Sutikshna Loses the Road in Love and Awakens in Rama's Embrace

मुनि अगस्ति कर सिष्य सुजाना। नाम सुतीछन रति भगवाना।। मन क्रम बचन राम पद सेवक। सपनेहुँ आन भरोस न देवक।। प्रभु आगवनु श्रवन सुनि पावा। करत मनोरथ आतुर धावा।। हे बिधि दीनबंधु रघुराया। मो से सठ पर करिहहिं दाया।। सहित अनुज मोहि राम गोसाई। मिलिहहिं निज सेवक की नाई।। मोरे जियँ भरोस दृढ़ नाहीं। भगति बिरति न ग्यान मन माहीं।। नहिं सतसंग जोग जप जागा। नहिं दृढ़ चरन कमल अनुरागा।। एक बानि करुनानिधान की। सो प्रिय जाकें गति न आन की।। होइहैं सुफल आजु मम लोचन। देखि बदन पंकज भव मोचन।। निर्भर प्रेम मगन मुनि ग्यानी। कहि न जाइ सो दसा भवानी।। दिसि अरु बिदिसि पंथ नहिं सूझा। को मैं चलेउँ कहाँ नहिं बूझा।। कबहुँक फिरि पाछें पुनि जाई। कबहुँक नृत्य करइ गुन गाई।। अबिरल प्रेम भगति मुनि पाई। प्रभु देखैं तरु ओट लुकाई।। अतिसय प्रीति देखि रघुबीरा। प्रगटे हृदयँ हरन भव भीरा।। मुनि मग माझ अचल होइ बैसा। पुलक सरीर पनस फल जैसा।। तब रघुनाथ निकट चलि आए। देखि दसा निज जन मन भाए।। मुनिहि राम बहु भाँति जगावा। जाग न ध्यानजनित सुख पावा।। भूप रूप तब राम दुरावा। हृदयँ चतुर्भुज रूप देखावा।। मुनि अकुलाइ उठा तब कैसें। बिकल हीन मनि फनि बर जैसें।। आगें देखि राम तन स्यामा। सीता अनुज सहित सुख धामा।। परेउ लकुट इव चरनन्हि लागी। प्रेम मगन मुनिबर बड़भागी।। भुज बिसाल गहि लिए उठाई। परम प्रीति राखे उर लाई।। मुनिहि मिलत अस सोह कृपाला। कनक तरुहि जनु भेंट तमाला।। राम बदनु बिलोक मुनि ठाढ़ा। मानहुँ चित्र माझ लिखि काढ़ा।।

There lived a wise disciple of sage Agastya named Sutikshna, whose whole being was devoted to the Lord. In thought, in deed, in speech he served Rama's feet alone. Even in dreams he placed his trust in no other. When he heard that the Lord was drawing near, he ran forward eagerly, his heart racing with wishes and longings. 'O Creator! Will Raghuraya, the friend of the lowly, truly show mercy to a fool like me? Will Rama Gosai, together with his younger brother, meet me as he would his own servant? There is no firm faith in my heart. Neither devotion, nor detachment, nor knowledge dwells in my mind. I have no satsang, no yoga, no japa, no awakening, no steady love for his lotus feet. Yet there is one unfailing quality of the ocean of compassion: he holds dear those who have nowhere else to turn. Today my eyes will bear fruit at last, beholding that lotus face which frees all beings from the cycle of birth.' O Bhavani, that wise sage was so drowned in boundless love that his state cannot be put into words. He could not tell one direction from another, could not recognize the path. He did not know who he was or where he was going. Sometimes he would turn around and retrace his steps. Sometimes he would break into dance, singing the Lord's glories aloud. Having received the gift of ceaseless love and devotion, the sage hid behind a tree, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Lord. Seeing such extraordinary love, Raghuvira revealed himself within the sage's heart, the one who removes all fear of worldly existence. The sage sat down right in the middle of the path, completely still. His body stood on end with ecstasy, like the bumpy skin of a jackfruit. Then Raghunatha came near. Seeing the condition of his own devotee, the Lord was deeply pleased. Rama tried to rouse the sage in many ways, but Sutikshna would not awaken; so deep was the bliss born of meditation. Then Rama concealed his princely form and revealed his four-armed divine form within the sage's heart. The sage sprang up in agitation, like a great serpent who has lost his precious jewel. Before him stood Rama in his dark, beautiful form, together with Sita and Lakshmana, the very abode of joy. He fell like a staff at their feet. That greatly blessed sage was utterly lost in love. With his mighty arms the Lord took hold of Sutikshna, lifted him up, and pressed him to his chest with supreme affection. The compassionate Lord embracing the sage was a sight of rare beauty, like a dark tamala tree meeting a golden tree. Gazing upon Rama's face, the sage stood perfectly still, as though someone had drawn his portrait and set it there.