The Ramcharitmanas 2

by Tulsidas

  The men and women, thirsty for love, were as still

  As stags and does transfixed by lamplight.

  The village women approached Sita,

  Full of love, but too shy to ask questions.

  Again and again they touched her feet,

  And spoke words that were simple and sweet.

  ‘Princess, we have a question,

  But our womanly natures make us afraid to ask.

  Forgive our rudeness, mistress,

  And do not take offence, knowing we are but village women.

  But these two young princes, so naturally handsome

  That emerald and gold must draw their brilliance from them,

  One dark, the other fair-complexioned, both young and comely,

  Abodes of charm and beauty,

  With faces as radiant as the autumn moon,

  And eyes like autumn lotuses,

  (116)

  Who put to shame countless gods of love—

  Tell us, beautiful lady—who are they to you?’

  Hearing their soft and loving words,

  Sita felt embarrassed and smiled to herself.

  Glancing at them, and then at the ground,

  Fair-complexioned Sita shrank with a twofold diffidence.

  Shyly and lovingly, the fawn-eyed princess,

  Replied in a voice as sweet as a kokil’s.

  ‘That one, easy in manner, handsome and fair-bodied—

  His name is Lakshman, he is my young brother-in-law.’

  Then, covering the radiant moon of her face with the end of her sari,

  And arching her eyebrows, she glanced towards her beloved.

  With a sidelong look of her lovely eyes, as quick as a wagtail,

  Sita indicated to them that he was her husband.

  The village women all became as joyful

  As paupers who have looted a king’s pile of riches.

  With great love they fell at Sita’s feet,

  And gave her countless blessings.

  ‘May your wedded life last as long

  As earth rests upon Shesh the serpent’s hood,

  (117)

  And may you be, like Parvati, forever your lord’s beloved.

  Divine lady, never take away your love from us.

  Again and again, we beseech you with folded hands,

  If you return by this same road,

  Let us look upon you, knowing us to be your servants.’

  Sita saw that they were all thirsty for love,

  And reassured them again and again with sweet words,

  Like moonlight nourishes water-lilies.

  Then Lakshman, perceiving Raghubar’s wish,

  Sweetly asked the people the road they should take.

  As soon as they heard this, the men and women grew sad,

  Their limbs trembled, and their eyes filled with tears.

  Their joy disappeared, and their hearts grew heavy,

  As though providence had given them a treasure only to snatch it back.

  But, accepting it as the ways of fate, they composed themselves,

  And deciding upon the easiest road, explained it to them.

  Then, with Lakshman and Janaki,

  Raghunath proceeded on his way,

  Sending the people back with loving words,

  But taking their hearts with him.

  (118)

  The men and women turned back, lamenting,

  And blaming destiny in their hearts.

  With great sorrow they said to each other,

  ‘Perverse are the ways of the Creator,

  Utterly uncontrolled, cruel and remorseless.

  It is he who made the moon sickly and stained,

  The Kalpataru a mere tree and the ocean salt,

  And it is he who has sent these young princes to the forest!

  If he has given them exile in the forest,

  The Creator made luxury and pleasure in vain.

  If they must wander the road without shoes,

  In vain did he create all sorts of vehicles.

  If they must lie on the ground, spreading kush grass and leaves,

  Why did he fashion comfortable beds?

  If the Creator decreed that they should live under trees,

  He laboured uselessly to build one glittering palace after another.

  If these most handsome and tender youths

  Wear the rough garb and matted hair of ascetics,

  In vain has the Creator made

  So many different kinds of clothes and ornaments.

  (119)

  If they eat wild tubers, roots and fruits,

  Nectar and other delicious foods are useless in this world.’

  One said, ‘They are so innately beautiful,

  They must have appeared on earth themselves, not created by Vidhi.

  In all that the Vedas say of Vidhi’s creations,

  Perceptible to our ears, eyes and minds,

  In all the fourteen spheres—search them all and see for yourself—

  Where is such a man, where such a woman?

  Seeing them, Vidhi was greatly enamoured,

  And began to fashion others like them.

  He worked very hard, but could not make any to match them,

  And so, out of jealousy, he hid them in the forest.’

  Others said, ‘We don’t know much,

  But consider ourselves supremely fortunate.

  It seems to us that they too are abodes of virtue

  Who see, have seen, or will see them.’

  Thus they said these loving words,

  Their eyes overflowing with tears.

  ‘How will they travel such difficult roads,

  These youths with their delicate forms?’

  (120)

  Overcome by love, the women grew distraught,

  Like beautiful chakwis at dusk.

  Thinking of their soft lotus feet and the rough road ahead,

  They spoke gentle words from troubled hearts.

  ‘At the touch of their soft and rosy feet,

  The very earth must shrink, just like our hearts.

  If the lord of the universe had to give them exile in the forest,

  Why didn’t he strew their path with flowers?

  If we can truly get what we ask from God,

  Dear friend, let us keep them forever in our eyes!’

  Those men and women who had not come in time,

  Were unable to see Sita and Ram.

  Hearing of their beauty, they asked anxiously,

  ‘How far must they have gone by now, brothers?’

  Those who could, went running to see them,

  And returned full of joy, having received their birth’s reward.

  Women, children and the old

  Wrung their hands and lamented.

  Thus it was that wherever Ram went,

  People were overcome by love.

  (121)

  In village after village there was similar rejoicing

  On seeing that moon to the lilies of the solar line.19

  Those who heard something of the circumstances of Ram’s exile,

  Blamed the king and queen.

  But others said, ‘The lord of men was very kind,

  For he gave us our eyes’ reward.’

  So men and women conversed amongst themselves,

  In simple, loving, pleasing words.

  ‘Fortunate are the father and mother who gave them birth

  And blessed is the city from whence they came.

  Fortunate is the lands, the hills, forests, villages,

  And every place they go—they are all blessed.

  Even Viranchi found joy in creating anyone

  Who feels love for them in every way.’

  The charming story of Ram and Lakshman’s travels,

  Spread all along their path and through the forest.

  In this manner, the sun to the lotuses of the Raghu line,

  Gave joy to the people along the way,r />
  As he proceeded, looking at the forest,

  With Sita and Sumitra’s son.

  (122)

  Ram walked ahead, Lakshman behind,

  Shining in their ascetic’s robes,

  And between the two Sita was as resplendent

  As maya between the Absolute and the soul.

  I describe again her radiance, as it dwells in my heart:

  Like Desire shining between Love and Spring.

  And searching my heart, I give another simile—

  Like Rohini resplendent between Mercury and the moon.20

  Placing her feet between her lord’s footprints,

  Sita walked fearfully along the path.

  Guarding the marks of both Sita and Ram’s feet,

  And always keeping them to his right, Lakshman walked the road.21

  The beauty of Ram, Lakshman and Sita’s love

  Is beyond words—how can I describe it?

  Even birds and beasts were enraptured by its radiance,

  For Ram the wayfarer had stolen their hearts as well.

  Whoever saw these beloved travellers—

  The two brothers with Sita—

  Joyfully and without effort attained

  The end of rebirth’s difficult path.

  (123)

  Even today, one in whose heart the travellers

  Lakshman, Sita and Ram abide, even in dream,

  Finds the way to Ram’s abode—

  A path that even munis only sometime find.

  Then Raghubir, knowing Sita was tired,

  And seeing a banyan close by and cool water,

  Halted there, eating tubers, roots and fruits.

  After bathing at dawn, Raghurai continued his journey.

  Seeing beautiful forests, lakes and mountains along the way,

  The Lord came to Valmiki’s ashram.

  Ram saw the muni’s beautiful abode,

  With its beautiful mountains, forests and streams of clear water.

  There were lotuses upon the lakes, and groves of trees in the forest in full flower,

  While honeybees, drunk upon their nectar, softly hummed.

  Birds and beasts made a great clamour,

  As they grazed with happy hearts, without enmity.

  Seeing this sacred and beautiful ashram,

  The lotus-eyed Ram rejoiced,

  And hearing of Raghubar’s arrival,

  The muni came out to welcome him.

  (124)

  Ram prostrated himself in homage before the muni,

  And the illustrious sage gave him his blessing,

  The sight of Ram’s radiant beauty gladdening his eyes,

  And with every honour, he led him to his ashram.

  The great muni, receiving such guests, as dear as his life,

  Called for sweet tubers, roots and fruits.

  Once Sita, Saumitri and Ram had eaten,

  The muni gave them a pleasant place to rest.

  Valmiki’s heart was full of great joy,

  As his eyes gazed upon the embodiment of bliss.

  Then, Raghurai, folding his lotus hands,

  Spoke words that pleased the muni’s ears.

  ‘Greatest of munis, you know the past, present and future,

  The world is a ber fruit in the palm of your hand.’

  So saying, the Lord related to him the whole tale,

  Of how the queen had banished him to the forest.

  ‘To be able to honour my father’s command, please my mother,

  Let a brother like Bharat be king,

  And receive the grace of your presence, lord—

  All these must be the rewards of my past acts.

  (125)

  Seeing your feet, king of munis,

  All our virtuous deeds have borne fruit.

  Now we shall go where we have your permission,

  A place where no sage or muni will be troubled.

  For kings who bring distress to sages and ascetics,

  Are burned to ashes even without fire.

  The happiness of Brahmans is the root of well-being,

  And the anger of these gods on earth burns countless generations.

  Keeping this in mind, tell me a place

  Where I may go with Sita and Sumitra’s son,

  And, building a pleasant abode of grass and leaves,

  May live there for a while, compassionate lord.’

  Hearing Raghubar’s sincere and simple words,

  The all-knowing muni declared, ‘Quite right, excellent!

  How else would you speak but thus, banner of the dynasty of Raghu,

  You who guard the perpetual bridge of divine knowledge?

  Guardian of the bridge of divine knowledge, Ram,

  You are the Lord of creation, and Janaki your maya

  Who creates, preserves and destroys the universe

  At your wish, abode of compassion.

  The thousand-headed king of the serpents, who bears the earth upon his crest,

  Is Lakshman, lord of all created beings, animate or inanimate.

  To fulfil the purpose of the gods, you have assumed the bodies of princes,

  And go forth to crush the wicked demon army.

  Ram, your true being,

  Is beyond words and intellect,

  Imperceptible, inexpressible, infinite,

  Of which the Vedas ever declare, “Not this, not this!”

  (126)

  The world is a spectacle, and you the spectator,

  Who makes Vidhi, Hari and Shambhu dance to your will.

  Even they do not know your mystery,

  So who else could ever know you?

  He alone can know you to whom you give knowledge of yourself,

  And knowing you, he at once becomes you.

  It is by your grace alone, Raghunandan,

  That your devotees know you, soothing sandalwood to their hearts.

  Your body, imbued with pure intelligence and bliss,

  Is without flaw, as the knowledgeable ones know,

  But assuming the body of a man for the sake of saints and gods

  You speak and act like an ordinary king.

  Seeing and hearing of your doings, Ram,

  The dull are confused, but the wise grow blissful.

  All that you say and do is true—

  For as is the role one has assumed, so must be the dance.

  You ask of me, “Where should I live?”

  But I, in awe, ask you,

  Tell me a place where you are not,

  Only then can I show you where.’

  (127)

  Hearing the muni’s words so steeped in love,

  Ram grew shy, but inwardly smiled.

  Then Valmiki laughed and spoke again,

  Sweet words steeped in nectar.

  ‘Listen, Ram, I will now tell you the places

  Where you may reside with Sita and Lakshman.

  Those whose ears are like the ocean,

  Which the many diverse and beautiful streams of your story

  Constantly fill, but never to the full—

  Their hearts are pleasing abodes for you.

  Those who have made their eyes into chataks

  And yearn for the raincloud of your presence,

  Scorning great rivers, seas and lakes

  To quench their thirst with a single drop of your beauty—

  In the pleasing palaces of their hearts, Raghunayak,

  Dwell with your brother and Sita.

  One whose tongue is the swan

  Of the clear Manas lake of your renown,

  Pecking up the pearls of your myriad virtues—

  Ram, reside in his heart!

  (128)

  Those whose nostrils with reverence daily breathe,

  The pure and fragrant offerings made to you, Lord,

  Who eat only food that has been offered to you,

  Wear clothes and ornaments received as your grace,

  Whose heads bow at the sight of god,
guru, or the twice-born

  With love and great humility,

  Whose hands daily worship Ram’s feet,

  Whose hearts depend on Ram and no other,

  And whose feet walk to Ram’s holy places—

  Ram, reside in their hearts.

  Those who ever chant your supreme mantra,

  And worship you along with their family,

  Who offer libations and perform the sacrificial rites in diverse ways,

  Who feast the Brahmans and bestow upon them alms and many gifts,

  Who consider their guru greater even than you in their hearts

  And serve and honour him with complete devotion,

  And who, having done all this, ask only one reward:

  That they find love for Ram’s feet—

  In the temple of their hearts, reside

  You two who are the delight of the Raghus, with Sita.

  (129)

  Those without lust, anger, arrogance, pride, delusion,

  Or greed, of equable temperament, without passion or hatred,

  With no subterfuge, hypocrisy, or deceit—

  Reside in their hearts, Raghurai.

  Those who are beloved by all, benefactors of all,

  For whom joy and sorrow, praise and abuse are the same,

  Who speak only true and loving words, after due reflection,

  Who, waking or sleeping, find refuge only in you,

  Who have no other way to salvation but you—

  Ram, abide in their hearts.

  Those who consider another’s wife their mother,

  Another’s wealth more poisonous than poison,

  Who rejoice to see another’s prosperity

  And grow sorrowful at their misfortune,

  And to whom, Ram, you are as dear as their own life-breath—

  Their hearts are auspicious abodes for you.

  Those for whom, son, you are everything—

  Master, friend, father, mother, guru—

  In the shrine of their hearts abide,

  You two brothers, with Sita.

  (130)

  Those who ignore the vices of others and seize upon their virtues,

  Endure hardships for the sake of Brahmans and cows,

  Who have established their reputation in the world by moral conduct—

  Their noble minds are fitting homes for you.

  One who regards virtue as arising from you, and considers his faults his own,

  Who places his trust in you in every way,