Sri Rama Charita Manasa - Shri Sita Ram Foundation, USA

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BÅLA-KÅ°NœA *
49
The seven Books are the seven beautiful flights of steps, which the soul delights
to look upon with the eyes of wisdom; the unqualified and unbounded greatness of ›r∂
Råma, which will be presently discussed, represents the unfathomable, depth of this holy
water. The glory of ›r∂ Råma and S∂tå constitutes the nectarean water; the similes
represent the soul-ravishing sport of its wavelets. The beautiful Caupå∂s represent the
thick growth of lotus-plants; the various poetic devices constitute the lovely shells that
yield beautiful pearls. The other metres, vi z., Chandas, Sora¢hås and Dohås, are the
cluster of charming many-coloured lotuses. The incomparable sense, the beautiful ideas
and the elegant expression represent the pollen, honey and fragrance of those flowers
respectively. The virtuous acts mentioned therein are the charming swarms of bees; the
references to spiritual enlightenment, dispassion and reason represent the swan. The
implications and involutions and the various excellences and styles of poetry are the
lovely fishes of various kinds. The four ends of human existence, viz., worldly riches
religious merit, enjoyment and liberation, the reasoned exposition of J¤åna (Knowledge
of God in His absolute formless aspect) and vij¤åna (Knowledge of qualified Divinity both
with and without form), the nine sentiments of poetry,* and the references to Japa (the
muttering of mystic formulae), austerity, Yoga (contemplative union with God) and
detachment from the worldóall these represent the charming aquatic creatures of this
lake. Eulogies on virtuous men, pious souls and the Name of Godóthese correspond
to water-birds of various kinds. The assemblages of saints referred to herein are the
mango groves hemming the lake on all sides and piety has been likened to the vernal
season. The exposition of the various types of Devotion and the references to forbearance,
compassion and sense-control represent the canopies of creepers. Even so mindcontrol,
the five Yamas or forms of self-restraint (viz., non-violence, truthfulness, nonthieving,
continence and non-acquisition of property), the five Niyamas or religious vows
(viz., those of external and internal purity, contentment, austerity, study of sacred books
or repetition of the Divine Name and self-surrender to God) are the blossoms of these
creepers; spiritual enlightenment is their fruit and loving devotion to the feet of ›r∂ Hari
constitutes the sap of this fruit of spiritual enlightenment: so declare the Vedas. The
various other episodes forming part of this narrative are the birds of different colours
such as the parrot and the cuckoo. (1ó8)
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The thrill of joy that one experiences while listening to this narrative represents the
flower gardens, orchards and groves; and the delight one feels is the sporting of birds;
while a noble mind is the gardener, who waters the garden etc., with the moisture of love
through the charming jars of eyes. (37)
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* The nine sentiments of poetry are: (1) ›æ∆gåra (the erotic sentiment or the sentiment of love)
(2) Håsya (the humorous sentiment) (3) Karuƒa (the pathetic sentiment) (4) V∂ra (the heroic sentiment)
(5) Raudra (the sentiment of wrath or fury) (6) Bhayånaka (the sentiment of terror) (7) B∂bhatsa (the sentiment
of disgust) (8) ݌nta (the sentiment of quietism) and (9) Adbhuta (the marvellous sentiment).