Sutikshna Places His Praise and His Boon Entirely in Rama's Hands
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 10
Doha 11 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sutikshna asks how his small understanding can praise immeasurable glory, a firefly standing before the sun. Still the hymn pours forth. He beholds Rama dark as blue lotuses, crowned with matted locks and clothed as a sage, bow and arrows in hand, the fire in delusion's forest, the sun of the saints' lotus garden, the lion before herds of demon-elephants, the hawk that strikes the bird of worldly existence, and the moon for Sita's chakora eyes.
Rama is the young swan upon the lake of Shiva's heart, Garuda to the serpent of doubt, beyond harsh argument, both formed and formless, pure, infinite, and beyond knowledge and speech. Yet Sutikshna asks that this imperishable Lord dwell in his mind as the forest wanderer with Sita and Lakshmana. One certainty must never leave him: he is the servant, and Raghupati is his master.
Delighted, Rama embraces the sage and offers any boon. Sutikshna confesses he has never known how to ask or even distinguish false from true. He asks Rama to grant whatever the Lord considers good. Devotion, detachment, knowledge, and virtue are bestowed, yet the sage still holds one cherished desire, ready to name the form in which grace must remain within him.
Unable to choose among blessings, Sutikshna lets the giver choose and keeps only the pride of being Rama's servant.
Read the passage from the Manas
कह मुनि प्रभु सुनु बिनती मोरी। अस्तुति करौं कवन बिधि तोरी।। महिमा अमित मोरि मति थोरी। रबि सन्मुख खद्योत अँजोरी।। श्याम तामरस दाम शरीरं। जटा मुकुट परिधन मुनिचीरं।। पाणि चाप शर कटि तूणीरं। नौमि निरंतर श्रीरघुवीरं।। मोह विपिन घन दहन कृशानुः। संत सरोरुह कानन भानुः।। निशिचर करि वरूथ मृगराजः। त्रातु सदा नो भव खग बाजः।। अरुण नयन राजीव सुवेशं। सीता नयन चकोर निशेशं।। हर ह्रदि मानस बाल मरालं। नौमि राम उर बाहु विशालं।। संशय सर्प ग्रसन उरगादः। शमन सुकर्कश तर्क विषादः।। भव भंजन रंजन सुर यूथः। त्रातु सदा नो कृपा वरूथः।। निर्गुण सगुण विषम सम रूपं। ज्ञान गिरा गोतीतमनूपं।। अमलमखिलमनवद्यमपारं। नौमि राम भंजन महि भारं।। भक्त कल्पपादप आरामः। तर्जन क्रोध लोभ मद कामः।। अति नागर भव सागर सेतुः। त्रातु सदा दिनकर कुल केतुः।। अतुलित भुज प्रताप बल धामः। कलि मल विपुल विभंजन नामः।। धर्म वर्म नर्मद गुण ग्रामः। संतत शं तनोतु मम रामः।। जदपि बिरज ब्यापक अबिनासी। सब के हृदयँ निरंतर बासी।। तदपि अनुज श्री सहित खरारी। बसतु मनसि मम काननचारी।। जे जानहिं ते जानहुँ स्वामी। सगुन अगुन उर अंतरजामी।। जो कोसल पति राजिव नयना। करउ सो राम हृदय मम अयना। अस अभिमान जाइ जनि भोरे। मैं सेवक रघुपति पति मोरे।। सुनि मुनि बचन राम मन भाए। बहुरि हरषि मुनिबर उर लाए।। परम प्रसन्न जानु मुनि मोही। जो बर मागहु देउ सो तोही।। मुनि कह मै बर कबहुँ न जाचा। समुझि न परइ झूठ का साचा।। तुम्हहि नीक लागै रघुराई। सो मोहि देहु दास सुखदाई।। अबिरल भगति बिरति बिग्याना। होहु सकल गुन ग्यान निधाना।। प्रभु जो दीन्ह सो बरु मैं पावा। अब सो देहु मोहि जो भावा।।
The sage spoke: 'O Lord, hear my humble plea. In what manner can I offer praise to You? Your glory is without limit; my understanding is small. It is like a firefly's glow standing before the sun. Dark as a garland of blue lotuses is Your body, crowned with matted locks, clothed in the bark of sages. Bow in hand, arrows at Your side, a quiver at Your waist. I bow ceaselessly to the heroic Lord of Raghu's line. You are the fire that burns the dense forest of delusion, the sun that opens the lotus garden of the saints. You are the lion among herds of demon elephants, the divine falcon of heaven. May You always protect us. With reddish lotus eyes and a form of surpassing beauty, You are the full moon for Sita's chakora-bird gaze. You are the young swan gliding on the Manasa lake of Shiva's heart. I bow to Rama of broad chest and mighty arms. You are Garuda who devours the serpent of doubt, the one who stills the anguish of bitter argument. Destroyer of worldly bondage, delight of the hosts of heaven. May the sheltering army of Your compassion always guard us. You are both formless and formed, beyond all opposites, surpassing knowledge, speech, and the reach of the senses. Pure, whole, faultless, infinite. I bow to Rama, who lifts the burden from the weary earth. You are the wish-fulfilling garden for Your devotees, the terror of anger, greed, pride, and lust. Most gracious bridge across the ocean of worldly existence. May the glorious banner of the solar dynasty protect us always. Abode of matchless strength and valor in Your arms, Your very name shatters the heaped-up sins of Kali Yuga. Armored in dharma, a treasury of gentle and joyful virtues. May my Rama grant me unbroken peace. Though You are stainless, all-pervading, and imperishable, dwelling without pause in the hearts of all beings, still may the slayer of Khara, the wanderer of the forest, along with his brother and Shri, take up residence in my mind. Those who truly know You understand, O Lord, that You are both saguna and nirguna, the inner witness of every heart. May that Rama, the lotus-eyed king of Kosala, make my heart his dwelling place. May this one certainty never leave me, even by accident: I am the servant, and the Lord of Raghu's line is my master. Hearing the sage's words, Rama was pleased. Joyfully he drew the noble sage to his heart once more. "Know, O sage, that I am supremely delighted with you. Whatever boon you wish, ask, and I will give it." The sage replied: "I have never asked for a boon in my life. I cannot even tell what is false from what is true. Whatever seems good to You, O Raghurai, grant me that, O giver of joy to Your servants. Unwavering devotion, detachment, and true knowledge; let me become a storehouse of every virtue and wisdom. The boon You have already given, I have received. Now grant me the one thing my heart truly desires."