Dialogue between Śrī Rāma and the sage Vālmīki
Dohas
suci suṃdara āśramu nirakhi haraṣē rājivanēna.
suni raghubara āgamanu muni āgēṃ āyau lēna..124.. [2-124]
The lotus-eyed Rāma rejoiced to behold the sacred and lovely hermitage; and hearing of the arrival of Śrī Rāma (the Chief of Raghu’s line) the sage came forth to receive Him.
Chaupais
muni kahu rāma daṃḍavata kīnhā. āsirabādu biprabara dīnhā..
dēkhi rāma chabi nayana juḍaānē. kari sanamānu āśramahiṃ ānē.. [2-124-1]
munibara atithi prānapriya pāē. kaṃda mūla phala madhura magāē..
siya saumitri rāma phala khāē. taba muni āśrama diē suhāē.. [2-124-2]
bālamīki mana ānaomdu bhārī. maṃgala mūrati nayana nihārī..
taba kara kamala jōri raghurāī. bōlē bacana śravana sukhadāī.. [2-124-3]
tumha trikāla darasī munināthā. bisva badara jimi tumharēṃ hāthā..
asa kahi prabhu saba kathā bakhānī. jēhi jēhi bhāomti dīnha banu rānī.. [2-124-4]
Śrī Rāma fell prostrate before the sage and the holy Brāhmaṇa blessed Him in return. The sight of Śrī Rāma’s beauty gladdened his eyes and with due honour he took the Lord into the hermitage. Finding a guest as dear to him as life itself the holy sage sent for delicious bulbs, roots and fruits. Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Rāma partook of those fruits and the sage then assigned them beautiful quarters. Great was the joy of Vālmīki’s heart as he beheld with his own eyes Śrī Rāma, who was bliss personified. Joining His lotus palms the Lord of Raghus then spoke to him in words which were delightful to the ears. “You directly perceive everything relating to the past, present and future, O lord of sages; the whole universe is as if in the palm of your hand.” Saying so the Lord related to him the whole story as to how the queen (Kaikeyī) had exiled Him into the woods.
Dohas
tāta bacana puni mātu hita bhāi bharata asa rāu.
mō kahu darasa tumhāra prabhu sabu mama punya prabhāu..125.. [2-125]
“Compliance with my father’s commands, gratification of my stepmother (Kaikeyī), the installation of a brother like Bharata to the throne and my seeing you-all this, my lord, is the result of my meritorious acts.”
Chaupais
dēkhi pāya munirāya tumhārē. bhaē sukṛta saba suphala hamārē..
aba jahaom rāura āyasu hōī. muni udabēgu na pāvai kōī.. [2-125-1]
muni tāpasa jinha tēṃ dukhu lahahīṃ. tē narēsa binu pāvaka dahahīṃ..
maṃgala mūla bipra paritōṣū. dahai kōṭi kula bhūsura rōṣū.. [2-125-2]
asa jiyaom jāni kahia sōi ṭhāūom. siya saumitri sahita jahaom jāūom..
tahaom raci rucira parana tṛna sālā. bāsu karau kachu kāla kṛpālā.. [2-125-3]
sahaja sarala suni raghubara bānī. sādhu sādhu bōlē muni gyānī..
kasa na kahahu asa raghukulakētū. tumha pālaka saṃtata śruti sētū.. [2-125-4]
“In beholding your feet, O king of sages, all my good deeds have been rewarded. Now I intend to go wherever you command me to go and where no anchorite may feel disturbed. For such monarchs as prove a source of annoyance to hermits and ascetics are consumed without fire. While the satisfaction of Brāhmaṇas is the root of happiness, their wrath consumes millions of generations. Bearing this in mind pray tell me a place to which I may proceed with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa (Sumitrā’s son), and building a charming hut of leaves and grass may spend some time there, O good sir.” Hearing these guileless and unsophisticated words of Śrī Rāma (the Chief of Raghu’s line) the enlightened sage exclaimed, “Quite so, right You are. Why should You not speak thus, O Glory of Raghu’s line, ever busy as You are in maintaining the laws laid down by the Vedas?
Chhands
śruti sētu pālaka rāma tumha jagadīsa māyā jānakī.
jō sṛjati jagu pālati harati rūkha pāi kṛpānidhāna kī..
jō sahasasīsu ahīsu mahidharu lakhanu sacarācara dhanī.
sura kāja dhari nararāja tanu calē dalana khala nisicara anī..
While You are the custodian of the Vedic laws and the Lord of the universe, Sītā (Janaka’s Daughter) is Your Māyā (Divine Energy) who creates, preserves and dissolves the universe on receiving the tacit approval of Your gracious Self. As for Lakṣmaṇa he is no other than the thousand-headed Śeṣa (the lord of serpents), the supporter of the globe and the lord of the entire creation, both animate and inanimate. Having assumed the form of a king for the sake of the gods You are out to crush the host of wicked demons.”
Sortas
rāma sarupa tumhāra bacana agōcara buddhipara.
abigata akatha apāra nēti nita nigama kaha..126.. [2-125-126]
Your Being, O Rāma, is beyond the range of speech and beyond conception, unknown, unutterable and infinite; the Vedas ever speak of It as ‘not that’, ‘not that’.”
Chaupais
jagu pēkhana tumha dēkhanihārē. bidhi hari saṃbhu nacāvanihārē..
tēu na jānahiṃ maramu tumhārā. auru tumhahi kō jānanihārā.. [2-125-1]
sōi jānai jēhi dēhu janāī. jānata tumhahi tumhai hōi jāī..
tumharihi kṛpāom tumhahi raghunaṃdana. jānahiṃ bhagata bhagata ura caṃdana.. [2-125-2]
cidānaṃdamaya dēha tumhārī. bigata bikāra jāna adhikārī..
nara tanu dharēhu saṃta sura kājā. kahahu karahu jasa prākṛta rājā.. [2-125-3]
rāma dēkhi suni carita tumhārē. jaḍa mōhahiṃ budha hōhiṃ sukhārē..
tumha jō kahahu karahu sabu sāomcā. jasa kāchia tasa cāhia nācā.. [2-125-4]
“This world is a spectacle and You are its spectator; nay, You make even Brahmā (the Creator), Viṣṇu (the Preserver) and Śambhu (the Destroyer) dance to Your tune. Even these latter know not Your secret; who else can know You? In fact, he alone can know You, to whom You make Yourself known; and the moment he knows You he becomes one with You. It is by Your grace, O Delighter of Raghus, that Your votaries come to know You, O Comforter of the heart of devotees. Your body is all consciousness and bliss and is devoid of change; it is the competent alone who realize this. It is for the sake of saints and gods that You have assumed a human semblance and speak and act even as worldly monarchs do. The stupid get puzzled while the wise feel delighted when they see or hear of Your doings. All that You say or do is true; for one should play the role one has assumed on the stage.”
Dohas
pūomchēhu mōhi ki rahauṃ kahaom maiṃ pūomchata sakucāu.
jahaom na hōhu tahaom dēhu kahi tumhahi dēkhāvauṃ ṭhāu..127.. [2-127]
You ask me: ‘Where should I take up my residence?’ But I ask You with diffidence: tell me first the place where You are not; then alone I can show You a suitable place.
Chaupais
suni muni bacana prēma rasa sānē. sakuci rāma mana mahu musukānē..
bālamīki haomsi kahahiṃ bahōrī. bānī madhura amia rasa bōrī.. [2-127-1]
sunahu rāma aba kahau nikētā. jahāom basahu siya lakhana samētā..
jinha kē śravana samudra samānā. kathā tumhāri subhaga sari nānā.. [2-127-2]
bharahiṃ niraṃtara hōhiṃ na pūrē. tinha kē hiya tumha kahu gṛha rūrē..
lōcana cātaka jinha kari rākhē. rahahiṃ darasa jaladhara abhilāṣē.. [2-127-3]
nidarahiṃ sarita siṃdhu sara bhārī. rūpa biṃdu jala hōhiṃ sukhārī..
tinha kē hṛdaya sadana sukhadāyaka. basahu baṃdhu siya saha raghunāyaka.. [2-127-4]
On hearing the sage’s words, imbued as they were with love, Śrī Rāma felt abashed and smiled within Himself. Vālmīki too smiled and spoke to Him again in words as sweet as though they were steeped in nectar: “Listen, Rāma: I tell You now the places where You should abide with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa. The heart of those whose ears are, like the ocean, constantly replenished with a number of lovely streams in the shape of Your stories but know no surfeit, shall be Your charming abode. Again, the heart of those whose eyes long to see You even as the Cātaka bird longs to see the rain-cloud and, disdaining like the same bird rivers, oceans and big lakes, derive satisfaction from a drop of Your rain-like beauty-it is their heart alone which shall serve as Your delightful home, where You and Your younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa) and Sītā may take up Your abode.”
Dohas
jasu tumhāra mānasa bimala haṃsini jīhā jāsu.
mukutāhala guna gana cunai rāma basahu hiyaom tāsu..128.. [2-128]
Nay, You should dwell in the heart of him whose swan-like tongue picks up pearls in the shape of Your virtues in the holy Mānasarovara lake of Your fame.”
Chaupais
prabhu prasāda suci subhaga subāsā. sādara jāsu lahai nita nāsā..
tumhahi nibēdita bhōjana karahīṃ. prabhu prasāda paṭa bhūṣana dharahīṃ.. [2-128-1]
sīsa navahiṃ sura guru dvija dēkhī. prīti sahita kari binaya bisēṣī..
kara nita karahiṃ rāma pada pūjā. rāma bharōsa hṛdayaom nahi dūjā.. [2-128-2]
carana rāma tīratha cali jāhīṃ. rāma basahu tinha kē mana māhīṃ..
maṃtrarāju nita japahiṃ tumhārā. pūjahiṃ tumhahi sahita parivārā.. [2-128-3]
tarapana hōma karahiṃ bidhi nānā. bipra jēvāomi dēhiṃ bahu dānā..
tumha tēṃ adhika gurahi jiyaom jānī. sakala bhāyaom sēvahiṃ sanamānī.. [2-128-4]
Abide, O Rāma, in the mind of those whose nose devoutly inhales everyday the fragrance of sacred and lovely offerings (in the shape of flowers, sandal-paste, etc.,) made to their Lord (Yourself), who eat only that which has been offered to You and put on clothes and ornaments first dedicated to You, whose heads bow down most submissively and lovingly at the sight of a god, preceptor or Brāhmaṇa, whose hands adore Śrī Rāma’s feet everyday, who cherish in their heart faith in Rāma and none else, and whose feet take them to holy places sacred to Rāma. Again those who are ever engaged in muttering the Rāma-Mantra (श्रीरामाय नमः), the king of all sacred formulas, and worship You alongwith Your associates; who offer water to the manes and pour oblations into the sacred fire in diverse ways, who feed the Brāhmaṇas and bestow liberal gifts on them and who look upon their preceptor as greater than Yourself and wait upon him with due honour and entire devotion -“
Dohas
sabu kari māgahiṃ ēka phalu rāma carana rati hōu.
tinha kēṃ mana maṃdira basahu siya raghunaṃdana dōu..129.. [2-129]
And who having done all this ask only one boon as their reward: “Let me have devotion to Śrī Rāma’s feet!”-enthrone Yourself in the temple of their heart, both Sītā and the Delighter of Raghus (Yourself).
Chaupais
kāma kōha mada māna na mōhā. lōbha na chōbha na rāga na drōhā..
jinha kēṃ kapaṭa daṃbha nahiṃ māyā. tinha kēṃ hṛdaya basahu raghurāyā.. [2-129-1]
saba kē priya saba kē hitakārī. dukha sukha sarisa prasaṃsā gārī..
kahahiṃ satya priya bacana bicārī. jāgata sōvata sarana tumhārī.. [2-129-2]
tumhahi chāḍai gati dūsari nāhīṃ. rāma basahu tinha kē mana māhīṃ..
jananī sama jānahiṃ paranārī. dhanu parāva biṣa tēṃ biṣa bhārī.. [2-129-3]
jē haraṣahiṃ para saṃpati dēkhī. dukhita hōhiṃ para bipati bisēṣī..
jinhahi rāma tumha prānapiārē. tinha kē mana subha sadana tumhārē.. [2-129-4]
“Those who have no lust, anger, arrogance, pride or infatuation, are without greed, excitement, attraction or aversion and who are free from fraud, hypocrisy and deceit-it is in their heart that You should abide, O Chief of Raghus. Again, those who are beloved of all and friendly to all, to whom joy and sorrow, applause and abuse are alike and who scrupulously utter truthful and polite words, nay, who are resigned to You whether awake or asleep and who have no support other than Yourself-it is in their mind, O Rāma, that You should dwell. Again, those who look upon another’s wife as their own mother and to whom another’s wealth is the deadliest of all poisons, who rejoice to see others’ prosperity and are particularly grieved to see another’s distress, and to whom, O Rāma, You are dear as their own life- their minds are Your blessed abodes.”
Dohas
svāmi sakhā pitu mātu gura jinha kē saba tumha tāta.
mana maṃdira tinha kēṃ basahu sīya sahita dōu bhrāta..130.. [2-130]
Nay, those to whom, my dear, You are at once master and companion, father and mother, preceptor and everything else-it is in the temple of their mind that Sītā and You two brothers should reside.”
Chaupais
avaguna taji saba kē guna gahahīṃ. bipra dhēnu hita saṃkaṭa sahahīṃ..
nīti nipuna jinha kai jaga līkā. ghara tumhāra tinha kara manu nīkā.. [2-130-1]
guna tumhāra samujhai nija dōsā. jēhi saba bhāomti tumhāra bharōsā..
rāma bhagata priya lāgahiṃ jēhī. tēhi ura basahu sahita baidēhī.. [2-130-2]
jāti pāomti dhanu dharama baḍaāī. priya parivāra sadana sukhadāī..
saba taji tumhahi rahai ura lāī. tēhi kē hṛdayaom rahahu raghurāī.. [2-130-3]
saragu naraku apabaragu samānā. jahaom tahaom dēkha dharēṃ dhanu bānā..
karama bacana mana rāura cērā. rāma karahu tēhi kēṃ ura ḍērā.. [2-130-4]
“Those who overlook others’ faults and pick out their virtues and endure hardships for the sake of the Brāhmaṇas and cows, nay, who have established their reputation in the world as well-versed in the laws of propriety-their mind is Your excellent abode. Again, he who attributes his virtues to You and holds himself responsible for his faults, nay, who entirely depends on You and loves Śrī Rāma’s (Your) devotees-it is in his heart that You should stay alongwith Videha’s Daughter (Sītā). He who, renouncing his caste and kinsmen, wealth, faith and glory, his near and dear ones, his happy home and everything else, cherishes You in his bosom-in his heart You should take up Your residence, O Lord of Raghus. Again, he to whom heaven and hell and even freedom from birth and death are the same inasmuch as he beholds You armed with a bow and arrow here, there and everywhere, and who is Your servant in thought, word and deed-make his heart, O Rāma, Your permanent abode.”
Dohas
jāhi na cāhia kabahu kachu tumha sana sahaja sanēhu.
basahu niraṃtara tāsu mana sō rāura nija gēhu..131.. [2-131]
Lastly, he who wants nothing at any moment and bears natural affinity to You- incessantly dwell in his mind; for that is Your own home.”
Chaupais
ēhi bidhi munibara bhavana dēkhāē. bacana saprēma rāma mana bhāē..
kaha muni sunahu bhānukulanāyaka. āśrama kahau samaya sukhadāyaka.. [2-131-1]
citrakūṭa giri karahu nivāsū. tahaom tumhāra saba bhāomti supāsū..
sailu suhāvana kānana cārū. kari kēhari mṛga bihaga bihārū.. [2-131-2]
nadī punīta purāna bakhānī. atripriyā nija tapabala ānī..
surasari dhāra nāu maṃdākini. jō saba pātaka pōtaka ḍākini.. [2-131-3]
atri ādi munibara bahu basahīṃ. karahiṃ jōga japa tapa tana kasahīṃ..
calahu saphala śrama saba kara karahū. rāma dēhu gaurava giribarahū.. [2-131-4]
The eminent sage (Vālmīki) thus showed Him many a dwelling place and his loving words gladdened Śrī Rāma’s soul. “Listen, O Lord of the solar race,” the sage continued, “I now tell You a retreat that will be delightful in the existing circumstances. Take up Your abode on the Citrakūṭa hill: there You will have comforts of every kind. Charming is the hill and lovely the forest, which is the haunt of elephants, lions and deer as well as of birds. It has a holy river glorified in the Purāṇas, which was brought by the sage Atri’s wife by dint of her penance. It is a side stream of the Gaṅgā and is known by the name of Mandākinī-which is quick to destroy sins even as a witch strangles infants. Many great sages like Atri dwell there practising Yoga and muttering sacred formulas and wasting their bodies with penance. Wend Your way thither, Rāma, and reward the labours of all, conferring dignity on this great mountain as well.”