The Ramcharitmanas 2

by Tulsidas

  He whose name, remembered once,

  Takes men across the boundless ocean of this existence,

  And for whose three strides the universe was too small—16

  That same merciful Lord obliged a boatman.

  Gazing upon the Lord’s toenails, the divine river rejoiced,

  For his words had confused and bewildered her.17

  The boatman, having received Ram’s royal permission,

  Brought a wooden basin full of water.

  With great joy and his heart brimming with love,

  He began to wash Ram’s lotus feet.

  The gods, raining flowers upon him, were all envious and declared,

  ‘There is none so full of merit as him!’

  Washing Ram’s feet, he drank of that water,

  Together with his family,

  Thus ferrying the souls of his ancestors across the ocean of rebirth to salvation.

  He then joyfully took the Lord across.

  (101)

  Disembarking, they stood upon the sands of the sacred river,

  Sita and Ram, with Guha and Lakshman.

  The boatman stepped out of his boat and prostrated himself in homage,

  And the Lord felt embarrassed that he had given him nothing.

  Sita, who knew her beloved’s heart,

  Gladly removed her jewelled ring,

  And the compassionate Lord said, ‘Take your fare for ferrying us across.’

  But the boatman clasped his feet in distress,

  ‘Lord, what have I not already received today?

  The fires of sin, sorrow and poverty have been extinguished.

  I have laboured for my living a long time,

  And today God has given me a good and abundant wage in return.

  Now I want for nothing, master,

  By your grace, merciful Lord.

  But at the time of your return, I will accept,

  Whatever you give, and cherish that gift with all my heart.’

  The Lord, Lakshman and Sita tried their best to persuade him,

  But the boatman would take nothing.

  So the abode of mercy dismissed him,

  Bestowing upon him the boon of pure, unblemished devotion.

  (102)

  Then the lord of the Raghu dynasty bathed in the river,

  And bowing his head, worshipped a shivaling made of clay.

  Sita, with folded hands, said to the divine river,

  ‘Mother, fulfil my heart’s desire,

  That with my husband and his younger brother, I may return safe and well

  To worship you again.’

  Hearing Sita’s prayer steeped in love,

  A gracious voice came from the clear water.

  ‘Listen, Vaidehi, Raghubir’s beloved,

  Who in creation knows not your power and glory?

  Those at whom you merely glance become rulers of the celestial quarters,

  And all the mystic powers wait upon you with folded hands.

  By entreating me so humbly,

  You have bestowed your grace upon me and exalted me.

  Even so, divine goddess, I will give you my blessing,

  To make true my own words.

  With the lord of your life and his younger brother,

  You will come back safe and well to Koshal.

  All your heart’s desires will be accomplished,

  And your fair renown will spread throughout the world.’

  (103)

  Hearing Ganga’s words, source of joy and well-being,

  And finding the sacred river so well-disposed towards her, Sita rejoiced.

  Then the Lord said to Guha, ‘Return home.’

  Hearing this, Guha’s face grew pale, and burning anguish arose in his heart;

  With folded hands, he spoke in sad and pleading tones,

  ‘Listen to my prayer, jewel of the Raghu line—

  Let me stay with you, Lord, to show you the road,

  And for a few days, to serve at your feet.

  In whichever forest, Raghurai, you may make your home,

  I will build you a beautiful hut of leaves,

  And after that, whatever you command me,

  I swear by you, Raghubir, I will do.’

  Ram, seeing his simple love,

  Agreed to take him along. Guha rejoiced in his heart,

  And calling together all his kinsmen,

  Reassured them, and took his leave of them.

  Invoking Ganpati and Shiv,

  The Lord bowed his head to the sacred river.

  Then, with his friend, his younger brother and Sita,

  Raghunath proceeded towards the forest.

  (104)

  That day they halted beneath a tree,

  And Lakshman and Guha made all arrangements for their rest.

  At dawn, Raghurai performed all the morning rites,

  And went to visit Prayag, the king of pilgrimage sites.

  This king’s minister is truth, piety his beloved wife,

  And Madhav his dear friend and well-wisher.

  His storehouse is filled with the four rewards of life,

  And that pure and sacred realm is his beautiful kingdom.

  His land is an unassailable, strong and handsome fort

  That enemies cannot conquer even in dream.

  All pilgrimage sites are his army of chosen and valiant warriors,

  Steadfast in battle, crushing the forces of sin.

  The confluence of the rivers is his magnificent throne,

  His umbrella the imperishable banyan tree that charms the hearts of sages.

  His fly whisks are the waves of the Jamuna and the Ganga—

  Merely looking upon them destroys sorrow and poverty.

  Pure and pious sadhus wait upon him,

  And attain all that their hearts desire.

  The Vedas and the Puranas are his host of bards,

  Who sing of his clear and stainless virtues.

  (105)

  But who can relate the power and glory of Prayag,

  A lion against the elephant herd of accumulated sin?

  On beholding this glorious lord of pilgrimage sites,

  The ocean of bliss, Raghubar, himself attained bliss,

  And recounted to Sita, Lakshman and his friend,

  With his own lovely lips, the greatness of this king of holy sites.

  Making obeisance to the holy site, gazing at its groves and gardens,

  And praising its grandeur with deep devotion,

  He came and beheld the triveni,

  Merely remembering which confers all happiness and well-being.

  Bathing in it with deep joy, he worshipped Shiv,

  And propitiated the gods of the sacred site according to custom.

  Then came the Lord to Bharadvaj,

  And, as he prostrated himself before him, the muni clasped him to his breast.

  The joy in the muni’s heart was beyond description,

  As though he had found a treasury of ultimate bliss.

  The king of sages blessed him

  With great joy in his heart, knowing that it was

  As though God, by bringing before him Ram, Lakshman and Sita,

  Had made visible to his eyes the reward of all his good deeds.

  (106)

  Asking after their well-being, he seated them,

  Pleasing them with loving homage.

  The muni then brought and offered them

  Sweet tubers, roots, fruits and sprouts as delicious as amrit.

  With Sita, Lakshman and his devoted friend,

  Ram ate with great pleasure those roots and fruits.

  His fatigue disappeared and Ram relaxed, content.

  Then Bharadvaj addressed him in sweet words.

  ‘Today, my penance, pilgrimages and renunciation have borne fruit,

  Today, my worship, yogic meditation and detachment have been rewarded.

  All my spiritual practices have been successful

  By
looking upon you, Ram, today!

  There is no gain beyond, no happiness greater than this—

  Seeing you, all my desires are fulfilled.

  Now by your favour grant me the boon

  Of spontaneous love for your lotus feet.

  Till the time a man does not become your devotee,

  Abandoning deceit in act, speech and thought,

  He cannot find happiness even in his dreams,

  Not even by resorting to a crore of contrivances.’

  (107)

  Though joyfully satisfied and content by his devotion,

  Ram grew embarrassed hearing the muni’s words.

  Then Raghubar related to all who were there,

  The muni’s glorious renown, in countless ways.

  ‘Exalted is he, and in him reside all virtues,

  Whom you choose to honour, lord of sages.’

  The muni and Raghubir thus honoured each other,

  And experienced inexpressible joy.

  When they heard this news, the residents of Prayag—

  Young students, ascetics, sages, siddhas, hermits who had renounced the world—

  All flocked to Bharadvaj’s ashram

  To see Dasharath’s handsome sons.

  Ram reverently greeted them all,

  And they rejoiced to receive their eyes’ reward.

  Supremely glad, they gave their blessings,

  And returned home, praising his beauty.

  Ram rested there for the night,

  And at dawn, after bathing in the sacred confluence,

  He set out with Sita, Lakshman and his devoted friend,

  Bowing his head to the muni with joy.

  (108)

  Ram affectionately said to the muni,

  ‘Master, tell us, which path should we take?’

  The muni smiled to himself and said to Ram,

  ‘All paths are easy for you.’

  Then he called for his disciples to go with them,

  And hearing his summons, fifty or more came rejoicing.

  All of them had boundless love for Ram,

  And all declared, ‘We know the way!’

  The muni picked four students—

  Who had, throughout many births, performed every virtuous act—

  To accompany them.

  Then, bowing to the rishi, and receiving his permission,

  Raghurai set forth with a happy heart.

  Whenever they passed by a village,

  The women and men rushed out to look at them.

  Finding their protector, and so receiving the fruit of their birth,

  They returned home, sad, sending their hearts with him.

  Ram courteously dismissed the students,

  Who turned back, having attained their heart’s desire.

  After crossing the Jamuna, he bathed in its waters,

  Dark like his own body.

  (109)

  Hearing of his arrival, the men and women who lived along the riverbank,

  Came rushing, abandoning whatever they were doing.

  Beholding Lakshman, Ram and Sita’s beauty,

  They praised their own good fortune.

  Though in their hearts they yearned to know,

  They hesitated to ask their names and village.

  But those amongst them who were old and wise,

  Were able to deduce Ram’s identity.

  They related to all the others the whole story

  Of his going to the forest at his father’s command.

  They heard this with deep sorrow, and all sadly lamented,

  ‘The queen and king have not done right!’

  At that very moment, an ascetic arrived,

  Fiery, handsome and young in years,

  A poet unknown, in hermit’s guise,

  And in thought, act and word, utterly devoted to Ram.18

  His eyes full of tears, and his body trembling with love,

  He recognized his own chosen Lord,

  And fell prostate like a stick upon the ground—

  His state was beyond description.

  (110)

  Ram, delighted and full of love, clasped him to his heart,

  As ecstatic as a pauper who has found the philosopher’s stone.

  ‘It is as though love and supreme truth have both

  Taken form and are embracing each other!’ said everyone.

  Then he threw himself at Lakshman’s feet,

  Who, too, raised him up, brimming with love.

  The ascetic then placed the dust of Sita’s feet upon his head,

  And the mother, considering him her child, blessed him.

  The Nishad prostrated himself before the ascetic,

  Who embraced him joyfully, knowing him to be dear to Ram.

  With the cups of his eyes, he drank the nectar of Ram’s beauty,

  As delighted as a starving man who finds a delicious meal.

  ‘Tell me, my dear, what sort of father and mother are they,

  Who have sent such children to the forest?’ asked the women of each other.

  Seeing the beauty of Ram, Lakshman and Sita,

  The men and women grew agitated with love.

  Then Raghubir, in many ways,

  Urged his friend to return.

  In obedience to Ram’s royal command,

  Guha turned back towards home.

  (111)

  Then, with folded hands, Sita, Ram and Lakshman

  Paid homage to the Jamuna once more,

  And, accompanied by Sita, the two brothers set forth, rejoicing,

  Praising the daughter of the Sun.v

  They met many travellers along the road,

  Who, seeing the two brothers, affectionately said,

  ‘The marks of royalty are on your every limb—

  Seeing this, there is great anxiety in our hearts.

  You travel along the road on foot,

  So that it seems to us that astrology must be false.

  This road is difficult, with mountains and dense forests,

  Moreover, you have a young woman with you.

  Full of elephants and lions, the forest is too dreadful to contemplate.

  But if you permit us, we will escort you,

  Take you where you wish to go,

  And then, bowing our heads to you, return.’

  In this manner they begged to help, overcome with love,

  Their bodies trembling, their eyes full of tears.

  But the ocean of compassion sent them away

  With soft and courteous words.

  (112)

  The cities of the Nagas and the gods envied

  The towns and villages that lay along their road—

  ‘Which virtuous man, in what auspicious hour, settled them,

  That they are so blessed, full of virtue and supremely beautiful?’

  Even Amaravati could not compare to the places

  Where Ram’s feet trod.

  And those living near his path were storehouses of virtue,

  Praised even by the inhabitants of heaven,

  For they could gaze upon Ram, filling their eyes with him,

  Dark as a storm cloud, with Sita and Lakshman.

  The lakes and rivers of the gods envied

  The ponds and streams where Ram bathed.

  And the celestial Kalpataru praised

  Any tree under which the Lord sat down.

  Touching the dust of Ram’s lotus feet,

  Earth considered herself most fortunate.

  The clouds gave him shade, and the multitude of gods

  Rained down flowers upon him and praised him,

  As, gazing at mountains, forests, birds and beasts

  Ram continued along that road.

  (113)

  Whenever Raghurai, with Sita and Lakshman,

  Passed near a village,

  Hearing of his arrival, old and young, men and women,

  All came at once, abandoning household chores.

  Seeing the
beauty of Ram, Lakshman and Sita,

  They received their eyes’ reward and were happy.

  Their eyes full of tears, their bodies trembling with joy,

  All were enraptured upon seeing the two heroes.

  Their state cannot be described—

  It was like those of paupers who find a pile of wish-fulfilling jewels.

  Calling out, they advised each other,

  ‘Take, this very moment, your eyes’ reward.’

  Some, seeing Ram, became so enamoured

  That they followed him, gazing.

  Others, through the path of their eyes, drawing his radiant beauty into their hearts,

  Became still in body, mind and speech.

  Some, seeing the cool shade of a banyan,

  Spread soft grass and leaves

  And said, ‘Rest here for a moment, let your fatigue disappear,

  Then move on—now, or at dawn.’

  (114)

  Some brought pitchers filled with water,

  And softly said, ‘Sip a little, Lord.’

  Hearing their affectionate words, seeing their great love,

  Ram, compassionate and exceedingly good-natured,

  And knowing that Sita was tired,

  Rested for a while in the banyan’s shade.

  Delighted, the men and women gazed upon his shining beauty,

  Their eyes and hearts captivated by his incomparable form.

  Radiant in their rapture, they gazed unblinking from every side,

  Like chakors at the moon of Ramchandra’s face.

  His comely body was as dark as a young tamal tree—

  A mere look enchants the hearts of countless Kamdevs.

  Lakshman, bright as lightning, handsome

  From head to toe, looked most charming, delighting the heart.

  Clad in ascetic garb, with quivers tightly fastened at their waists,

  Bows and arrows resplendent in their lotus hands,

  Crowns of matted locks upon their shapely heads,

  They had broad chests, long arms and large eyes,

  And upon their lovely faces, bright as the full moon of autumn,

  Glittered tiny drops of perspiration.

  (115)

  That heart-enchanting pair surpasses description,

  For their beauty is great and my intellect small.

  All gazed at the beauty of Ram, Lakshman and Sita,

  Completely absorbed, souls, hearts and minds.