Sri Rama Charita Manasa - Shri Sita Ram Foundation, USA

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BÅLA-KÅ°NœA *
5
Cau.: guru pada raja mædu ma≈jula a≈jana, nayana amia dæga doa bibha≈jana.
tehiÚ kari bimala bibeka bilocana, baranau° råma carita bhava mocana.1.
ba≈da~~u .
prathama mah∂sura caranå, moha janita sa≈saya saba haranå.
sujana samåja sakala guna khån∂, karau° pranåma saprema subån∂.2.
sådhu carita subha carita kapåsµu, nirasa bisada gunamaya phala jåsµu.
jo sahi dukha parachidra duråvå, ba≈dan∂ya jehiÚ jaga jasa påvå.3.
muda ma≈galamaya sa≈ta samåjµu, jo jaga ja≈gama t∂ratharåjµu.
råma bhakti jaha° surasari dhårå, sarasai brahma bicåra pracårå.4.
bidhi niedhamaya kali mala haran∂, karama kathå rabina≈dani baran∂.
hari hara kathå biråjati ben∂, sunata sakala muda ma≈gala den∂.5.
ba¢u bisvåsa acala nija dharamå, t∂ratharåja samåja sukaramå.
sabahi sulabha saba dina saba deså, sevata sådara samana kaleså.6.
akatha alaukika t∂ratharåµu, dei sadya phala praga¢a prabhåµu.7.
The dust of the Guruís feet is a soft and agreeable, salve, which is ambrosia as
it were for the eyes and remedies the defects of vision. Having brightened my eyes of
discernment thereby I proceed to relate the story of ›r∂ Råma, which secures freedom
from the bondage of mundane existence. First I reverence the feet of Bråhmaƒas, the
very gods on earth, who are able to dispel all doubts born of ignorance. Then I make
loving obeisance, in a polite language, to the whole body of pious souls, the mines of all
virtues. The conduct of holy men is noble as the career of the cotton plant, the fruit
whereof is tasteless, white and fibrous (even as the doings of saints yield results which
are free from attachment, stainless and full of goodness).* Even by suffering hardships
( in the form of ginning, spinning and weaving) the cotton plant covers othersí faults and
has thereby earned in the world a renown which is worthy of adoration. The assemblage
of saints, which is all joy and felicity, is a moving Prayåga (the king of all holy places)
as it were. Devotion to ›r∂ Råma represents, in this moving Prayåga, the stream of the
holy Ga∆gå, the river of the celestials; while the proceeding of an enquiry into the nature
of Brahma (the Absolute) constitutes the Sarasvat∂ (a subterranean stream which is
traditionally believed to join the Ga∆gå and the Yamunå at Prayåga, thus accounting for
the name ëTriveƒ∂í, which signifies a meeting-place of three rivers). Discourses on Karma
or Action, consisting of injunctions and interdictions, have been spoken of as the sacred
Yamunåóa daughter of the sun-god in her angelic formówashing the impurities of the
Kali age; while the anecdotes of Viƒu and ›iva stand out as the triple stream known as
TriveĶ, bringing joy and blessings to those who listen to them. Unwavering faith in their
own creed constitutes the immortal banyan tree and noble actions represent the royal
court of that king of holy places. Easy of access to all on anyday and at every place,
this moving Prayåga assuages the afflictions of those who resort to it with reverence.
This king of holy places is beyond all description and supra-mundane in character; it
bestows the reward immediately and its glory is manifest. (1ó7)
ŒÊapple0ó‚ÈÁŸ ‚◊Ȥʮ„U ¡Ÿ ◊ÈÁŒÃ ◊Ÿ ◊îÊ®„U •Áà •ŸÈ⁄Uʪ–
‹„U®„U øÊÁ⁄U »§‹ •¿UÃ ÃŸÈ ‚ÊœÈ ‚◊Ê¡ ¬˝ÿʪH 2H
Do.: suni samujhahiÚ jana mudita mana majjahiÚ ati anuråga,
lahahiÚ cåri phala achata tanu sådhu samåja prayåga.2.
* The fruit of the cotton plant has been characterized in the original as ëN∂rasaí, ëVi‹adaí and
ëGunamayaí, which words can be interpreted both ways as in the rendering given above.