The Ramcharitmanas 1

by Tulsidas

  It continued on its way with song and dance and spectacle.

  Meanwhile, Himachal had had a canopy erected,

  So extraordinary and wonderful that it defied description.

  All the hills and mountains, wherever they were in the world,

  Whether small or tall, more than can be counted or described,

  The forests, the seas, and all the rivers and lakes—

  Himgiri had invited them all.

  They, who could take any shape at will, assumed handsome and pleasing forms,

  And with their attendants, and accompanied by beautiful women,

  They went, all of them, to the home of the lord of the snowy mountains,

  Singing with love, songs of celebration and good fortune.

  Himachal had readied many houses,

  In which the guests were lodged most appropriately.

  Looking at the beauty of the city,

  Viranchi’s skill seemed trivial.

  Vidhi’s skill seemed trifling,

  Upon looking at the splendour of the city

  With forests, gardens, wells, ponds and rivers,

  All so lovely that none can describe their beauty.

  Gateways were festooned with festive flowers, while innumerable flags,

  Pennants and bunting adorned each and every home,

  And the men and women of the city were so handsome and accomplished

  That even munis were enraptured by them.

  How can one describe

  The city where Jagadamba had descended to earth?

  Prosperity, affluence, wealth and happiness

  Increased each and every day there.

  (94)

  As the wedding procession neared the city,

  There was a happy bustle in the town that increased its glory.

  Ornamenting and decorating their various chariots,

  A welcoming party set off to receive the wedding procession and usher it in with due honour.

  They rejoiced to see the assembly of gods,

  And looking upon Hari they rejoiced even more.

  But when they saw Shiv’s retinue,

  Their steeds took fright and bolted.

  Holding fast their courage, the men remained,

  But the children all ran for their lives.

  When they reached home, their parents questioned them,

  And trembling with fear, they replied—

  ‘What can we say? We can’t explain

  Is this a wedding procession or Death’s51 army?

  The bridegroom is a madman and is mounted upon a bull,

  And snakes, skulls and ashes are his ornaments!

  Ash-smeared body, snakes and skulls for ornaments,

  Naked, with matted hair, he is terrifying to behold!

  With him are ghouls and ghosts, goblins and witches,

  And crooked-faced demons that wander in the night!

  He who remains alive after seeing this wedding procession

  Is a man of great good fortune indeed—

  Let him watch Uma’s wedding!’

  So the boys cried from house to house.

  Knowing that this was Mahesh’s entourage,

  Their mothers and fathers smiled,

  And explained to their children in various ways,

  ‘Be brave, do not be afraid!’

  (95)

  Those who had gone to receive the wedding procession escorted them into the city

  And led them to the gracious dwellings arranged for them.

  Maina prepared the auspicious arti

  As the women sang songs of felicity and joy.

  A golden platter gracing her lovely hands,

  She set off joyfully to welcome Har.

  But when the women saw Rudra’s odd and frightening attire,

  Great fear arose in their hearts.

  They ran into the house, terrified,

  While Mahesh continued to the lodgings prepared for him.

  A great sorrow arose in Maina’s heart.

  She sent for the daughter of the mountain king,

  And with deep love, took her upon her lap.

  The dark lotuses of her eyes filled with tears,

  ‘The Creator has given you such beauty and grace

  So how could the fool make your bridegroom a madman?

  How could Vidhi make your bridegroom a madman,

  He who has given you such beauty?

  The fruit that should grow on the tree of the gods

  Is being forced to grow on a thorn bush!

  Taking you with me, I will throw myself from a mountain top,

  Leap into a fire, or jump into the sea.

  Even if my home is ruined, and disgrace and infamy be our lot in the world,

  As long as I live, I will not allow this wedding!

  The women grew troubled

  Seeing the wife of the mountain so sad—

  Calling upon her love for her daughter,

  She lamented and wept.

  (96)

  ‘What harm have I ever done Narad,

  That he should have so destroyed my happy family,

  And given Uma the advice that he did

  To do penance for a lunatic husband?

  In truth, he feels neither love nor compassion.

  Indifferent to this world, he has neither friend nor foe, nor any possessions, nor a home, nor a wife,

  He knows only to destroy the homes of others, and has neither shame nor fear.

  After all, how can a barren woman know the pain of labour?’

  Bhavani, seeing her mother distraught,

  Said to her words both wise and sweet,

  ‘Do not be troubled, Mother, by such thoughts,

  That which destiny has ordained cannot be avoided.

  If a lunatic husband is written in my fate

  Why blame anyone?

  Can you erase the writing of destiny?

  Mother, do not uselessly open yourself to shame.

  Do not take shame upon yourself, mother,

  This is not the time for tears or blame.

  I will find the grief or joy written upon my forehead

  Wherever I go.’

  Listening to Uma’s soft and gentle words

  The women all began to muse and reflect;

  In diverse ways they blamed the Creator,

  As tears flowed from their eyes.

  At that very moment, accompanied by Narad

  And the Saptarishi,

  Hearing what had happened, Tuhingirilii

  Quickly entered the house.

  (97)

  Then Narad reassured them all

  By relating to them the stories and circumstances of previous lives.

  ‘Maina, listen to my words, they are the truth,

  Your daughter is Bhavani, the mother of the world, Jagadamba herself.

  She is Shakti, the unbegotten, uncreated, indestructible energy of the Universe,

  Who resides always in half of Shambhu’s body,

  Makes this world possible, nurtures it and dissolves it,

  And takes bodily form of her own will and volition.

  She was born first in Daksh’s house—

  Her name was Sati, and she was beautiful.

  In that birth too, Sati married Shankar—

  The story is famous throughout the world.

  Once, as she was walking along with Shiv,

  She saw the sun of the lotus clan of Raghu.

  Perplexed at the sight, she did not do as Shiv said,

  And swayed by doubt, assumed the form of Sita.

  Sati, who took on Sita’s form,

  Was abandoned by Shankar for that offence.

  In her grief at being parted from Har, she went to her father’s fire-sacrifice,

  And there, in yogic fire, she immolated herself.

  Now she has been reborn in your house,

  And, for her husband’s sake, has done great penance.

  Abandon all doubt, knowing that


  Girija is forever Shankar’s beloved.’

  Upon hearing Narad’s words,

  Everyone’s grief melted away.

  In a moment this news spread,

  From house to house across the town.

  (98)

  Then Maina and Himvant rejoiced,

  And did homage again and again at Parvati’s feet.

  Men, women, children, the old and the youthful—

  All the townspeople were overjoyed.

  All across the city, songs of happiness began to be sung

  And festive pitchers of gold were put out.

  Many kinds of food were prepared

  In accordance with the rules of cooking.

  Beyond description was the feast

  Served in the palace of Bhavani, the mother of the universe.

  All the guests in the bridegroom’s wedding party—Vishnu, Viranchi and all the many gods—

  Were invited with respect and courtesy.

  They sat down in several rows to eat,

  And the accomplished cooks began to serve them.

  The women, learning that the gods had sat down to feast,

  Began to mock and tease in sweet tones.52

  In sweet voices, the lovely women teased and taunted,

  And sang charming songs full of mocking satire.

  The gods, delighted with the entertaining chatter,

  Took a long time over their meal.

  Even ten million tongues cannot describe

  The joy and merriment during the feast.

  The meal done, the gods rinsed their mouths and were served paan;

  They then made their way to where they had been lodged.

  Soon the munis came to Himvant,

  And proclaimed the hour of the wedding;

  Seeing that it was time,

  He sent for the gods.

  (99)

  He summoned the gods with great respect,

  And seated them with honour on seats appropriate to their station.

  The vedi was made ready as prescribed in the Vedas

  The women sang songs of blessing and joy.

  Upon a throne of divine splendour,

  Of indescribable magnificence, wrought by Viranchi himself,

  Shiv seated himself, bowing his head to the Brahmans,

  And remembering his own Lord Raghurai in his heart.

  The munis then sent for Uma—

  Her friends led her in, adorned as a bride.

  Gazing upon her beauty, all the gods were enraptured—

  What poet in the world could describe such loveliness?

  Knowing her to be Jagadambika and the Lord’s beloved,

  The gods silently paid her homage.

  The culmination of beauty, Bhavani

  Cannot be described even by ten million tongues.

  Ten million tongues cannot describe

  The great beauty of the mother of the universe.

  Even the Vedas, Shesh and Sharada hesitate to describe her,

  So how can the dimwitted Tulsi even presume to do so?

  A mine of beauty, goddess Bhavani

  Walked to the centre of the wedding pavilion where sat Shiv—

  In shyness she could not look at her husband,

  But the bee that was her heart flew to his lotus feet.

  Directed by the munis

  Shambhu and Bhavani worshipped Ganpati.liii

  If anyone, hearing this, wonders at it,

  Know that the gods are uncreated, unborn and exist without beginning.

  (100)

  The priests performed all

  The wedding rites as laid down in the Vedas.

  Holding the kush grass, Girish took his daughter’s hand

  And knowing her to be Bhavani, entrusted her to Bhav.

  When Mahesh took her hand,

  The gods all rejoiced in their hearts.

  The priests chanted the mantras from the Vedas,

  And ‘Hail be to Shankar!’ cried the gods.

  Musical instruments of diverse kinds began to play,

  Flowers of all hues rained down from the sky.

  The wedding of Har and Girija was accomplished,

  The universe was filled with joy.

  Attendants and handmaidens, horses, chariots and elephants,

  Cows, costly garments, precious gems and various other articles,

  And wagons filled with grain and golden vessels

  Were given as her wedding portion, which could not be described.

  A magnificent dowry was given.

  Himbhudhar,liv folding his hands, said,

  ‘What can I give you, Shankar, you who have no need or any desire?’

  And he clasped his lotus feet.

  Shiv, ocean of compassion, reassured his father-in-law

  In many ways.

  Then Maina, filled with love,

  Clasped his lotus feet and said,

  ‘Lord, Uma is my life breath.

  Take her to be your bondswoman

  And forgive her all her faults—

  Grant me your favour and give me this boon.’

  (101)

  Shambhu comforted his mother-in-law in diverse ways,

  And she bowed her head at his feet and returned home.

  She then called Uma,

  And taking her upon her lap, offered her sage advice:

  ‘Always worship Shankar’s feet—

  This is a woman’s dharma, for her there is no other god but her husband.’

  Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke

  And once more she clasped her daughter to her breast.

  ‘Why did Vidhi create woman in this world?

  Always dependent, she cannot even dream of happiness.’

  The mother was distraught with love,

  But held herself in check, knowing it was not an appropriate moment for tears.

  Again and again she took her in her arms, or fell at her feet—

  With love so deep that it cannot be described.

  Together the women all embraced Bhavani,

  Who clung once more to her mother.

  She embraced her mother once more and left,

  As the women showered her with blessings.

  She turned back again and again to look at her mother

  Till at last, her friends led her to Shiv.

  Shankar fulfilled every petitioner’s plea,

  Then set off for his abode with Uma.

  The immortals all rejoiced and rained down flowers upon the newly-weds,

  While the beat of joyous drums filled the air.

  Himvant accompanied them

  With great love to see them on their way—

  Till, reassuring him in many ways,

  Brishketu bade him farewell.

  (102)

  The mountain king returned home at once,

  And summoned all the mountains and lakes.

  With great respect and courtesy, and honouring them with gifts,

  Himvant bid them all farewell.

  When Shambhu reached Kailash,

  The gods all left for their various realms.

  Shambhu and Bhavani are the father and mother of the universe,

  Therefore, I will not describe their passionate love.

  But they indulged in all kinds of amorous pleasures,

  And along with their attendants, settled down in Kailash.

  Har and Girija engaged in some new dalliance every day,

  And in this way, many ages passed.

  Then was born the six-bodied Kumar,

  The one who killed the asur Tarak in battle.

  The story of Shanmukh’slv birth is in the Vedas, the Shastras and the Puranas,

  It is famous and the whole world knows it.

  The world knows of Shanmukh’s birth,

  His deeds, his glory and his great valour—

  For that reason I have only briefly related

  The story of Brishketu’s son.

  The men and women who will sin
g or relate

  This tale of Uma and Shambhu’s wedding,

  Will always find success and happiness,

  In any auspicious undertaking or marriage.

  The deeds of Girija’s beloved are an ocean

  Of which even the Vedas cannot find the shore;

  Then how can Tulsidas describe them,

  Slow-witted bumpkin that he is?

  (103)

  Hearing this charming and delightful narrative of Shambhu’s exploits,

  Muni Bharadvaj was filled with great joy.

  His longing to hear Ram’s story increased enormously,

  His eyes filled with tears and his body trembled with rapture.

  Overcome with love, he could find no words.

  Seeing his state, the wise Muni Jagbalik rejoiced,

  ‘Thy birth is blest, O muni,

  That dear to you as life itself is Gauri’s lord.

  Even in his dreams Ram does not like

  Those who have no love for the lotus feet of Shiv.

  Sincere love for the feet of Vishvanath, lord of the universe,

  Is the indication of true devotion to Ram.

  Who but Shiv is as devoted to Raghupati

  That he could give up a sinless woman like Sati,

  And fulfilling his promise, showed his devotion to Raghupati?

  Who, my friend, is as beloved of Ram as Shiv?

  By relating first the story of Shiv’s exploits,

  I have understood your heart—

  You are a true servant of Ram,

  Steadfast and free of all sins.

  (104)

  I have understood your character and your disposition

  So now listen as I relate the story of Raghupati.

  And listen, muni, I cannot express the happiness in my heart,

  At this meeting with you today.

  The deeds of Ram are immeasurable, great muni,

  So that even a hundred crore serpent-kings cannot relate them all.

  Yet I will relate his story as I have heard it,

  Invoking Ram armed with a bow, who is also the master of the goddess of speech.

  Sharada is like a wooden puppet, while Ram,

  Who knows the inner hearts of all, is the puppet-master holding her strings.

  The poet to whom he shows his grace, knowing him to be his devotee—

  In the courtyard of that poet’s heart he makes Vani dance.

  I do obeisance to him, the compassionate and merciful Lord, Raghunath,