and repeat the mantra, while in my heart hypocrisy and swelling pride went on increasing.

  106. Verse 106

    caupāī eka bāra gura līnha bolāī| mohi nīti bahu bhā~ti sikhāī|| siva sevā kara phala suta soī| abirala bhagati rāma pada hoī|| rāmahi bhajahiṃ tāta siva dhātā| nara pāva~ra kai ketika bātā|| jāsu carana aja siva anurāgī| tātu droha~ sukha cahasi abhāgī|| hara kahu~ hari sevaka gura kaheū| suni khaganātha hṛdaya mama daheū|| adhama jāti maiṃ bidyā pāe~| bhayau~ jathā ahi dūdha piāe~|| mānī kuṭila kubhāgya kujātī| gura kara droha karau~ dinu rātī|| ati dayāla gura svalpa na krodhā| puni puni mohi sikhāva subodhā|| jehi te nīca baṛāī pāvā| so prathamahiṃ hati tāhi nasāvā|| dhūma anala saṃbhava sunu bhāī| tehi bujhāva ghana padavī pāī|| raja maga parī nirādara rahaī| saba kara pada prahāra nita sahaī|| maruta uṛāva prathama tehi bharaī| puni nṛpa nayana kirīṭanhi paraī|| sunu khagapati asa samujhi prasaṃgā| budha nahiṃ karahiṃ adhama kara saṃgā|| kabi kobida gāvahiṃ asi nītī| khala sana kalaha na bhala nahiṃ prītī|| udāsīna nita rahia gosāīṃ| khala pariharia svāna kī nāīṃ|| maiṃ khala hṛdaya~ kapaṭa kuṭilāī| gura hita kahai na mohi sohāī||

    Meaning

    One day my teacher called me and taught me sound conduct in many ways. 'Son, this alone is the fruit of serving Shiva — unbroken devotion at Rama's feet. Shiva and the Creator themselves worship Rama, dear child; what then is a poor mortal worth? He at whose feet Aja and Shiva are lovers — do you, luckless one, look for happiness through enmity with Him?' When my teacher called Hara a servant of Hari, my heart burned, O lord of birds. Base-born as I was, having got a little learning I became like a serpent that has been given milk to drink. Proud, crooked, ill-starred and low of birth, I bore malice against my teacher day and night; yet he was so full of pity that not the least anger rose in him, and again and again he taught me good sense. A mean man, having received honour from another, first strikes at that very one and destroys him. Smoke is born of fire, brother, yet on attaining the rank of a cloud it puts that same fire out. Dust lies on the road in contempt, enduring every foot's blow day after day; but when the wind lifts it, it first fills the wind itself, and then settles on the eyes of kings and on their crowns. Understanding this matter, lord of birds, the wise keep no company with the base. Poets and the learned sing this rule: with a wicked man neither quarrel nor friendship is good; one should remain always indifferent, sir, and let a wicked man go the way one lets a dog go. But I was wicked, with fraud and crookedness in my heart, and what my teacher spoke for my good did not please me.

  107. Verse 107

    caupāī maṃdira mājha bhaī nabha bānī| re hatabhāgya agya abhimānī|| jadyapi tava gura keṃ nahiṃ krodhā| ati kṛpāla cita samyaka bodhā|| tadapi sāpa saṭha daihau~ tohī| nīti birodha sohāi na mohī|| jauṃ nahiṃ daṃḍa karauṃ khala torā| bhraṣṭa hoi śrutimāraga morā|| je saṭha gura sana iriṣā karahīṃ| raurava naraka koṭi juga parahīṃ|| trijaga joni puni dharahiṃ sarīrā| ayuta janma bhari pāvahiṃ pīrā|| baiṭha rahesi ajagara iva pāpī| sarpa hohi khala mala mati byāpī|| mahā biṭapa koṭara mahu~ jāī||rahu adhamādhama adhagati pāī||

    Meaning

    There in the temple a voice sounded from the sky: 'You wretched, ignorant, arrogant creature! Your teacher indeed has no anger in him — his heart is all compassion and his understanding perfect — yet I shall lay a curse upon you, fool, for the flouting of right conduct does not please me. If I do not punish you, villain, my own path of the Vedas would be brought to ruin. Fools who bear envy against their teacher lie in the Raurava hell for ten million ages, and afterwards take bodies among the beasts, suffering torment through ten thousand births. You sat there like a python, sinner; become a serpent, wretch, since your mind is steeped in filth. Go into the hollow of some great tree and dwell there, lowest of the low, fallen to a degraded state.'

  108. Verse 108

    chaṃda namāmīśamīśāna nirvāṇarūpaṃ| viṃbhuṃ byāpakaṃ brahma vedasvarūpaṃ| nijaṃ nirguṇaṃ nirvikalpaṃ nirīṃha| cidākāśamākāśavāsaṃ bhaje'haṃ|| nirākāramoṃkāramūlaṃ turīyaṃ| girā gyāna gotītamīśaṃ girīśaṃ|| karālaṃ mahākāla kālaṃ kṛpālaṃ| guṇāgāra saṃsārapāraṃ nato'haṃ|| tuṣārādri saṃkāśa gauraṃ gabhīraṃ| manobhūta koṭi prabhā śrī śarīraṃ|| sphuranmauli kallolinī cāru gaṃgā| lasadbhālabālendu kaṃṭhe bhujaṃgā|| calatkuṃḍalaṃ bhrū sunetraṃ viśālaṃ| prasannānanaṃ nīlakaṃṭhaṃ dayālaṃ|| mṛgādhīśacarmāmbaraṃ muṇḍamālaṃ| priyaṃ śaṃkaraṃ sarvanāthaṃ bhajāmi|| pracaṃḍaṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ pragalbhaṃ pareśaṃ| akhaṃḍaṃ ajaṃ bhānukoṭiprakāśaṃ|| trayaḥśūla nirmūlanaṃ śūlapāṇiṃ| bhaje'haṃ bhavānīpatiṃ bhāvagamyaṃ|| kalātīta kalyāṇa kalpāntakārī| sadā sajjanāndadātā purārī|| cidānaṃdasaṃdoha mohāpahārī| prasīda prasīda prabho manmathārī|| na yāvad umānātha pādāravindaṃ| bhajaṃtīha loke pare vā narāṇāṃ|| na tāvatsukhaṃ śānti santāpanāśaṃ| prasīda prabho sarvabhūtādhivāsaṃ|| na jānāmi yogaṃ japaṃ naiva pūjāṃ| nato'haṃ sadā sarvadā śaṃbhu tubhyaṃ|| jarā janma duḥkhaugha tātapyamānaṃ| prabho pāhi āpannamāmīśa śaṃbho|| śloka rudrāṣṭakamidaṃ proktaṃ vipreṇa haratoṣaye| ye paṭhanti narā bhaktyā teṣāṃ śambhuḥ prasīdati||9|| dohā/soraṭhā suni binatī sarbagya siva dekhi bripra anurāgu| puni maṃdira nabhabānī bhai dvijabara bara māgu||108(ka)|| jauṃ prasanna prabhu mo para nātha dīna para nehu| nija pada bhagati dei prabhu puni dūsara bara dehu||108(kha)|| tava māyā basa jīva jaṛa saṃtata phirai bhulāna| tehi para krodha na karia prabhu kṛpā siṃdhu bhagavāna||108(ga)|| saṃkara dīnadayāla aba ehi para hohu kṛpāla| sāpa anugraha hoi jehiṃ nātha thorehīṃ kāla||108(gha)||

    Meaning

    The brahmin then prayed: I bow to Ishana, the Lord whose very form is liberation; I worship the all-pervading, omnipresent Brahman, who is the Vedas themselves — self-existent, beyond attribute, beyond alternative, free of craving, the very sky of consciousness, dwelling in space. Formless, the root of Om, the fourth state; the Lord of mountains, past speech, past knowledge, past the senses; terrible, the death of Time the great destroyer, and yet compassionate; the storehouse of virtues, beyond this world — to Him I bow. White as the snow-mountain and unfathomably deep, His glorious body shining with the splendour of ten million gods of love; on His flashing crown the lovely wave-tossing Ganga, on His radiant brow the young moon, a serpent about His throat. Earrings swaying, fair brows, large and beautiful eyes, a gracious face, a blue throat, and full of mercy; clad in a lion's hide and garlanded with skulls — the beloved Shankara, the Lord of all, I worship. Fierce, exalted, majestic, the supreme Lord; undivided, unborn, blazing like ten million suns; who tears up the three kinds of anguish by the root, the trident-bearer, the husband of Bhavani, who is reached through feeling alone — Him I worship. Beyond all reckoning of time, auspicious, the maker of the world's end; ever the giver of joy to the good, the destroyer of Tripura; a mass of consciousness and bliss, the taker away of delusion — be gracious, be gracious, O Lord, foe of the god of desire. So long as men do not worship the lotus feet of Uma's lord, there is for them no happiness in this world or beyond it, no peace, no ending of their torment: be gracious, O Lord, who dwell within all beings. I know no yoga, no muttered prayer, nor any rite of worship; I only bow to you, Shambhu, always and for ever. Scorched by the flood of the sorrows of age and birth, protect me in my distress, O Lord; I bow to you, Shambhu. This Rudrashtaka was uttered by the brahmin for the pleasing of Hara; on those who recite it with devotion Shambhu bestows His grace. Hearing that prayer and seeing the brahmin's love, the all-knowing Shiva made a voice sound from the sky in the temple once more: 'Best of the twice-born, ask a boon.' The brahmin answered: 'If you are pleased with me, Lord, and have affection for the lowly, then grant me devotion at your own feet, and after that give me a second boon. Subject to your maya, the dull creature wanders on for ever deluded; be not angry with him, Lord, ocean of mercy, God. Shankara, compassionate to the humble, be gracious now to this man, so that in a very short time, Lord, the curse may turn into a blessing.'

  109. Verse 109

    caupāī ehi kara hoi parama kalyānā| soi karahu aba kṛpānidhānā|| bipragirā suni parahita sānī| evamastu iti bhai nabhabānī|| jadapi kīnha ehiṃ dāruna pāpā| maiṃ puni dīnha kopa kari sāpā|| tadapi tumhāra sādhutā dekhī| karihau~ ehi para kṛpā biseṣī|| chamāsīla je para upakārī| te dvija mohi priya jathā kharārī|| mora śrāpa dvija byartha na jāihi| janma sahasa avasya yaha pāihi|| janamata marata dusaha dukha hoī| ahi svalpau nahiṃ byāpihi soī|| kavaneu~ janma miṭihi nahiṃ gyānā| sunahi sūdra mama bacana pravānā|| raghupati purīṃ janma taba bhayaū| puni taiṃ mama sevā~ mana dayaū|| purī prabhāva anugraha moreṃ| rāma bhagati upajihi ura toreṃ|| sunu mama bacana satya aba bhāī| haritoṣana brata dvija sevakāī|| aba jani karahi bipra apamānā| jānehu saṃta anaṃta samānā|| iṃdra kulisa mama sūla bisālā| kāladaṃḍa hari cakra karālā|| jo inha kara mārā nahiṃ maraī| bipradroha pāvaka so jaraī|| asa bibeka rākhehu mana māhīṃ| tumha kaha~ jaga durlabha kachu nāhīṃ|| aurau eka āsiṣā morī| apratihata gati hoihi torī||

    Meaning

    The brahmin pleaded, 'Let his highest good come about; do that now, O treasury of mercy.' Hearing the brahmin's words, steeped in concern for another's welfare, a voice from the sky answered, 'So be it.' Shiva spoke on: 'Though this man committed a dreadful sin, and though I in anger laid a curse upon him, yet seeing your saintliness I shall show him a particular grace. Brahmins who are forgiving and do good to others are as dear to me as Rama, the foe of Khara. My curse, O brahmin, shall not go to waste: he will certainly pass through a thousand births. Being born and dying brings unbearable pain, yet not the least part of it shall touch him, and in no birth shall his knowledge be lost. Hear now, shudra, for my word carries authority. Your birth took place in the city of Raghupati, and afterwards you gave your mind to my service; by the power of that city and by my grace, devotion to Rama shall spring up in your heart. Hear my true word now, brother: to serve the twice-born is the vow that pleases Hari. Never again insult a brahmin, and know the saints to be equal to the infinite Lord himself. Indra's thunderbolt, my own great trident, the rod of Death, Hari's terrible discus — the man whom these strike and fail to kill still burns in the fire of enmity to brahmins. Keep such discernment in your mind, and nothing in the world will be beyond your reach. And one more blessing of mine: your going shall nowhere be obstructed.'

  110. Verse 110

    caupāī trijaga deva nara joi tanu dharau~| taha~ taha~ rāma bhajana anusaraū~|| eka sūla mohi bisara na kāū| gura kara komala sīla subhāū|| carama deha dvija kai maiṃ pāī| sura durlabha purāna śruti gāī|| khelau~ tahū~ bālakanha mīlā| karau~ sakala raghunāyaka līlā|| prauṛha bhae~ mohi pitā paṛhāvā| samajhau~ sunau~ gunau~ nahiṃ bhāvā|| mana te sakala bāsanā bhāgī| kevala rāma carana laya lāgī|| kahu khagesa asa kavana abhāgī| kharī seva suradhenuhi tyāgī|| prema magana mohi kachu na sohāī| hāreu pitā paṛhāi paṛhāī|| bhae kālabasa jaba pitu mātā| maiṃ bana gayau~ bhajana janatrātā|| jaha~ jaha~ bipina munīsvara pāvau~| āśrama jāi jāi siru nāvau~|| būjhata tinhahi rāma guna gāhā| kahahiṃ sunau~ haraṣita khaganāhā|| sunata phirau~ hari guna anubādā| abyāhata gati saṃbhu prasādā|| chūṭī tribidha īṣanā gāṛhī| eka lālasā ura ati bāṛhī|| rāma carana bārija jaba dekhauṃ| taba nija janma saphala kari lekhauṃ|| jehi pū~chau~ soi muni asa kahaī| īsvara sarba bhūtamaya ahaī|| nirguna mata nahiṃ mohi sohāī| saguna brahma rati ura adhikāī||

    Meaning

    Kakabhushundi went on: whatever body I took after that — beast or bird, god or man — in each of them I kept up the worship of Rama. One thorn alone I could never forget, and that was my guru's gentle and kindly nature. My last body I received as a brahmin, a birth which the Puranas and the Vedas sing of as hard for even the gods to win. Even there I would join the other children at play and act out all the sports of the lord of the Raghus. When I was grown my father taught me; I listened, followed and pondered, but none of it pleased me. Every craving had fled from my mind, which was fixed on Rama's feet alone. Tell me, king of birds, who is so ill-fated as to leave the celestial cow and go to serve a she-ass? Drowned in love, nothing else could please me, and my father wore himself out trying to teach me. When my parents came under the power of death, I went away to the forest to worship the protector of his people. Wherever in the woods I came upon great sages, I went to their hermitages and bowed my head; I asked them for the story of Rama's virtues, and they told it, and I listened in delight, O lord of birds. I wandered on, listening to recitals of Hari's virtues, my going unhindered by the grace of Shambhu. The three deep-set worldly cravings dropped away and one longing grew great in my heart: when I behold Rama's lotus-feet, then I shall count my birth fulfilled. But whichever sage I questioned said the same thing — that God is all-pervading, the very being of every creature. The doctrine of the attributeless did not please me, and love for Brahman with attributes only grew stronger in my heart.

  111. Verse 111

    caupāī taba muniṣa raghupati guna gāthā| kahe kachuka sādara khaganāthā|| brahmagyāna rata muni bigyāni| mohi parama adhikārī jānī|| lāge karana brahma upadesā| aja adveta aguna hṛdayesā|| akala anīha anāma arupā| anubhava gamya akhaṃḍa anūpā|| mana gotīta amala abināsī| nirbikāra niravadhi sukha rāsī|| so taiṃ tāhi tohi nahiṃ bhedā| bāri bīci iva gāvahi bedā|| bibidha bhā~ti mohi muni samujhāvā| nirguna mata mama hṛdaya~ na āvā|| puni maiṃ kaheu~ nāi pada sīsā| saguna upāsana kahahu munīsā|| rāma bhagati jala mama mana mīnā| kimi bilagāi munīsa prabīnā|| soi upadesa kahahu kari dāyā| nija nayananhi dekhauṃ raghurāyā|| bhari locana biloki avadhesā| taba sunihau~ nirguna upadesā|| muni puni kahi harikathā anūpā| khaṃḍi saguna mata aguna nirūpā|| taba maiṃ nirguna mata kara dūrī| saguna nirūpau~ kari haṭha bhūrī|| uttara pratiuttara maiṃ kīnhā| muni tana bhae krodha ke cīnhā|| sunu prabhu bahuta avagyā kie~| upaja krodha gyāninha ke hie~|| ati saṃgharaṣana jauṃ kara koī| anala pragaṭa caṃdana te hoī||

    Meaning

    Then, O lord of birds, that sage reverently told me something of the tale of Raghupati's virtues. But the sage was devoted to the knowledge of Brahman and full of realization, and judging me a most worthy pupil, he began to instruct me in Brahman — unborn, without a second, free of attributes, lord of the heart; without parts, without desire, without name or form, reached only through experience, whole and beyond compare; beyond mind and senses, stainless, imperishable, unchanging, a boundless mass of bliss. 'That thou art,' he said; 'between him and you there is no difference, as water and its wave — so the Vedas sing.' In many ways the sage explained it to me, but the doctrine of the attributeless would not enter my heart. Then, laying my head at his feet, I said, 'Speak to me of the worship of the Lord with form, O lord of sages. My mind is a fish in the water of devotion to Rama — how, skilled sage, is it to be parted from that? Be merciful and give me the teaching by which I may see Raghuraya with my own eyes. When I have gazed my fill upon the Lord of Ayodhya, then I shall listen to the teaching of the attributeless.' The sage told the matchless story of Hari once more, then broke down the case for form and set up the formless. At that I pushed the nirguna doctrine away and with great obstinacy argued the case for the Lord with attributes, answering and countering him again and again, until the marks of anger showed on the sage's body. Listen, lord: where much disrespect is shown, anger springs up even in the hearts of the wise — rub hard enough and fire will come out of sandalwood itself.

  112. Verse 112

    caupāī kabahu~ ki dukha saba kara hita tākeṃ| tehi ki daridra parasa mani jākeṃ|| paradrohī kī hohiṃ nisaṃkā| kāmī puni ki rahahiṃ akalaṃkā|| baṃsa ki raha dvija anahita kīnheṃ| karma ki hohiṃ svarūpahi cīnheṃ|| kāhū sumati ki khala sa~ga jāmī| subha gati pāva ki paratriya gāmī|| bhava ki parahiṃ paramātmā biṃdaka| sukhī ki hohiṃ kabahu~ hariniṃdaka|| rāju ki rahai nīti binu jāneṃ| agha ki rahahiṃ haricarita bakhāneṃ|| pāvana jasa ki punya binu hoī| binu agha ajasa ki pāvai koī|| lābhu ki kichu hari bhagati samānā| jehi gāvahiṃ śruti saṃta purānā|| hāni ki jaga ehi sama kichu bhāī| bhajia na rāmahi nara tanu pāī|| agha ki pisunatā sama kachu ānā| dharma ki dayā sarisa harijānā|| ehi bidhi amiti juguti mana gunaū~| muni upadesa na sādara sunaū~|| puni puni saguna paccha maiṃ ropā| taba muni boleu bacana sakopā|| mūṛha parama sikha deu~ na mānasi| uttara pratiuttara bahu ānasi|| satya bacana bisvāsa na karahī| bāyasa iva sabahī te ḍarahī|| saṭha svapaccha taba hṛdaya~ bisālā| sapadi hohi pacchī caṃḍālā|| līnha śrāpa maiṃ sīsa caṛhāī| nahiṃ kachu bhaya na dīnatā āī||

    Meaning

    Can he who seeks the good of all ever come to grief? Can a man be poor who holds the touchstone in his hand? Can those who injure others live free of fear, or the lustful stay unstained? Can a line last that has done a brahmin harm, or works bind the man who has recognized his own true nature? Has good sense ever been born in wicked company, or a happy destiny been won by one who goes after another's wife? Do those who know the Supreme Self fall into the round of birth, or does the reviler of Hari ever grow happy? Does a kingdom stand where statecraft is not understood, or do sins remain where Hari's deeds are told over? Is clean fame won without merit, or ill fame got without sin? Is there any gain to match devotion to Hari, which the Vedas and the saints and the Puranas sing? Is there any loss in the world like this one, brother — to win a human body and not worship Rama? Is there any other sin like slander, or any duty like compassion, O mount of Hari? In this way I turned over countless arguments in my mind and would not listen with respect to the sage's teaching, and again and again I planted the case for the Lord with attributes. Then the sage spoke in anger: 'Fool, I give you the highest instruction and you will not take it, but bring me answer upon answer. You put no trust in true words, and like a crow you shy in suspicion from everyone. Wretch, since your own side looms so large in your heart, become this instant an outcaste among birds.' I took the curse upon my head; no fear came to me, and no abjectness.

  113. Verse 113

    caupāī sunu khagesa nahiṃ kachu riṣi dūṣana| ura preraka raghubaṃsa bibhūṣana|| kṛpāsiṃdhu muni mati kari bhorī| līnhi prema paricchā morī|| mana baca krama mohi nija jana jānā| muni mati puni pherī bhagavānā|| riṣi mama mahata sīlatā dekhī| rāma carana bisvāsa biseṣī|| ati bisamaya puni puni pachitāī| sādara muni mohi līnha bolāī|| mama paritoṣa bibidha bidhi kīnhā| haraṣita rāmamaṃtra taba dīnhā|| bālakarūpa rāma kara dhyānā| kaheu mohi muni kṛpānidhānā|| suṃdara sukhada mihi ati bhāvā| so prathamahiṃ maiṃ tumhahi sunāvā|| muni mohi kachuka kāla taha~ rākhā| rāmacaritamānasa taba bhāṣā|| sādara mohi yaha kathā sunāī| puni bole muni girā suhāī|| rāmacarita sara gupta suhāvā| saṃbhu prasāda tāta maiṃ pāvā|| tohi nija bhagata rāma kara jānī| tāte maiṃ saba kaheu~ bakhānī|| rāma bhagati jinha keṃ ura nāhīṃ| kabahu~ na tāta kahia tinha pāhīṃ|| muni mohi bibidha bhā~ti samujhāvā| maiṃ saprema muni pada siru nāvā|| nija kara kamala parasi mama sīsā| haraṣita āsiṣa dīnha munīsā|| rāma bhagati abirala ura toreṃ| basihi sadā prasāda aba moreṃ||

    Meaning

    Hear, king of birds: there was no fault at all in the sage. The prompter within his heart was the ornament of Raghu's line himself; the ocean of mercy clouded the sage's understanding and so tested my love. Knowing me his own servant in thought, word and deed, the Lord then turned the sage's mind back again. The sage saw my great forbearance and my particular faith in Rama's feet, and marvelling greatly and repenting again and again, he called me to him with honour. He consoled me in many ways, and then joyfully gave me the mantra of Rama; and that compassionate sage taught me the meditation on Rama in the form of a child, which, lovely and delightful, pleased me greatly — and that I have already described to you. The sage kept me there for some time and then expounded the Ramcharitmanas, reverently reciting this story to me; afterwards he spoke these gracious words: 'This lovely secret lake of Rama's deeds, my son, I obtained by the grace of Shambhu. Knowing you to be Rama's own devotee, I have set the whole of it out for you. But those in whose heart there is no devotion to Rama — never, dear child, recite it before them.' In many ways the sage instructed me, and I bowed my head lovingly at his feet. Touching my head with his lotus hand, the lord of sages gave me his blessing with joy: 'By my grace unbroken devotion to Rama shall dwell in your heart for ever.'

  114. Verse 114

    caupāī kāla karma guna doṣa subhāū| kachu dukha tumhahi na byāpihi kāū|| rāma rahasya lalita bidhi nānā| gupta pragaṭa itihāsa purānā|| binu śrama tumha jānaba saba soū| nita nava neha rāma pada hoū|| jo icchā karihahu mana māhīṃ| hari prasāda kachu durlabha nāhīṃ|| suni muni āsiṣa sunu matidhīrā| brahmagirā bhai gagana ga~bhīrā|| evamastu tava baca muni gyānī| yaha mama bhagata karma mana bānī|| suni nabhagirā haraṣa mohi bhayaū| prema magana saba saṃsaya gayaū|| kari binatī muni āyasu pāī| pada saroja puni puni siru nāī|| haraṣa sahita ehiṃ āśrama āyau~| prabhu prasāda durlabha bara pāyau~|| ihā~ basata mohi sunu khaga īsā| bīte kalapa sāta aru bīsā|| karau~ sadā raghupati guna gānā| sādara sunahiṃ bihaṃga sujānā|| jaba jaba avadhapurīṃ raghubīrā| dharahiṃ bhagata hita manuja sarīrā|| taba taba jāi rāma pura rahaū~| sisulīlā biloki sukha lahaū~|| puni ura rākhi rāma sisurūpā| nija āśrama āvau~ khagabhūpā|| kathā sakala maiṃ tumhahi sunāī| kāga deha jehiṃ kārana pāī|| kahiu~ tāta saba prasna tumhārī| rāma bhagati mahimā ati bhārī||

    Meaning

    The blessing went on: 'Neither time nor karma, neither the qualities of nature nor fault nor inborn disposition shall ever bring you any sorrow. Rama's mysteries in all their lovely forms, hidden and open, the old histories and the Puranas — all of it you shall know without effort, and may your love for Rama's feet be new each day. Whatever you desire in your mind, by Hari's grace nothing shall be hard for you to obtain.' Hearing the sage's blessing — listen, steadfast one — a solemn voice of Brahman sounded out of the sky: 'So be it, wise sage, as you have said; in deed, in mind and in speech, this man is my devotee.' Hearing that voice from the sky I was filled with joy; sunk in love, every doubt of mine departed. I made my petition and received the sage's leave, and bowing my head again and again at his lotus-feet I came in gladness to this hermitage, having won by the Lord's grace a boon hard to obtain. Living here, O lord of birds, twenty-seven ages have gone by for me. I sing Raghupati's virtues always, and the wise birds listen with reverence. Whenever Raghubira takes on a human body in Ayodhya for the sake of his devotees, I go and stay in Rama's city and take my delight in watching his childhood sports; then, holding Rama's child-form in my heart, I return to my own hermitage, O king of birds. I have told you the whole story, and the cause for which I came by the body of a crow; I have answered, dear child, every question of yours. Immense beyond measure is the glory of devotion to Rama.

  115. Verse 115

    caupāī je asi bhagati jāni pariharahīṃ| kevala gyāna hetu śrama karahīṃ|| te jaṛa kāmadhenu gṛha~ tyāgī| khojata āku phirahiṃ paya lāgī|| sunu khagesa hari bhagati bihāī| je sukha cāhahiṃ āna upāī|| te saṭha mahāsiṃdhu binu taranī| pairi pāra cāhahiṃ jaṛa karanī|| suni bhasuṃḍi ke bacana bhavānī| boleu garuṛa haraṣi mṛdu bānī|| tava prasāda prabhu mama ura māhīṃ| saṃsaya soka moha bhrama nāhīṃ|| suneu~ punīta rāma guna grāmā| tumharī kṛpā~ laheu~ biśrāmā|| eka bāta prabhu pū~chau~ tohī| kahahu bujhāi kṛpānidhi mohī|| kahahiṃ saṃta muni beda purānā| nahiṃ kachu durlabha gyāna samānā|| soi muni tumha sana kaheu gosāīṃ| nahiṃ ādarehu bhagati kī nāīṃ|| gyānahi bhagatihi aṃtara ketā| sakala kahahu prabhu kṛpā niketā|| suni uragāri bacana sukha mānā| sādara boleu kāga sujānā|| bhagatihi gyānahi nahiṃ kachu bhedā| ubhaya harahiṃ bhava saṃbhava khedā|| nātha munīsa kahahiṃ kachu aṃtara| sāvadhāna sou sunu bihaṃgabara|| gyāna birāga joga bigyānā| e saba puruṣa sunahu harijānā|| puruṣa pratāpa prabala saba bhā~tī| abalā abala sahaja jaṛa jātī|| dohā/soraṭhā -puruṣa tyāgi saka nārihi jo birakta mati dhīra|| na tu kāmī biṣayābasa bimukha jo pada raghubīra||115(ka)|| sou muni gyānanidhāna mṛganayanī bidhu mukha nirakhi| bibasa hoi harijāna nāri biṣnu māyā pragaṭa||115(kha)||

    Meaning

    Those who know devotion for what it is and still let it go, toiling for bare knowledge alone, are dullards: they turn the wish-yielding cow out of their own house and go roaming after the milkweed for milk. Hear, king of birds: those who set devotion to Hari aside and want happiness by some other means are fools hoping to swim the great ocean across with no boat, and senseless is their doing. At these words of Bhushundi (so Shiva tells Bhavani), Garuda answered gladly in a gentle voice: 'By your favour, lord, there is left in my heart no doubt, no sorrow, no delusion, no confusion. I have heard the hallowed host of Rama's virtues, and by your kindness I have come to rest. One thing, lord, I would ask of you; make it plain to me, treasury of compassion. Saints, sages, the Vedas and the Puranas all declare that nothing is so hard to win as knowledge. That very knowledge the sage taught you too, master, and yet you did not honour it as you honour devotion. How much lies between knowledge and devotion? Tell me the whole of it, lord, abode of grace.' Hearing the words of the serpents' foe, the wise crow was pleased, and answered him with courtesy: 'Between devotion and knowledge there is no difference at all; both take away the grief that birth in this world brings. Yet the great sages, my lord, do speak of some difference, and you must hear that too with attention, best of birds. Knowledge, dispassion, yoga and realization: all of these, mount of Hari, are male. The male is strong in his glory in every way, while she who is called powerless is weak by nature and dull by her very kind. A man can renounce a woman if his mind is detached and steady, but not the man who is lustful, ruled by the senses and turned away from Raghubira's feet. Even the sage who is a storehouse of knowledge is left helpless once he looks upon a fawn-eyed, moon-faced woman, mount of Hari; woman is Vishnu's maya made visible.'

  116. Verse 116

    caupāī ihā~ na pacchapāta kachu rākhau~| beda purāna saṃta mata bhāṣau~|| moha na nāri nāri keṃ rūpā| pannagāri yaha rīti anūpā|| māyā bhagati sunahu tumha doū| nāri barga jānai saba koū|| puni raghubīrahi bhagati piārī| māyā khalu nartakī bicārī|| bhagatihi sānukūla raghurāyā| tāte tehi ḍarapati ati māyā|| rāma bhagati nirupama nirupādhī| basai jāsu ura sadā abādhī|| tehi biloki māyā sakucāī| kari na sakai kachu nija prabhutāī|| asa bicāri je muni bigyānī| jācahīṃ bhagati sakala sukha khānī||

    Meaning

    Bhushundi went on: 'In this I hold no partiality; I speak what the Vedas, the Puranas and the saints have settled. A woman is not infatuated by a woman's beauty, and this way of things, foe of serpents, has no parallel. Hear me: maya and devotion, as everyone knows, both belong to the class of women. Devotion, again, is dear to Raghubira, while maya is no more than a poor dancing-girl. The Lord of Raghus is favourable to devotion, and for that reason maya greatly fears her. Where devotion to Rama, matchless and free of every limiting condition, dwells for ever unhindered in a heart, maya, seeing that man, shrinks away and can bring none of her mastery to bear. Weighing this, the sages who possess realization beg for devotion, the mine of all happiness.'

  117. Verse 117

    caupāī sunahu tāta yaha akatha kahānī| samujhata banai na jāi bakhānī|| īsvara aṃsa jīva abināsī| cetana amala sahaja sukha rāsī|| so māyābasa bhayau gosāīṃ| ba~dhyo kīra marakaṭa kī nāī|| jaṛa cetanahi graṃthi pari gaī| jadapi mṛṣā chūṭata kaṭhinaī|| taba te jīva bhayau saṃsārī| chūṭa na graṃthi na hoi sukhārī|| śruti purāna bahu kaheu upāī| chūṭa na adhika adhika arujhāī|| jīva hṛdaya~ tama moha biseṣī| graṃthi chūṭa kimi parai na dekhī|| asa saṃjoga īsa jaba karaī| tabahu~ kadācita so niruaraī|| sāttvika śraddhā dhenu suhāī| jauṃ hari kṛpā~ hṛdaya~ basa āī|| japa tapa brata jama niyama apārā| je śruti kaha subha dharma acārā|| tei tṛna harita carai jaba gāī| bhāva baccha sisu pāi penhāī|| noi nibṛtti pātra bisvāsā| nirmala mana ahīra nija dāsā|| parama dharmamaya paya duhi bhāī| avaṭai anala akāma banāī|| toṣa maruta taba chamā~ juṛāvai| dhṛti sama jāvanu dei jamāvai|| muditā~ mathaiṃ bicāra mathānī| dama adhāra raju satya subānī|| taba mathi kāṛhi lei navanītā| bimala birāga subhaga supunītā|| dohā/soraṭhā joga agini kari pragaṭa taba karma subhāsubha lāi| buddhi sirāvaiṃ gyāna ghṛta mamatā mala jari jāi||117(ka)|| taba bigyānarūpini buddhi bisada ghṛta pāi| citta diā bhari dharai dṛṛha samatā diaṭi banāi||117(kha)|| tīni avasthā tīni guna tehi kapāsa teṃ kāṛhi| tūla turīya sa~vāri puni bātī karai sugāṛhi||117(ga)|| ehi bidhi lesai dīpa teja rāsi bigyānamaya|| jātahiṃ jāsu samīpa jarahiṃ madādika salabha saba||117(gha)||

    Meaning

    'Listen, dear one: this is a tale that cannot be told; it can be grasped, but it will not go into words. The individual soul is a portion of the Lord, imperishable, conscious, stainless, by nature a mass of bliss. He fell under maya's sway, master, and was bound as the parrot and the monkey are bound, by his own clinging. A knot was tied between matter and spirit; false though it is, it is hard to loosen. From that time the soul became a creature of the world: the knot does not slip and he never grows happy. Scripture and the Puranas have prescribed many a remedy, but it does not come undone; it only tangles more and more. In the soul's heart lies a thick darkness of delusion, and the knot is not so much as visible, so how is it to be untied? When the Lord brings about the right conjunction, then it may perhaps be worked loose. Faith of the pure sort is the fine cow, if by Hari's grace she comes to live in the heart. Muttered prayer, austerity, vows, restraints and observances beyond counting, all the good practice of dharma that scripture speaks of, are the green grass; when the cow grazes on them and finds the calf of loving feeling, her milk comes down. Turning away from the world is the cord for her legs, trust is the pail, and the pure mind is the cowherd who is one's own servant. Draw off the milk that is dharma at its highest, brother, and boil it on the fire of desirelessness; then let the breeze of contentment, with forbearance, cool it, and add the starter of fortitude and even-mindedness to set it. Churn it with gladness, discrimination being the churning-staff, self-control the base, and the good speech of truth the rope. Then, churning, take out the butter, which is spotless dispassion, lovely and wholly pure. Kindle the fire of yoga and feed it with deeds good and bad; let the intellect cool the ghee of knowledge, and the dross of possessiveness is burnt away. Then the intellect, become realization itself, receives that clear ghee, fills the lamp of the mind with it and sets it on the stand of firm equanimity. Out of the cotton of the three states and the three qualities it draws the fibre of the fourth state, trims it, and twists it into a close-wound wick. In this way the lamp is lit, a heap of light made of realization; and all the moths of pride and its kin, as they come near it, are burnt up.'

  118. Verse 118

    caupāī sohamasmi iti bṛtti akhaṃḍā| dīpa sikhā soi parama pracaṃḍā|| ātama anubhava sukha suprakāsā| taba bhava mūla bheda bhrama nāsā|| prabala abidyā kara parivārā| moha ādi tama miṭai apārā|| taba soi buddhi pāi u~jiārā| ura gṛha~ baiṭhi graṃthi niruārā|| chorana graṃthi pāva jauṃ soī| taba yaha jīva kṛtāratha hoī|| chorata graṃthi jāni khagarāyā| bighna aneka karai taba māyā|| riddhi siddhi prerai bahu bhāī| buddhahi lobha dikhāvahiṃ āī|| kala bala chala kari jāhiṃ samīpā| aṃcala bāta bujhāvahiṃ dīpā|| hoi buddhi jauṃ parama sayānī| tinha tana citava na anahita jānī|| jauṃ tehi bighna buddhi nahiṃ bādhī| tau bahori sura karahiṃ upādhī|| iṃdrīṃ dvāra jharokhā nānā| taha~ taha~ sura baiṭhe kari thānā|| āvata dekhahiṃ biṣaya bayārī| te haṭhi dehī kapāṭa ughārī|| jaba so prabhaṃjana ura gṛha~ jāī| tabahiṃ dīpa bigyāna bujhāī|| graṃthi na chūṭi miṭā so prakāsā| buddhi bikala bhai biṣaya batāsā|| iṃdrinha suranha na gyāna sohāī| biṣaya bhoga para prīti sadāī|| biṣaya samīra buddhi kṛta bhorī| tehi bidhi dīpa ko bāra bahorī||

    Meaning

    'The unbroken state of mind that says "I am He" is the flame of that lamp, blazing beyond measure. The bliss of the Self's own experience shines out, and then the root of worldly existence, the illusion of separateness, is destroyed. The whole household of powerful ignorance, its boundless darkness of delusion and the rest, is wiped away. Then the intellect, having found this light, sits in the house of the heart and works the knot loose. If it succeeds in loosening the knot, this soul has attained its purpose. But knowing the knot to be coming undone, king of birds, maya raises obstacle upon obstacle. She sends riches and occult powers in numbers, brother, and they come and dangle temptation before the intellect; by skill, by force and by trickery they draw close, and with the wind of their skirts they blow the lamp out. If the intellect is very wise indeed, it will not so much as look towards them, knowing them for enemies. And if the intellect is not hindered by that obstruction, then the gods themselves make trouble. The senses are doors and many windows, and at each of them the gods have taken up their stations; seeing the wind of sense-objects blowing in, they force the shutters of the body open. When that gale reaches the house of the heart, the lamp of realization is put out at once: the knot is not untied, the light is gone, and the intellect is left distraught in the draught of the senses. The senses and their gods have no liking for knowledge; their love is always for the enjoyment of objects. When the wind of sense-objects has made the intellect witless, who is there to light that lamp again?'

  119. Verse 119

    caupāī gyāna paṃtha kṛpāna kai dhārā| parata khagesa hoi nahiṃ bārā|| jo nirbighna paṃtha nirbahaī| so kaivalya parama pada lahaī|| ati durlabha kaivalya parama pada| saṃta purāna nigama āgama bada|| rāma bhajata soi mukuti gosāī| anaicchita āvai bariāī|| jimi thala binu jala rahi na sakāī| koṭi bhā~ti kou karai upāī|| tathā moccha sukha sunu khagarāī| rahi na sakai hari bhagati bihāī|| asa bicāri hari bhagata sayāne| mukti nirādara bhagati lubhāne|| bhagati karata binu jatana prayāsā| saṃsṛti mūla abidyā nāsā|| bhojana karia tṛpiti hita lāgī| jimi so asana pacavai jaṭharāgī|| asi haribhagati sugama sukhadāī| ko asa mūṛha na jāhi sohāī||

    Meaning

    'The way of knowledge is a sword's edge; one slips from it, king of birds, in no time at all. He who carries the road through without mishap gains the supreme state of absolute release. That highest state is very hard indeed to reach, as saints, Puranas, Vedas and Agamas all declare. Yet by worshipping Rama that same liberation, master, comes unasked and of its own force. As water cannot stay without ground to hold it, try a million ways though one may, so the joy of release, hear me, king of birds, cannot exist apart from devotion to Hari. Weighing this, the shrewd devotees of Hari pass liberation by and are drawn to devotion instead. In practising devotion, with no separate effort or strain, ignorance, the root of transmigration, is destroyed, just as a man eats for the sake of satisfaction and the fire of the belly digests the food for him besides. Such is devotion to Hari, easy and full of joy; who is such a fool that it does not please him?'

  120. Verse 120

    caupāī kaheu~ gyāna siddhāṃta bujhāī| sunahu bhagati mani kai prabhutāī|| rāma bhagati ciṃtāmani suṃdara| basai garuṛa jāke ura aṃtara|| parama prakāsa rūpa dina rātī| nahiṃ kachu cahia diā ghṛta bātī|| moha daridra nikaṭa nahiṃ āvā| lobha bāta nahiṃ tāhi bujhāvā|| prabala abidyā tama miṭi jāī| hārahiṃ sakala salabha samudāī|| khala kāmādi nikaṭa nahiṃ jāhīṃ| basai bhagati jāke ura māhīṃ|| garala sudhāsama ari hita hoī| tehi mani binu sukha pāva na koī|| byāpahiṃ mānasa roga na bhārī| jinha ke basa saba jīva dukhārī|| rāma bhagati mani ura basa jākeṃ| dukha lavalesa na sapanehu~ tākeṃ|| catura siromani tei jaga māhīṃ| je mani lāgi sujatana karāhīṃ|| so mani jadapi pragaṭa jaga ahaī| rāma kṛpā binu nahiṃ kou lahaī|| sugama upāya pāibe kere| nara hatabhāgya dehiṃ bhaṭamere|| pāvana parbata beda purānā| rāma kathā rucirākara nānā|| marmī sajjana sumati kudārī| gyāna birāga nayana uragārī|| bhāva sahita khojai jo prānī| pāva bhagati mani saba sukha khānī|| moreṃ mana prabhu asa bisvāsā| rāma te adhika rāma kara dāsā|| rāma siṃdhu ghana sajjana dhīrā| caṃdana taru hari saṃta samīrā|| saba kara phala hari bhagati suhāī| so binu saṃta na kāhū~ pāī|| asa bicāri joi kara satasaṃgā| rāma bhagati tehi sulabha bihaṃgā||

    Meaning

    'I have explained the settled doctrine of knowledge; now hear the greatness of the jewel of devotion. Devotion to Rama is a lovely wish-granting gem, Garuda, and in the heart where it lives there is supreme light by day and by night, with no need of lamp or ghee or wick. The beggary of delusion cannot come near it, the wind of greed cannot blow it out, the strong darkness of ignorance is wiped away, and the whole swarm of moths goes down defeated. Wicked lust and its fellows do not go near the man in whose heart devotion dwells. For him poison turns to nectar and an enemy becomes a friend; without that gem nobody finds happiness. The heavy diseases of the mind, under whose power all creatures suffer, do not afflict him; and in the man whose heart the gem of devotion to Rama abides in, not a trace of sorrow comes even in dreams. They are the crest-jewels of the clever in this world who take good pains to win that gem. Though the gem lies open in the world, no one lays hold of it without Rama's grace. The means of getting it are easy, yet luckless men let them slip away. The Vedas and the Puranas are the sacred mountain and Rama's story its many beautiful mines; the good man who knows the secret is the one who digs there, sound understanding is his pickaxe, and knowledge and dispassion are his eyes, O foe of serpents. The creature who searches with loving feeling finds the gem of devotion, the mine of every happiness. In my own mind, lord, this is my faith: greater than Rama is Rama's servant. Rama is the sea and the steadfast good man the cloud; Hari is the sandal tree and the saint the breeze. Devotion to Hari is the fair fruit of everything, and that no one has ever got without the saints. Weighing this, bird, whoever keeps the company of the good finds devotion to Rama easily come by.'

  121. Verse 121

    caupāī puni saprema boleu khagarāū| jauṃ kṛpāla mohi ūpara bhāū|| nātha mohi nija sevaka jānī| sapta prasna kahahu bakhānī|| prathamahiṃ kahahu nātha matidhīrā| saba te durlabha kavana sarīrā|| baṛa dukha kavana kavana sukha bhārī| sou saṃchepahiṃ kahahu bicārī|| saṃta asaṃta marama tumha jānahu| tinha kara sahaja subhāva bakhānahu|| kavana punya śruti bidita bisālā| kahahu kavana agha parama karālā|| mānasa roga kahahu samujhāī| tumha sarbagya kṛpā adhikāī|| tāta sunahu sādara ati prītī| maiṃ saṃchepa kahau~ yaha nītī|| nara tana sama nahiṃ kavaniu dehī| jīva carācara jācata tehī|| naraga svarga apabarga nisenī| gyāna birāga bhagati subha denī|| so tanu dhari hari bhajahiṃ na je nara| hohiṃ biṣaya rata maṃda maṃda tara|| kā~ca kirica badaleṃ te lehī| kara te ḍāri parasa mani dehīṃ|| nahiṃ daridra sama dukha jaga māhīṃ| saṃta milana sama sukha jaga nāhīṃ|| para upakāra bacana mana kāyā| saṃta sahaja subhāu khagarāyā|| saṃta sahahiṃ dukha parahita lāgī| paradukha hetu asaṃta abhāgī|| bhūrja tarū sama saṃta kṛpālā| parahita niti saha bipati bisālā|| sana iva khala para baṃdhana karaī| khāla kaṛhāi bipati sahi maraī|| khala binu svāratha para apakārī| ahi mūṣaka iva sunu uragārī|| para saṃpadā bināsi nasāhīṃ| jimi sasi hati hima upala bilāhīṃ|| duṣṭa udaya jaga ārati hetū| jathā prasiddha adhama graha ketū|| saṃta udaya saṃtata sukhakārī| bisva sukhada jimi iṃdu tamārī|| parama dharma śruti bidita ahiṃsā| para niṃdā sama agha na garīsā|| hara gura niṃdaka dādura hoī| janma sahastra pāva tana soī|| dvija niṃdaka bahu naraka bhoga kari| jaga janamai bāyasa sarīra dhari|| sura śruti niṃdaka je abhimānī| raurava naraka parahiṃ te prānī|| hohiṃ ulūka saṃta niṃdā rata| moha nisā priya gyāna bhānu gata|| saba ke niṃdā je jaṛa karahīṃ| te camagādura hoi avatarahīṃ|| sunahu tāta aba mānasa rogā| jinha te dukha pāvahiṃ saba logā|| moha sakala byādhinha kara mūlā| tinha te puni upajahiṃ bahu sūlā|| kāma bāta kapha lobha apārā| krodha pitta nita chātī jārā|| prīti karahiṃ jauṃ tīniu bhāī| upajai sanyapāta dukhadāī|| biṣaya manoratha durgama nānā| te saba sūla nāma ko jānā|| mamatā dādu kaṃḍu iraṣāī| haraṣa biṣāda garaha bahutāī|| para sukha dekhi jarani soi chaī| kuṣṭa duṣṭatā mana kuṭilaī|| ahaṃkāra ati dukhada ḍamaruā| daṃbha kapaṭa mada māna neharuā|| tṛsnā udarabṛddhi ati bhārī| tribidha īṣanā taruna tijārī|| juga bidhi jvara matsara abibekā| kaha~ lāgi kahauṃ kuroga anekā||

    Meaning

    Then the king of birds spoke once more with love: 'If you bear affection towards me, merciful one, then, lord, count me your own servant and answer seven questions for me in full. First tell me, master of steady wisdom, which body is the hardest of all to win. Which is the heaviest sorrow, and which the greatest happiness? Weigh them and tell me briefly. You know the inmost secret of the good and of the wicked; describe the natural bent of each. What is that great merit the Vedas proclaim, and what the most dreadful sin? And explain to me the diseases of the mind, for you are all-knowing and rich in compassion.' Bhushundi replied, 'Listen, dear one, with reverence and deep love; I shall state this wisdom in brief. No body is equal to the human body; every creature, moving or unmoving, begs for it. It is the ladder that leads to hell, to heaven or to final release, and it bestows the blessings of knowledge, dispassion and devotion. Those who take such a body and yet do not worship Hari, but stay glued to the objects of sense, are dull and duller still: they throw the touchstone from their hand and take splinters of glass in exchange. There is no sorrow in this world like want, and no happiness like meeting the good. To do good to others in thought, word and deed is the saints' own nature, O king of birds. Saints endure suffering for the welfare of others, while the wretched wicked make others suffer. The compassionate saint is like the birch tree, which bears great affliction always for another's good; the wicked man is like hemp, which is flayed of its skin and dies in torment only that it may serve to bind others. The wicked injure others without any gain to themselves, like the snake and the rat - hear this, enemy of serpents. They perish in the very act of destroying another's prosperity, as hailstones ruin the crops and then melt away. The rise of the wicked brings distress to the world, like the rise of that notoriously base planet Ketu; the rise of the good gives lasting joy, gladdening the world as the moon and the sun do. Non-injury is the supreme dharma known to the Vedas, and no sin is as heavy as speaking ill of others. He who reviles Shiva or his own preceptor becomes a frog and wears that body for a thousand births. He who reviles brahmanas suffers many hells and is then born on earth in a crow's body. Arrogant men who revile the gods and the Vedas fall into the Raurava hell. Those given to slandering saints become owls, in love with the night of delusion, the sun of knowledge set for them. And the dull-witted who slander everybody are born again as bats. Now hear, dear one, of the diseases of the mind, from which all people suffer. Delusion is the root of every ailment, and out of it spring many gripings. Lust is wind, boundless greed is phlegm, anger is bile that scorches the breast for ever; and if these three brothers make friends, there arises the painful fever of all three humours together. The countless hard cravings for sense-objects are so many colics - who can name them all? Possessiveness is ringworm, envy the itch, elation and dejection a crop of swellings in the throat. Burning at the sight of another's happiness is consumption; malice and crookedness of mind are leprosy. Egotism is the acutely painful damaru sore; hypocrisy, deceit, conceit and pride are the guinea-worm. Craving is a gross dropsy of the belly, and the three desires are a raging tertian fever. Jealousy and want of discrimination are two kinds of fever - how far shall I recount these many foul diseases?'

  122. Verse 122

    caupāī ehi bidhi sakala jīva jaga rogī| soka haraṣa bhaya prīti biyogī|| mānaka roga kachuka maiṃ gāe| hahiṃ saba keṃ lakhi biralenha pāe|| jāne te chījahiṃ kachu pāpī| nāsa na pāvahiṃ jana paritāpī|| biṣaya kupathya pāi aṃkure| munihu hṛdaya~ kā nara bāpure|| rāma kṛpā~ nāsahi saba rogā| jauṃ ehi bhā~ti banai saṃyogā|| sadagura baida bacana bisvāsā| saṃjama yaha na biṣaya kai āsā|| raghupati bhagati sajīvana mūrī| anūpāna śraddhā mati pūrī|| ehi bidhi bhalehiṃ so roga nasāhīṃ| nāhiṃ ta jatana koṭi nahiṃ jāhīṃ|| jānia taba mana biruja gosā~ī| jaba ura bala birāga adhikāī|| sumati chudhā bāṛhi nita naī| biṣaya āsa durbalatā gaī|| bimala gyāna jala jaba so nahāī| taba raha rāma bhagati ura chāī|| siva aja suka sanakādika nārada| je muni brahma bicāra bisārada|| saba kara mata khaganāyaka ehā| karia rāma pada paṃkaja nehā|| śruti purāna saba graṃtha kahāhīṃ| raghupati bhagati binā sukha nāhīṃ|| kamaṭha pīṭha jāmahiṃ baru bārā| baṃdhyā suta baru kāhuhi mārā|| phūlahiṃ nabha baru bahubidhi phūlā| jīva na laha sukha hari pratikūlā|| tṛṣā jāi baru mṛgajala pānā| baru jāmahiṃ sasa sīsa biṣānā|| aṃdhakāru baru rabihi nasāvai| rāma bimukha na jīva sukha pāvai|| hima te anala pragaṭa baru hoī| bimukha rāma sukha pāva na koī|| dohā/soraṭhā ubāri matheṃ ghṛta hoi baru sikatā te baru tela| binu hari bhajana na bhava taria yaha siddhāṃta apela||122(ka)|| masakahi karai biṃraṃci prabhu ajahi masaka te hīna| asa bicāri taji saṃsaya rāmahi bhajahiṃ prabīna||122(kha)|| śloka vinicśritaṃ vadāmi te na anyathā vacāṃsi me| hariṃ narā bhajanti ye'tidustaraṃ taranti te||122(ga)||

    Meaning

    In this way every creature in the world is sick, tormented by grief and elation, by fear, by attachment and by separation. I have sung of only a few of these mental diseases; all men carry them, but rare are those who detect them. Once recognized, these sinful ailments do wear thin, yet they are not destroyed and they go on tormenting a man; fed on the unwholesome diet of sense-objects they sprout again - and if this happens in the heart of sages, what of poor ordinary men? By Rama's grace all these diseases perish, if such a combination of remedies is brought together: a true preceptor for physician, faith in his words for medicine, and for regimen the giving up of all hope of sensual pleasure; devotion to Raghupati is the life-restoring herb, taken with the draught of faith and a sound mind. Thus and only thus do those diseases pass; otherwise a million contrivances will not remove them. Know the mind to be free of disease, master, when the strength of dispassion grows great in the breast, when the appetite of good sense increases freshly day by day and the weakness of craving for sense-objects has gone. When such a mind bathes in the clear water of knowledge, then devotion to Rama comes to rest and spread over the heart. Shiva, the unborn Brahma, Suka, Sanaka and his brothers, Narada, and all the sages skilled in the contemplation of Brahman - the verdict of them all, O king of birds, is this: cherish love for the lotus feet of Rama. The Vedas, the Puranas and every scripture declare that without devotion to Raghupati there is no happiness. Hair may sooner grow on a tortoise's back, a barren woman's son may sooner kill a man, flowers of every kind may sooner blossom in the empty sky, than a creature hostile to Hari find joy. Thirst may sooner be quenched by drinking the water of a mirage, horns may sooner sprout on a hare's head, darkness may sooner put out the sun, but the creature averse to Rama will never find happiness. Fire may sooner break out of ice, but no one turned away from Rama finds joy. Ghee may sooner be got by churning water, and oil pressed out of sand, but without worshipping Hari one cannot cross the sea of birth and death: this conclusion cannot be set aside. The Lord can make a mosquito into Brahma and make Brahma lower than a mosquito; reflecting on this, the wise cast off doubt and worship Rama. What I tell you is settled truth; my words are no otherwise: those men who worship Hari cross over that which is hardest to cross.

  123. Verse 123

    caupāī kaheu~ nātha hari carita anūpā| byāsa samāsa svamati anurupā|| śruti siddhāṃta ihai uragārī| rāma bhajia saba kāja bisārī|| prabhu raghupati taji seia kāhī| mohi se saṭha para mamatā jāhī|| tumha bigyānarūpa nahiṃ mohā| nātha kīnhi mo para ati chohā|| pūchihu~ rāma kathā ati pāvani| suka sanakādi saṃbhu mana bhāvani|| sata saṃgati durlabha saṃsārā| nimiṣa daṃḍa bhari ekau bārā|| dekhu garuṛa nija hṛdaya~ bicārī| maiṃ raghubīra bhajana adhikārī|| sakunādhama saba bhā~ti apāvana| prabhu mohi kīnha bidita jaga pāvana|| dohā/soraṭhā āju dhanya maiṃ dhanya ati jadyapi saba bidhi hīna| nija jana jāni rāma mohi saṃta samāgama dīna||123(ka)|| nātha jathāmati bhāṣeu~ rākheu~ nahiṃ kachu goi| carita siṃdhu raghunāyaka thāha ki pāvai koi||123||

    Meaning

    Bhushundi continued: 'I have told you, lord, the matchless deeds of Hari, here at length and there in brief, as my own understanding allowed. This is the settled conclusion of the Vedas, O enemy of serpents: leave every other business aside and worship Rama. Forsaking the Lord of Raghus, whom should one serve - he whose affection reaches even a fool like me? You are wisdom itself and delusion has no hold on you; it was out of great kindness towards me, my lord, that you asked for the wholly purifying story of Rama, the story that delights the minds of Suka, of Sanaka and his brothers, and of Shambhu. The company of the good is hard to come by in this world, even once, even for the space of a moment. Look into your own heart and consider, Garuda: am I fit to worship Raghubira? Lowest of birds, unclean in every way - and yet the Lord has made me known in the world as one who purifies. Worthless as I am in every respect, today I am blessed, most blessed, for Rama, counting me his own, has granted me the company of a saint. Lord, I have spoken as far as my wit went and have kept nothing hidden; but the deeds of the Lord of Raghus are an ocean - can anyone reach its bottom?'

  124. Verse 124

    caupāī sumiri rāma ke guna gana nānā| puni puni haraṣa bhusuṃḍi sujānā|| mahimā nigama neti kari gāī| atulita bala pratāpa prabhutāī|| siva aja pūjya carana raghurāī| mo para kṛpā parama mṛdulāī|| asa subhāu kahu~ sunau~ na dekhau~| kehi khagesa raghupati sama lekhau~|| sādhaka siddha bimukta udāsī| kabi kobida kṛtagya saṃnyāsī|| jogī sūra sutāpasa gyānī| dharma nirata paṃḍita bigyānī|| tarahiṃ na binu see~ mama svāmī| rāma namāmi namāmi namāmī|| sarana gae~ mo se agha rāsī| hohiṃ suddha namāmi abināsī||

    Meaning

    Calling to mind the many virtues of Rama, the wise Bhushundi rejoiced again and again. 'The Vedas sing his glory only by denial, saying not this, not this: his strength, his majesty and his lordship are beyond compare. The feet of the Lord of Raghus are worshipped by Shiva and by the unborn Brahma, and yet what grace, what utter tenderness he has shown to me! Nowhere do I hear of such a disposition, nowhere do I see it; whom, king of birds, shall I reckon Rama's equal? Aspirants and adepts, the liberated and the detached, poets and scholars, the grateful and those who have renounced, yogis, heroes, great penitents, the wise, men steadfast in dharma, learned pandits and men of realization - not one of them crosses over without serving my Master. To Rama I bow, and bow, and bow again. Heaps of sin such as I am are made pure by going to him for refuge: I bow to the imperishable one.'

  125. Verse 125

    caupāī mai kṛtkṛtya bhayau~ tava bānī| suni raghubīra bhagati rasa sānī|| rāma carana nūtana rati bhaī| māyā janita bipati saba gaī|| moha jaladhi bohita tumha bhae| mo kaha~ nātha bibidha sukha dae|| mo pahiṃ hoi na prati upakārā| baṃdau~ tava pada bārahiṃ bārā|| pūrana kāma rāma anurāgī| tumha sama tāta na kou baṛabhāgī|| saṃta biṭapa saritā giri dharanī| para hita hetu sabanha kai karanī|| saṃta hṛdaya navanīta samānā| kahā kabinha pari kahai na jānā|| nija paritāpa dravai navanītā| para dukha dravahiṃ saṃta supunītā|| jīvana janma suphala mama bhayaū| tava prasāda saṃsaya saba gayaū|| jānehu sadā mohi nija kiṃkara| puni puni umā kahai bihaṃgabara||

    Meaning

    Garuda said: 'Hearing your words, steeped in the nectar of devotion to Raghubira, I have gained all that there was to gain. A fresh love for Rama's feet has been born in me, and all the misery bred by maya has gone. You have been my ship on the ocean of delusion, lord, and have given me joys of many kinds. I can make no return for your kindness; I bow at your feet again and again. Your every wish is fulfilled and your heart is set on Rama; no one, dear sir, is as fortunate as you. Saints, trees, rivers, hills and the earth itself - the whole business of all of them is the good of others. Poets have called a saint's heart soft as butter, but in saying so they missed the mark: butter yields only when the heat is laid upon itself, while a truly holy heart dissolves at the pain of another. My life and my birth have borne fruit; by your favour every doubt has gone. Count me always your own servant.' So, Uma, said the best of birds, over and over.

  126. Verse 126

    caupāī kaheu~ parama punīta itihāsā| sunata śravana chūṭahiṃ bhava pāsā|| pranata kalpataru karunā puṃjā| upajai prīti rāma pada kaṃjā|| mana krama bacana janita agha jāī| sunahiṃ je kathā śravana mana lāī|| tīrthāṭana sādhana samudāī| joga birāga gyāna nipunāī|| nānā karma dharma brata dānā| saṃjama dama japa tapa makha nānā|| bhūta dayā dvija gura sevakāī| bidyā binaya bibeka baṛāī|| jaha~ lagi sādhana beda bakhānī| saba kara phala hari bhagati bhavānī|| so raghunātha bhagati śruti gāī| rāma kṛpā~ kāhū~ eka pāī||

    Meaning

    I have told you the most sacred of histories: at the very hearing of it the noose of worldly existence falls away, and love springs up for the lotus feet of Rama, the wishing-tree of all who bow to him, the very mass of compassion. For those who listen to this story with ear and mind given to it, the sins born of thought, word and deed depart. Pilgrimage to holy places and the whole array of spiritual practice, yoga, dispassion, proficiency in knowledge, the many rites and religious duties, vows and gifts, self-restraint and control of the senses, muttered prayer, austerity and sacrifices of every kind, kindness to living beings, service of brahmanas and of the guru, learning, humility and the excellence of discrimination - every discipline that the Vedas expound: the fruit of them all, Bhavani, is devotion to Hari. And that devotion to Raghunatha which the Vedas sing is won, by Rama's grace, only by some rare soul.

  127. Verse 127

    caupāī soi sarbagya gunī soi gyātā| soi mahi maṃḍita paṃḍita dātā|| dharma parāyana soi kula trātā| rāma carana jā kara mana rātā|| nīti nipuna soi parama sayānā| śruti siddhāṃta nīka tehiṃ jānā|| soi kabi kobida soi ranadhīrā| jo chala chāṛi bhajai raghubīrā|| dhanya desa so jaha~ surasarī| dhanya nāri patibrata anusarī|| dhanya so bhūpu nīti jo karaī| dhanya so dvija nija dharma na ṭaraī|| so dhana dhanya prathama gati jākī| dhanya punya rata mati soi pākī|| dhanya gharī soi jaba satasaṃgā| dhanya janma dvija bhagati abhaṃgā||

    Meaning

    He alone is all-knowing, he alone is gifted, he alone truly wise; he alone is the ornament of the earth, a scholar and a giver; he alone keeps to dharma and delivers his whole line — the man whose mind is dyed in Rama's feet. He alone is skilled in polity and supremely shrewd, and he alone has grasped the settled truth of the Vedas aright; he alone is poet and pandit, he alone steadfast in battle — the man who lays aside all guile and worships Raghubira. Blessed is the land through which the river of the gods runs; blessed the woman who keeps the vow of faithfulness to her husband. Blessed is the king who rules by justice; blessed the twice-born who never swerves from the duty that is his own. Blessed is that wealth which takes the first of the three courses open to it and is spent in giving; blessed that ripened understanding which delights in merit. Blessed is the hour that is spent in the company of the good, and blessed the birth that carries an unbroken devotion to the twice-born.

  128. Verse 128

    caupāī mati anurūpa kathā maiṃ bhāṣī| jadyapi prathama gupta kari rākhī|| tava mana prīti dekhi adhikāī| taba maiṃ raghupati kathā sunāī|| yaha na kahia saṭhahī haṭhasīlahi| jo mana lāi na suna hari līlahi|| kahia na lobhihi krodhahi kāmihi| jo na bhajai sacarācara svāmihi|| dvija drohihi na sunāia kabahū~| surapati sarisa hoi nṛpa jabahū~|| rāma kathā ke tei adhikārī| jinha keṃ satasaṃgati ati pyārī|| gura pada prīti nīti rata jeī| dvija sevaka adhikārī teī|| tā kaha~ yaha biseṣa sukhadāī| jāhi prānapriya śrīraghurāī||

    Meaning

    Shiva said: 'I have told the story as far as my understanding allowed, though at first I kept it hidden away. It was when I saw the love in your heart swelling that I recited Raghupati's tale. This is not to be told to a fool, nor to one set in his stubbornness, who will not listen with an attentive mind to Hari's play. Do not tell it to the greedy man, the wrathful or the lustful, who does not worship the Lord of all that moves and does not move. Never let it be heard by one who bears malice against the twice-born, though he be a king the equal of Indra. They alone have a right to Rama's story to whom the fellowship of the good is very dear. Those who love the guru's feet, who hold to right conduct and serve the twice-born — they are the fit ones. And it brings a special joy to the man for whom Sri Raghurai is dear as life itself.'

  129. Verse 129

    caupāī rāma kathā girijā maiṃ baranī| kali mala samani manomala haranī|| saṃsṛti roga sajīvana mūrī| rāma kathā gāvahiṃ śruti sūrī|| ehi maha~ rucira sapta sopānā| raghupati bhagati kera paṃthānā|| ati hari kṛpā jāhi para hoī| pāu~ dei ehiṃ māraga soī|| mana kāmanā siddhi nara pāvā| je yaha kathā kapaṭa taji gāvā|| kahahiṃ sunahiṃ anumodana karahīṃ| te gopada iva bhavanidhi tarahīṃ|| suni saba kathā hṛdaya~ ati bhāī| girijā bolī girā suhāī|| nātha kṛpā~ mama gata saṃdehā| rāma carana upajeu nava nehā||

    Meaning

    'Girija, I have set forth the story of Rama, which quenches the defilement of the Kali age and carries off the stain of the mind. For the sickness of worldly existence it is the life-restoring herb — so the Vedas and the wise sing of Rama's tale. Within it are seven lovely steps, the stairway of devotion to Raghupati, and the man on whom Hari's grace falls in abundance sets his foot upon this road. Whoever sings this story with guile put away wins the fulfilment of his heart's desire; and those who tell it, hear it and gladly assent to it cross the ocean of birth and death as easily as a puddle in a cow's hoof-print.' Hearing the whole story, her heart was greatly pleased, and Girija spoke in gracious words: 'Lord, by your grace my doubt is gone, and a fresh love for Rama's feet has sprung up in me.'

  130. Verse 130

    caupāī yaha subha saṃbhu umā saṃbādā| sukha saṃpādana samana biṣādā|| bhava bhaṃjana gaṃjana saṃdehā| jana raṃjana sajjana priya ehā|| rāma upāsaka je jaga māhīṃ| ehi sama priya tinha ke kachu nāhīṃ|| raghupati kṛpā~ jathāmati gāvā| maiṃ yaha pāvana carita suhāvā|| ehiṃ kalikāla na sādhana dūjā| joga jagya japa tapa brata pūjā|| rāmahi sumiria gāia rāmahi| saṃtata sunia rāma guna grāmahi|| jāsu patita pāvana baṛa bānā| gāvahiṃ kabi śruti saṃta purānā|| tāhi bhajahi mana taji kuṭilāī| rāma bhajeṃ gati kehiṃ nahiṃ pāī|| chaṃda pāī na kehiṃ gati patita pāvana rāma bhaji sunu saṭha manā| ganikā ajāmila byādha gīdha gajādi khala tāre ghanā|| ābhīra jamana kirāta khasa svapacādi ati agharūpa je| kahi nāma bāraka tepi pāvana hohiṃ rāma namāmi te||1|| raghubaṃsa bhūṣana carita yaha nara kahahiṃ sunahiṃ je gāvahīṃ| kali mala manomala dhoi binu śrama rāma dhāma sidhāvahīṃ|| sata paṃca caupāīṃ manohara jāni jo nara ura dharai| dāruna abidyā paṃca janita bikāra śrīraghubara harai||2|| suṃdara sujāna kṛpā nidhāna anātha para kara prīti jo| so eka rāma akāma hita nirbānaprada sama āna ko|| jākī kṛpā lavalesa te matimaṃda tulasīdāsahū~| pāyo parama biśrāmu rāma samāna prabhu nāhīṃ kahū~||3|| dohā/soraṭhā mo sama dīna na dīna hita tumha samāna raghubīra| asa bicāri raghubaṃsa mani harahu biṣama bhava bhīra||130(ka)|| kāmihi nāri piāri jimi lobhahi priya jimi dāma| timi raghunātha niraṃtara priya lāgahu mohi rāma||130(kha)|| śloka yatpūrvaṃ prabhuṇā kṛtaṃ sukavinā śrīśambhunā durgamaṃ śrèmadrāmapadābjabhaktimaniśama prāptyai tū rāmāyaṇaṃ| matvā tadraghunāthanāmaniratama svāntastama:śāntaye bhāṣābaddhmidama cakāra tulasīdāsastathā mānasaṃ||1|| puṇyaṃ pāpaharaṃ sadā śivakaraṃ vijñānābhāktipradama māyāmohamalāpahaṃ suvimalaṃ premāmbupūraṃ śubhama| śrèmadrāmacaritamānasamidama bhaktyāvagāhanti ye te sansārapatanagaghorakiranairdahyanti no mānavāḥ||2||

    Meaning

    This auspicious dialogue of Shambhu and Uma bestows happiness and puts an end to grief; it breaks the round of rebirth, crushes doubt, delights the devotee, and is dear to the good. For those in the world who worship Rama there is nothing so dear as this. By Raghupati's grace I have sung this pure and lovely story to the measure of my wit. In this age of Kali there is no other means — not yoga, not sacrifice, not muttered prayer, austerity, vow or ritual worship: remember Rama, sing of Rama, listen without ceasing to the host of Rama's virtues. His great and celebrated vow is to purify the fallen; so poets, the Vedas, saints and the Puranas sing of him. Worship him, O mind, laying crookedness aside — who has ever failed to reach the goal by worshipping Rama? Listen, foolish mind: who has not gained the goal by worshipping Rama, purifier of the fallen? The courtesan, Ajamila, the hunter, the vulture, the elephant and countless other wicked ones he has carried across. Abhiras, Yavanas, Kiratas, Khasas, eaters of dog's flesh and the rest, who are sin itself in bodily shape — even they are made clean by uttering that name a single time; to that Rama I bow. Those who tell, hear or sing this story of the ornament of the Raghu line wash off the defilement of Kali and the stain of their minds and pass without labour to Rama's abode. Whoever knowingly holds five or seven of these charming chaupais in his heart — from him Sri Raghubara takes away the dreadful disorders bred of the fivefold ignorance. Lovely, all-wise, a treasure-house of compassion, who gives his love to the helpless, a friend with no wish of his own and the giver of final release — such is Rama alone; who else is his equal? By the least trace of whose grace even dull-witted Tulsidas has found supreme rest — nowhere is there a lord like Rama. There is none so wretched as I, and no friend of the wretched like you, Raghubira; weigh this, O jewel of the Raghu line, and take away the cruel terror of worldly existence. As a woman is dear to the lustful and money to the greedy, so may you, Raghunatha, Rama, be unceasingly dear to me. That Ramayana which the Lord Shambhu, the great poet, composed of old — a work hard of access, made for the winning of unbroken devotion to the lotus-feet of the blessed Rama — this Tulsidas, holding it wholly given over to Raghunatha's name, has set down in the common tongue as the Manasa, to still the darkness within his own heart. Holy, sin-removing, ever conferring blessing, granting wisdom and devotion, washing away the stain of illusion and delusion, wholly clear, a flood of the water of love, auspicious — those who bathe with devotion in this Ramacharitamanasa are never scorched by the terrible rays of the sun of worldly existence.

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