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राम

पश्चिमखण्ड · अध्याय 10

Gaṇḍakī, Līlāvatī, and the Śālagrāma River

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Chapter context and opening material

Gaṇḍakī explains her eternal bond with Sahajā. As a Gandharva princess she heard Śiva recite the Rāma-tāraka mantra and became exclusively devoted to Rāma. In a later birth as Tuṇḍilā she saw him on Himālaya, but a divine voice directed her to worship Sahajā. Sahajā granted her companionship in Pramodā Forest as Līlāvatī. Her elemental form became the Gaṇḍakī River, flowing through Viṣṇu Mountain to the Śālagrāma and Cakra-tīrtha region. From the Rāma-tāraka Mantra to Exclusive Devotion

Passage 1

गण्डक्युवाच— अहं ब्रह्मतनोर् जाता गण्डकी नाम या नदी। ममास्याः सङ्गमो नित्यं प्रभुपादनिषेवणे॥१॥

Gaṇḍakī said: “I am the river named Gaṇḍakī, born from Brahmā's body. My union with Sahajā is eternal in service to the Lord's feet.

Passage 2

पुरा श्रीपुष्पदन्तस्य गन्धर्वेन्द्रस्य कन्यका। ईशं परिचरन्त्यास्मिंस्तत्रैवाहं चिरं स्थिता॥२॥

“Long ago I was a daughter of Śrī Puṣpadanta, lord of the Gandharvas. While my father served Śiva, I remained there with him for a long time.

Passage 3

रामतारकमन्त्रस्य पठ्यमानस्य शम्भुना। श्रुत्वा पारायणं राजन् बभूवाहं समुत्सुका॥३॥

“King, hearing Śambhu's complete recitation of the Rāma-tāraka mantra, I became filled with longing.

Passage 4

सर्वथा वर्तमानापि बाल्ये वयसि मुग्धवत्। स्वबुद्ध्याहं धृतवती रामेऽनन्यात्मिकां मतिम्॥४॥

“Though still living in the innocence of childhood, by my own understanding I fixed an exclusively devoted awareness upon Rāma.

Passage 5

तया मत्या दृढप्रज्ञा ज्ञातसारा शिवाननात्। राममेकं प्रभुं बुद्ध्वा सेवां तस्य व्यधासिषम्॥५॥

“Made firm in wisdom by that conviction and learning the essence from Śiva's mouth, I knew Rāma alone as Lord and served him.

Passage 6

प्रतिसञ्चरसम्प्राप्तौ तत्संस्कारैकसंस्कृता। अत्रैव ब्रह्मसुताज्जज्ञे तुण्डिला नाम कन्यका॥६॥

“When cosmic dissolution came, that single devotional impression remained. Here I was later born from a son of Brahmā as a maiden named Tuṇḍilā.

Passage 7

जन्मप्रभृति रामस्य प्रियलीलाविनोदवित्। तदर्थं तपसा ज्ञानात् कर्मणा च समाधिना॥७॥

“From birth I knew the delightful play of Rāma's beloved līlā. For its sake I practiced austerity, knowledge, sacred action, and samādhi. Tuṇḍilā Is Directed to Worship Sahajā

Passage 8

नित्यं हिमवतः पृष्ठे चरन्ती व्रतमुत्तमम्। अन्वभूवं घनश्यामं कदाचित्कोमलं परम्॥८॥

“While continually performing an excellent vow upon Himālaya's heights, I once experienced the supremely tender Lord, dark as a rain cloud.

Passage 9

श्रीरामं कौस्तुभमणिभासितोरस्कमीश्वरम्। व्यचलत् कामभावेन मनो मे तदनन्तरम्॥९॥

“It was Śrī Rāma, the Lord whose chest shone with the Kaustubha gem. My mind immediately trembled with loving desire.

Passage 10

ततः सोऽन्तर्हितो भूत्वा सद्दर्शननिष्ठुरः। आकाशवाण्या मां प्राह न मामेवमवाप्स्यसि॥१०॥

“He then disappeared, making that blessed vision painfully brief, and addressed me through a voice from the sky: ‘You will not attain me in this way.

Passage 11

विषयासक्तचित्तानां मायया विकृतात्मनाम्। न वै गम्योऽहमेवापि सदसत्परमः प्रभुः॥११॥

“‘I, the Lord beyond both being and nonbeing, cannot be reached by minds attached to sense objects and inwardly distorted by māyā.

Passage 12

किंतु मे परमा काचित्प्रेयसी सहजाभिधा। आराधनीया सततमेवं सिद्धिर्भविष्यति॥१२॥

“‘My supreme beloved is named Sahajā. Worship her constantly, and in that way you will attain perfection.’

Passage 13

तच्छ्रुत्वा दिव्यवागर्थं तथैवाकरवं पुनः। ततश्चिरेण सा देवी प्रसन्ना सहजेश्वरी॥१३॥

“Understanding the divine voice, I did exactly as instructed. After a long time the goddess, sovereign Sahajā, became pleased.

Passage 14

वरेण छन्दयामास मन्मनोरथसिद्धिदा। सारस्वते नाम्नि कल्पे रमिष्यामि प्रमोदवने॥१४॥

“She who fulfills the heart's desire invited me to choose a boon and said: ‘In the kalpa named Sārasvata I shall delight in Pramodā Forest,

Passage 15

प्रकटा रामचन्द्रेण रमणाय रमावता। तत्राहं नन्दनाख्यस्य गोपस्य तनया सती॥१५॥

“‘Manifest beside Rāmacandra for loving play. There I shall become the virtuous daughter of the cowherd named Nandana.

Passage 16

रमयिष्ये रामचन्द्रं तत्र त्वं मत्सखी भव। ततोऽहं भौतिकं देहं द्रवीकृत्य जडात्मकम्॥१६॥

“‘I shall delight Rāmacandra; become my companion there.’ I then dissolved and abandoned my inert elemental body.

Passage 17

संत्यज्य स्वात्मना प्राप्ता प्रमोदविपिने जनिः। लीलावती नाम सखी सहजासन्निधौ स्थिता॥१७॥

“In my conscious self I gained birth in Pramodā Forest as the companion named Līlāvatī, always dwelling near Sahajā. The Gaṇḍakī and Śālagrāma Region

Passage 18

इदानीं पुनरुत्पन्ना विभाव्य जनकालये। जातास्मि रत्नकलशीमध्यभागात्तया सह॥१८॥

“Now I have manifested again in Janaka's domain, born together with her from the center of a jeweled pitcher.

Passage 19

यथा च पालनीयेयं ते तथाहमपि पाल्यताम्। साहं पर्वतशृङ्गाग्रान्नदीरूपेण प्रस्थिता॥१९॥

“Protect me just as you protect her. In my river form I flow down from a mountain summit.

Passage 20

विष्णुशैलं विनिर्भिद्य प्रवाहजलगामिनी। शालग्रामं परिप्राप्य सुप्रतिष्ठितमाभुवि॥२०॥

“Breaking through Viṣṇu Mountain, my flowing waters reach Śālagrāma, firmly established upon the earth.

Passage 21

यद्यप्यन्येष्वपि स्थानेषूपलब्धिः श्रिता हरेः। शालग्रामे चक्रतीर्थे ग्राह्य एव न संशयः॥२१॥

“Although Hari's sacred stone may also be found elsewhere, it should undoubtedly be accepted from Śālagrāma at Cakra-tīrtha.

Passage 22

इत्येवं विधिना मन्त्रो गृह्यते श्रीशिलातनुः। रघुनाथराघवेन्द्रसीतारामादिभेदतः॥२२॥

“Through the prescribed procedure the Lord is received in the sacred stone-form, under distinct names such as Raghunātha, Rāghavendra, and Sītā-Rāma.

Passage 23

जनकस्यालये नित्यं वसामि च सुपावने। ततस्त्वं जनको राजन् कृपया परिपालय॥२३॥

“I also dwell eternally in Janaka's supremely pure abode. Therefore, King Janaka, kindly protect me.

Passage 24

विष्णोर्विराट्स्वरूपस्य गण्डदेशे स्थिता त्वहम्। ततश्च गण्डकीनाम्ना विख्यातास्मि जगत्त्रये॥२४॥

“I am situated at the cheek of Viṣṇu's cosmic form. For that reason I am renowned throughout the three worlds under the name Gaṇḍakī.”