The Ramcharitmanas 2

by Tulsidas

  And began to explain, for Sita’s benefit, some of the duties of a woman.

  ‘Listen, princess—a mother, father and brother

  Are well-wishers, all to a limited degree.

  But a husband, Vaidehi, is a giver of unbounded bliss

  And contemptible is the woman who does not serve him.

  Fortitude, piety, a friend and a wife—

  All four are tested in times of adversity.

  A woman who disrespects her husband—

  Even if he be old, ill, foolish, poor,

  Blind, deaf, choleric, or utterly wretched—

  Suffers innumerable torments in Jam’s abode.

  She has but one dharma, one duty and one vow:

  Devotion to her husband’s feet in body, word and mind.

  In this world, there are four kinds of faithful wives,

  The Vedas, Puranas and the saints all say.

  The best is firmly convinced in her mind

  That even in dream, there exists no other man in this world.

  The next regards another’s husband

  As her own brother, father or son.

  She who holds back thinking of duty or family honour,

  Is, say the scriptures, a woman base and vile.

  But the one who is restrained only by fear or lack of opportunity,

  Know her to be the very lowest, most vile woman in the world.

  The woman who deceives her husband and loves the husband of another,

  Languishes for a hundred kalpas in the most terrible hell.

  Who is so contemptible as the woman who, for the sake of a moment’s pleasure,

  Does not consider the agony of a thousand million lifetimes?

  The woman who, without deceit, takes the vow of fidelity

  Attains the supreme state without effort,

  But one disloyal to her husband becomes a widow in the bloom of her youth,

  No matter where she takes birth.

  A woman is inherently impure,

  But by serving her husband she attains ultimate happiness.

  It is for this that the world and the four Vedas sing

  Tulsi’s glory to this day and she is beloved of Hari.3(5A)

  Listen, Sita, just by invoking your name,

  Women will keep their vow of fidelity,

  For Ram is as dear to you as life—

  I merely speak these words for the benefit of the world.’

  (5B)

  Hearing these words, Janaki knew supreme happiness,

  And reverently bowed her head at Anasuya’s feet.

  Then the abode of compassion said to the muni,

  ‘With your leave, I will now go to another forest.

  Continue to favour me with your grace,

  And knowing me to be your servant, do not cease loving me.’

  Hearing these words of the Lord, the mighty upholder of dharma,

  The learned muni lovingly replied,

  ‘The one who’s favour Aj,xxii Shiv, Sanak and the other mind-born sons of Brahmaxxiii

  Seek, and all the preachers of the highest truth—

  You are that same Ram—beloved of those who are free from desire,

  And friend of the lowly—who speaks these gentle words.

  Now I understand Shri’s wisdom

  Who abandoned all other gods and chose to worship only you.

  The one whose equal there is none,

  How can his courteous nature be other than it is?

  How can I say, “You may go now, master?”

  Tell me, Lord, for you pervade the hearts of all.’

  So saying, the devoted muni gazed at the Lord,

  His eyes flowing with tears, his body trembling with emotion.

  His body trembling, he turned his eyes

  Full of ardent love upon his lotus face,

  ‘What prayers did I utter, what penance perform that I behold the Lord

  Who transcends mind, knowledge and the three gunas, and cannot be perceived by the senses?’

  It is through prayer, contemplation and religious observances

  That man achieves devotion incomparable,

  And therefore, night and day, his servant, Tulsi, sings

  Of the holy exploits of Raghubir.

  Ram’s glorious fame destroys the impurities of the Kali age,

  It tames the passions and the mind, and is the root of all bliss,

  And Ram remains ever gracious

  To those who with reverence hear it.

  (6A)

  This difficult age is a receptacle of vice,

  With no piety, no wisdom, no penance or prayer.

  They alone are wise who, abandoning trust in all else,

  Worship only Ram.

  (6B)

  Bowing his head at the muni’s lotus feet,

  The Supreme Lord of gods, men and munis set out for the forest.

  Ram walked ahead, his younger brother followed behind him,

  Resplendent in the beautiful garb of ascetics.

  Between them both shone Shri

  Like maya between the Absolute and the soul.

  The rivers, the forests, the mountains and inaccessible valleys,

  Recognizing their Lord, made the road easy for him.

  The clouds cast their cooling shade from the sky

  Wherever the divine Raghurai passed.

  As they went along the road, the Asur Viradh met them—

  As he approached, Raghubir killed him,

  And he at once attained celestial form.

  Ram, seeing him sad, sent him at once to his own realm.

  Then, together with his handsome young brother and Janaki,

  He arrived where lived the muni Sarabhang.

  Upon seeing the lotus of Ram’s face,

  The bees that were the noble muni’s eyes

  Reverently drank in its beauty.

  Blessed was the birth of Sarabhang!

  (7)

  Said the muni, ‘Listen, merciful Raghubir,

  King of the swans upon the Manas lake of Shankar’s heart—

  I was about to leave for Viranchi’s realm,

  When I heard that Ram was coming to the forest.

  I have been watching the road day and night,

  And now, seeing you, Lord, my heart is at peace.

  Lord, I am devoid of all accomplishment,

  Yet you have shown me your grace knowing me to be your lowly servant.

  But, Lord, you have done me no special kindness—

  You have only kept your promise, you who steal the hearts of your devotees.

  Now, for the sake of this humble servant, remain here

  Until I give up this body and meet you in your own realm.’

  The sage surrendered to the Lord all his practise of meditation,

  Ritual sacrifice, prayer, penance and fasting, and received the boon of devotion.

  In this way the muni Sarabhang built a funeral pyre,

  And, freeing his heart from all attachment, sat upon it.

  ‘Graceful Ram, incarnate, embodied,

  Your form as dark as a dark raincloud—

  With Sita and your brother, Lakshman, O Lord,

  Abide eternally in my heart.’

  (8)

  When he had said these words, his body was consumed in yogic fire,

  And, by Ram’s grace, he departed for Vishnu’s realm, Vaikunth.

  There the muni did not become one with Hari,

  For he had earlier received the boon of separation and devotion.4

  When the crowd of rishis gathered there saw the great muni’s liberation,

  They were especially joyful in their hearts.

  All the assembled multitude of munis broke into songs of praise,

  ‘Glory to the friend of the suppliant and the source of all compassion!’

  Then Raghunath continued into the forest,

  A great crowd of noble sages with him.

  Seeing a heap of bones, Raghurai

  F
elt great pity, and asked the sages about them.

  ‘You are omniscient and pervade the hearts of all,

  So though knowing everything, how is it that you ask us, master?

  This pile is the bones of all the munis eaten by night-wandering demons.’

  Hearing this, Raghubir’s eyes filled with tears.

  ‘I will rid the earth of night-wanderers!’

  Raising his arms he vowed.

  Then, visiting all the munis in their ashrams,

  He bestowed joy and bliss upon them.

  (9)

  Muni Agastya had a learned disciple—

  His name was Sutikshna and he was a great lover of the Lord.

  In mind, action and speech he was a devotee of Ram’s feet,

  And did not, even in dream, have faith in any other god.

  When he heard of the Lord’s approach,

  He rushed to meet him, eagerly wishing and wondering,

  ‘O God, will Raghurai, the friend of the lowly,

  Show mercy even on a fool like me?

  Will Ram, my master, and his younger brother

  Receive me as their own servant?

  I have no immovable faith in my heart,

  And no devotion, detachment, or wisdom in my mind.

  I have not sought the company of saints, nor practised meditation, prayer, or ritual sacrifice,

  Nor claim steadfast love for the Lord’s lotus feet.

  I depend on one quality of the all-merciful Lord—

  That dear to him are those who take refuge in no other.

  May my eyes receive their reward today

  And look upon the lotus face of the Lord who sets one free from this existence.’

  The learned muni was so utterly immersed in love,

  That his condition cannot be described, Bhavani.

  He could not see his way, nor tell this direction from that,

  Or remember who he was or where he was going.

  Sometimes he would turn back, then again move ahead,

  And sometimes break into dance and sing of Ram’s virtues.

  The muni attained intense loving devotion,

  While the Lord watched, hidden behind a tree.

  Seeing his extreme love, Raghubir, who removes the fear of this existence,

  Revealed himself in his heart.

  The muni sat unmoving in the middle of the road,

  Every hair on end, his body bristling like the fruit of the jak tree.

  Then Raghunath drew near, pleased

  To see the state of his devotee.

  Ram tried to rouse the muni in many ways,

  But he did not wake for he was immersed in the bliss of contemplation.

  Then Ram hid his kingly form,

  And in the muni’s mind, revealed his four-armed form.

  The muni then started up in alarm, bewildered

  And as distracted as a noble serpent without its crest-jewel,

  And saw before him the dark-bodied Ram,

  The abode of bliss, with Sita and his younger brother.

  Immersed in love, that great and most fortunate muni,

  Fell prostrate like a stick before him and embraced his feet.

  The Lord held and raised him with his mighty arms

  And clasped him to his heart with supreme love.

  As he embraced the muni, the compassionate one shone

  Like a tamal tree embracing a tree of gold.

  The muni, gazing at Ram’s face, stood as still

  As a figure painted in a picture.

  Then the muni, collecting himself,

  Clasped the Lord’s feet again and again,

  And leading him to his ashram,

  Worshipped him in many ways.

  (10)

  Said the muni, ‘Lord, listen to my prayer—

  Though how do I sing your praise?

  Your majesty is immeasurable, and my understanding meagre,

  Like the glow of a firefly in the presence of the sun.

  His body dark as a string of golden lotuses,

  His matted hair a crown, a muni’s robes his raiment,

  A bow and arrows in his hands, and a quiver at his waist—

  I worship ceaselessly the beautiful Raghuvir!

  The fire that destroys the dense forest of delusion,

  The sun to delight the cluster of lotuses that are the saints,

  The king of beasts against the elephant herd of night-wandering demons,

  The hawk that scatters the birds of this existence—may he ever protect us.

  With eyes as bright as the red lotus, attired in glory,

  The full moon to the chakor of Sita’s eyes,

  The young swan upon the Manas lake of Har’s heart,

  The broad-chested, long-armed Ram—him I adore.

  An Uragadxxiv to devour the serpent of doubt,

  The one who allays the despair of rough and quarrelsome controversy,

  The destroyer of the cycle of rebirth, the delight of all the gods,

  Within whom resides all compassion—may he ever protect us.

  The Absolute and Incarnate, formless and with form, incomprehensible and simple,

  The incomparable, transcending knowledge, speech and perception,

  Pure, complete, without flaw, illimitable,

  Ram, the destroyer of earth’s burden—him I adore.

  A grove of wish-yielding trees for his devotees,

  He keeps away passion, greed, pride and lust.

  Exceedingly wise, the bridge across the ocean of this existence,

  The banner of the Sun’s dynasty—may he ever protect us.

  Unparalleled in the might of his arms, the abode of strength,

  Whose name destroys the great impurities of the age of Kali,

  The refuge of righteousness, in whom is gathered every pleasing virtue—

  May that Ram ever increase our well-being.

  Though you be free of desire, all-pervading, imperishable,

  And reside eternally in the hearts of all,

  Yet, O slayer of the Asur Khar, reside in my heart

  With Shri and Lakshman, in this guise of forest-wanderer.

  Those who understand, Lord, let them understand you

  As sagun or nirgun, with form or without, the one who pervades the inmost hearts of all,

  But let that Ram, who is the lotus-eyed lord of Koshal,

  Make in my heart his abode.

  May I never lose pride, even by mistake, in knowing that

  I am his servant, and Raghupati is my Lord.’

  Ram was pleased to hear the muni’s words—

  Delighted, he once again clasped the noble muni to his heart.

  ‘Know me to be supremely pleased, muni.

  Ask any boon, and I will grant it to you.’

  The muni replied, ‘I have never asked for a boon,

  And cannot tell what is false and what true.

  Bestow upon me, Raghurai, whatever seems best to you,

  For you are a giver of bliss to your servants.’

  ‘May you become the repository of uninterrupted devotion, freedom from worldly attachment,

  Wisdom, knowledge, and every virtue!’

  ‘The boon that the Lord has given me, I have received—

  Now grant me that which pleases me, Lord.

  With Janaki and your brother, Lakshman,

  May that Ram who bears a bow and arrows,

  Reside in my heart for ever,

  As steadfast as the moon in the sky.’

  (11)

  ‘So be it,’ said he who dwells in Ramaa’s heart,

  And joyfully set off to visit Rishi Kumbhaj.

  ‘It has been a long time since I saw my guru,

  And came to live in this ashram,’ said Sutikshna.

  ‘Now, Lord, I will go with you to visit my guru.

  In this, master, there is no obligation upon you.’

  The abode of compassion saw through the muni’s clever ploy,

  An
d laughing, the two brothers took him with them.

  Discoursing along the way on the various forms of devotion to himself,

  The lord of the gods reached Muni Agastya’s ashram.

  Sutikshna at once went to the guru,

  And prostrating himself in reverence, addressed him thus:

  ‘Lord, the son of Koshal’s king,

  The support of the universe, has come to meet you—

  Ram, with his brother Lakshman, and Vaidehi,

  Whose names you repeat, lord, night and day.’

  The moment he heard this, Agastya sprang up and rushed out—

  Upon seeing Hari, his eyes filled with tears.

  The two brothers fell at the muni’s lotus feet—

  The rishi raised them up and clasped them to his heart with deep love.

  Reverently, the learned muni asked after their well-being,

  And led them to a seat of honour.

  He then worshipped the Lord in many ways, saying,

  ‘There is no other as blessed as I!’

  The crowds of other munis there,

  All rejoiced to see the root of all bliss.

  In the midst of the gathering of munis

  Sat Ram, his face turned towards them all,

  While they, like a flock of chakors,

  Gazed at the autumn moon of his radiant form.

  (12)

  Then Raghubir said to Muni Agastya,

  ‘Lord, nothing is hidden from you,

  You know the reason I have come

  And therefore, sire, I did not explicitly say it.

  Now, lord, give me that mantra

  By which I may kill the enemies of the munis.’

  The sage smiled when he heard the Lord’s words.

  ‘Lord, what makes you ask me for my advice?

  It is only because of worshipping you,

  O destroyer of sin, that I understand a little of your glory.

  Your maya is a vast fig tree,

  Its clusters of fruit the countless multitudes of universes.

  All beings, animate and inanimate, are like the tiny insects

  That dwell within each fruit, and know no other world.

  The devourer of these fruits is harsh and cruel Time,

  But even he remains ever afraid of you.

  That same you, the master of the lords of the eight quarters,

  Is asking me for advice like a mere mortal!

  Abode of compassion, I ask this boon—

  Reside in my heart with Shri and Lakshman.

  Grant me unceasing devotion, freedom from desire, the company of holy men,