The Ramcharitmanas 2

by Tulsidas

  Bowing to their chief one by one, the Nishads set forth,

  Valiant warriors, all eager for battle.

  Meditating upon the sandals of Ram’s lotus feet,

  They tied on their small quivers, and strung their short bows.

  They put on their armour, donned their helmets of iron,

  And made ready their axes, bamboo cudgels and spears.

  Some who were especially adept with shield and sword,

  Leaped in the air so lightly, it was as though they had left the earth.

  Preparing their battle gear and forming their own companies,

  They went and bowed before Guha, their chief.

  Looking upon his valiant warriors and knowing them to able in every way,

  He respectfully greeted them all, addressing each one by name.

  ‘Do not let me down, brothers—

  Today, my greatest task lies ahead of me.’

  His brave warriors thundered in reply,

  ‘Stay firm, mighty hero!

  (191)

  By Ram’s great majesty and your strength, lord,

  We will render Bharat’s army without soldiers, without horses.

  As long as we live, we will not set a foot in retreat,

  But will strew the earth with trunks and heads!’

  Looking at his brave band of warriors, the Nishad chief

  Called out, ‘Sound the battle drums!’

  Just as he said this, someone on his left sneezed,

  And soothsayers declared, ‘The battlefield is favourable, we will win.’

  But one old man, reflecting upon the omen, said,

  ‘Meet Bharat. There will be no fight.

  He goes to persuade Ram to return—

  The omen says there will be no battle.’

  Hearing this, Guha replied, ‘The old man speaks well;

  Fools act in haste and later repent.

  Without ascertaining the goodness of Bharat’s nature

  And understanding his true disposition, to fight may do great harm.

  Hold the ghats and stay in your companies, warriors all,

  While I go to meet him and find out what’s in his heart.

  Determining if he is friend or foe or neutral,

  I will return and take action accordingly.

  (192)

  I will know his love from his good behaviour,

  For enmity and affection cannot be hidden.’

  So saying, he began to put together a gift,

  And called for tubers, roots, fruits, fowl and venison.

  Bearers also brought load after heavy load

  Of fat and full-grown pathin fish.

  He prepared his offering, and departed to meet Bharat—

  Auspicious omens of happiness and good fortune accompanied him.

  Sighting Bharat’s party, he declared his name, and from afar

  Prostrated himself before the lord of sages.x

  Knowing he was dear to Ram, the great muni gave him his blessing,

  And then told Bharat about him.

  Just hearing that he was Ram’s friend, Bharat abandoned his chariot—

  Dismounting, he ran to meet him, full of love.

  Guha told him his name, caste and village,

  And made obeisance, his forehead to the ground.

  Seeing him lying prostrate in homage before him,

  Bharat raised him and clasped him to his bosom.

  It was as though he had met Lakshman,

  And his heart could not contain his love.

  (193)

  Bharat embraced Guha with deep affection.

  And the people enviously praised love’s ways.

  With bliss-conferring cries of ‘Blessings, blessings!’

  The gods rained down flowers and lauded them.

  ‘He who is considered base and lowborn in every way by worldly custom and the Vedas,

  The touch of whose shadow requires a purificatory bath,

  That same man does Ram’s younger brother embrace,

  His whole body trembling with joy at meeting him.

  Those who say “Ram, Ram” even while yawning,

  Are never approached by the multitude of sins.

  And here is one whom Ram has taken into his heart,

  Bestowing upon him and his people the power to purify the world.

  If Karamnasa’s water falls into the sacred Ganga,

  Who, tell us, will not pour it on his head?

  As the world knows, merely by repeating the name of Ram backwards,

  Valmiki became equal to Brahma!

  Even the ignorant, the baseborn, the savage, the outcast,

  Kols, Kirats, Shvapachas, Shabaras, Khasiyas and Jamanas,39

  By merely uttering the name of Ram become supremely pure

  And renowned in all the worlds.

  (194)

  This is no wonder, it has been so age after age,

  For whom has Raghubir not exalted?’

  The gods thus declared the glory of Ram’s name,

  And, hearing their praise, the people of Avadh rejoiced.

  Bharat met Ram’s friend with great affection

  And asked after his well-being, health and happiness.

  The instant he saw Bharat’s goodness and love,

  The Nishad chief was so enraptured that he lost all awareness of his own body.

  The awe, love and joy in his heart grew so great,

  That he just stood still and stared at Bharat.

  Then, composing himself, and bowing again at Bharat’s feet,

  He folded his hands, and lovingly spoke these humble words:

  ‘Now that I have seen your lotus feet, the source of all well-being,

  I know my welfare to be assured in all three times, past, present and future.

  And now, lord, by your supreme grace,

  I am supremely blessed, with countless generations of my forefathers and descendants.

  Considering my past deeds and base descent,

  And then seeing the Lord’s greatness in his heart,

  He who still does not worship Raghubir’s feet,

  Has been cheated by the Creator of this world.

  (195)

  I am deceitful, cowardly, dull-witted and baseborn,

  And outside the laws of society and scripture.

  Yet, from the moment that Ram made me his own,

  I have become the ornament of the worlds.’

  Seeing his love and hearing his courteous and modest words,

  Bharat’s younger brother, Shatrughna, then embraced him.

  And the Nishad chief, courteously giving his name,

  Made reverent obeisance to all the queens.

  Considering him the same as Lakshman, they gave him their blessing,

  ‘May you live happily for ten million years!’

  Seeing the Nishad, the men and women of the city

  Were as glad as though they had seen Lakshman,

  And declared, ‘He has received his life’s reward,

  For gracious Ram has embraced him, enfolding him in his arms!’

  The Nishad, hearing this praise of his good fortune,

  Led them with a rejoicing heart.

  At a sign from him, all his attendants,

  Understanding their master’s wish, went ahead

  And made ready resting-places in homes, beneath trees,

  Beside ponds, in gardens and in groves.

  (196)

  When Bharat saw Shringberpur,

  He was overcome with love and grew weak in every limb.

  As he walked leaning upon the Nishad for support, they looked so glorious,

  It seemed as though Humility and Love had assumed bodily form.

  Thus Bharat, accompanied by his entire army,

  Went and looked upon the Ganga, which purifies the world.

  He made obeisance at the ghat where Ram had bathed,

  And became as lost in joy as though meeting Ram himself.

  The men and w
omen of the city also made obeisance,

  And gazed rejoicing at the water infused with the divine.

  After taking a dip in the river, they prayed with folded hands,

  ‘May our love for Ramchandra’s feet never diminish.’

  Bharat declared, ‘River of the gods, your sand

  Bestows happiness upon all, and to your servants it is the divine cow that grants all desires.

  With folded hands, I ask this boon of you:

  Simple, innate, spontaneous love for Sita and Ram’s feet.’

  In this manner, after bathing in the river,

  And receiving his guru’s permission,

  Having made sure that all the mothers had bathed in the sacred river too,

  He went to the encampment, taking them with him.

  (197)

  The people had pitched their tents here and there,

  And Bharat inquired after them all.

  Then, having worshipped the gods, and received their guru’s permission,

  The two brothers went to Ram’s mother.

  Pressing their feet, and speaking sweet words,

  Bharat honoured all the mothers.

  Then, entrusting their care to his brother,

  He himself summoned the Nishad chief.

  He walked hand-in-hand with his friend,

  His body weak, for his love was great.

  He asked his friend, ‘Show me that place,

  To soothe the burning in my eyes and heart,

  Where Sita, Ram and Lakshman slept at night.’

  As he spoke, the corners of his eyes filled with tears.

  Hearing Bharat’s words, the Nishad was filled with grief,

  And immediately took him there,

  Where, under the sacred sinsupa tree,

  Raghubar had rested.

  Prostrating, Bharat made obeisance,

  With profound love and reverence.

  (198)

  Seeing the lovely mat of kush grass,

  He offered homage, reverently pacing around it from left to right,40

  And took the dust of their footprints upon his eyes.

  It is impossible to describe the magnitude of his love.

  He saw a few gold sequins,

  And placed them upon his head, regarding them the same as Sita.

  Then, with his eyes full of tears, and a heart full of remorse,

  He said to his friend in gentle tones,

  ‘Separated from Sita, these have lost their beauty and brilliance,

  Just like the men and women of Avadh dulled with sorrow.

  Her father is Janak—to whom shall I compare him,

  Who holds both worldly pleasure and spiritual practice in the palm of his hand?

  Her father-in-law, Dasharath, was the lord of the earth, the sun of the solar dynasty,

  Envied even by Indra, lord of Amaravati.

  And the lord of her life is Ram, lord of the Raghu line,

  From whose glory derives all greatness.

  I see the mat of grass upon which lay Sita,

  That jewel amongst virtuous and devoted wives,

  And still my heart does not burst with horror!

  O Har! It must be harsher than Indra’s thunderbolt!

  (199)

  My younger brother, Lakshman, so handsome and worthy of affection—

  There never was a brother such as he, or is, or ever will be,

  Beloved by the people, the darling of his father and mother,

  As dear as their own lives to Sita and Raghubir,

  Of delicate frame and youthful nature,

  Whose body has never been touched by the hot winds of summer—

  He is bearing all kinds of hardships in the forest!

  Oh, this heart of mine puts to shame a million thunderbolts!

  Ram, by taking birth, has filled the world with light,

  For he is an ocean of beauty, goodness, joy and all virtue.

  Subjects, kinsfolk, guru, father, mother—

  Ram’s good nature gives delight to all.

  Even his enemies praise Ram,

  For his speech, affability and humility steal all hearts.

  A million Sharadas or a billion Sheshnags

  Cannot enumerate the Lord’s multitude of virtues.

  That he, bliss personified, jewel of the Raghu line,

  And abode of good fortune and joy,

  Should sleep upon the ground on a bed of grass—

  The ways of fate are truly mighty!

  (200)

  Ram’s ears had never heard of sorrow,

  For the king protected him like a tree of life,

  And as eyelids guard the eyes and cobras their crest jewels,

  Our mothers protected him day and night.

  He now roams the forest on foot,

  Living on tubers, roots, fruits and flowers.

  A curse on Kaikeyi, root of misfortune,

  Who turned against her husband, more beloved than her life.

  Twice cursed am I, an unfortunate ocean of sin,

  Because of whom this whole calamity happened.

  The Creator made me the disgrace of my family,

  And an evil mother made me my lord’s enemy.’

  Hearing his words, the Nishad chief lovingly consoled him,

  ‘Master, why do you make these needless laments?

  Ram is dear to you and you are dear to Ram,

  And this much is certain—the fault lies with contrary fate alone.

  Cruel are the doings of contrary fate,

  Who drove your mother mad.

  But that night, again and again,

  The Lord with reverence praised you.

  No one is as utterly dear to Ram as you—

  I declare this on my oath.

  Know that there will be joy at the end,

  And take courage in your heart.

  Ram knows the inner hearts of all,

  He is the abode of humility, love and compassion.

  Reflecting on this, steady your heart

  And come now and rest.’

  (201)

  Hearing his friend’s words, Bharat took courage

  And went to his place of rest, meditating upon Raghubir.

  The men and women of the city, learning where Ram had spent the night,

  Went, full of grief, to see the place.

  They paid homage, pacing reverently around the spot, and made obeisance,

  Cursing Kaikeyi to their heart’s content.

  Their eyes filling with tears again and again,

  They blamed contrary fate.

  Some of them praised Bharat’s love,

  While others declared the king had fulfilled his own till the end.

  They reproached themselves and praised the Nishad—

  Who can describe their love and grief?

  In this way, the people stayed awake all night,

  And when dawn broke, the river crossing began.

  The guru was helped into a sturdy, handsome boat,

  And all the mothers into another newly built.

  Within two hours, the whole party had crossed,

  And Bharat, disembarking, made sure that all were safe.

  After performing his morning rites, he saluted his mothers’ feet

  And bowed his head before his guru.

  Then, sending the Nishad troop ahead,

  He ordered his army to move.

  (202)

  He placed the Nishad chief at the head as their guide,

  And sent all the palanquins of the queen mothers behind,

  Summoning his younger brother, Shatrughna, to go with them,

  While the guru set out with the Brahmans.

  Then, saluting the divine river, Ganga,

  And remembering Lakshman and Sita and Ram,

  Bharat himself set forth on foot,

  A spare horse being led by its reins beside him.

  His devoted servants begged again and again,

  ‘Master, please ride your horse.
’

  But Bharat replied, ‘Ram went on foot—

  And for me, chariots, elephants and horses have been prepared!

  It would be more fitting that I go there on my head,

  For a servant’s dharma is the harshest of all.’

  Seeing Bharat’s state and hearing his gentle words,

  All his servants melted with remorse.

  During the third watch of the day,

  Bharat entered Prayag,

  Calling, ‘Ram, Sita! Ram, Sita!’

  With overflowing love.

  (203)

  Blisters glistened on his feet,

  Like drops of dew on lotus buds.

  Hearing that Bharat had made that day’s journey on foot,

  The whole company grew sorrowful.

  Ascertaining that everyone else had bathed,

  Bharat came to the triveni and saluted the confluence of the sacred streams.

  He bathed as prescribed in the light and dark waters,41

  And honoured the Brahmans, gods on earth, with gifts.

  Gazing upon the light and dark waves,

  His body trembling with elation, Bharat folded his hands,

  ‘You fulfil every wish, king of sacred places,

  And your power is praised in the Vedas and manifest in the world.

  Abandoning my own dharma, I beg your favour,42

  For to which low deed will a distressed man not stoop?

  And knowing this in their hearts, the wise and generous

  Fulfil the prayers of suppliants in this world.

  I have no wish for wealth or religious merit, or sensual pleasures,

  Nor do I seek liberation from rebirth.

  Love for Ram’s feet, in birth after birth—

  I beg this boon and no other.

  (204)

  Even if Ram himself should consider me deceitful,

  Or people say I am the enemy of my guru and my master,

  May my love for the feet of Sita and Ram

  Grow stronger each day, by your grace.

  Though the raincloud forgets the chatak all her life,

  Or when she pleads for raindrops, may throw down thunderbolts and hailstones,

  If the chatak stops calling to the cloud, she is diminished,

  But if her love increases, she is honoured in every way.

  Just as gold is made more lustrous by fire,

  Those who fulfil the vow of devotion to their beloved’s feet are made bright.’