Rama Reveals Bhakti as the Sovereign Path That Makes Him Hasten
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 15
Doha 16 · Movement 1 of 2
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Detachment arises from dharma, knowledge from yoga, and the Vedas proclaim knowledge as the giver of liberation. Yet Rama names what makes him melt most quickly: his own bhakti, giver of joy to the devotee. She is sovereign and self-sufficient. Knowledge and realized wisdom themselves stand dependent upon her.
This incomparable root of bliss is received through the grace of saints. Rama describes the accessible road: deep love for the feet of Brahmins, steadfast performance of one's scriptural duty, detachment from sense pleasures, affection for the Lord's dharma, firmness in the nine forms of devotion, and a heart absorbed in his divine play. Love for saints and worship by mind, action, and speech become an unwavering vow.
The devotee recognizes Rama as guru, father, mother, kinsman, master, and deity, and serves with constancy. While singing his virtues, the body thrills, the voice falters, and tears flow. Where craving, pride, hypocrisy, and their companions find no dwelling, Rama himself dwells without interruption. Bhakti is not merely the road toward him; it is the welcome by which he enters.
Knowledge may open the gate of liberation, but sovereign bhakti makes Rama cross the distance and inhabit the heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
धर्म तें बिरति जोग तें ग्याना। ग्यान मोच्छप्रद बेद बखाना।। जातें बेगि द्रवउँ मैं भाई। सो मम भगति भगत सुखदाई।। सो सुतंत्र अवलंब न आना। तेहि आधीन ग्यान बिग्याना।। भगति तात अनुपम सुखमूला। मिलइ जो संत होइँ अनुकूला।। भगति कि साधन कहउँ बखानी। सुगम पंथ मोहि पावहिं प्रानी।। प्रथमहिं बिप्र चरन अति प्रीती। निज निज कर्म निरत श्रुति रीती।। एहि कर फल पुनि बिषय बिरागा। तब मम धर्म उपज अनुरागा।। श्रवनादिक नव भक्ति दृढ़ाहीं। मम लीला रति अति मन माहीं।। संत चरन पंकज अति प्रेमा। मन क्रम बचन भजन दृढ़ नेमा।। गुरु पितु मातु बंधु पति देवा। सब मोहि कहँ जाने दृढ़ सेवा।। मम गुन गावत पुलक सरीरा। गदगद गिरा नयन बह नीरा।। काम आदि मद दंभ न जाकें। तात निरंतर बस मैं ताकें।।
From dharma comes detachment; from yoga comes knowledge. The Vedas declare that knowledge grants liberation. Yet that which moves Me most swiftly, O brother, is My own bhakti, the devotion that brings bliss to the devoted. That bhakti is sovereign and self-sufficient, needing no other support. Knowledge and realized wisdom both depend upon her. Devotion, dear one, is the root of incomparable joy. She is attained when the saints become gracious. Let Me describe the path of devotion, the easy road by which beings may reach Me. First, deep love for the feet of the wise, and faithful attention to one's own duties as the scriptures teach. The fruit of this is detachment from sense pleasures. Then love for My dharma begins to blossom. The nine forms of devotion grow firm: shravana, kirtana, smarana, padasevana, archana, vandana, dasya, sakhya, and atmanivedana. Great love for My divine lila fills the heart. There is ardent love for the lotus feet of saints, and a steady vow to worship with mind, deed, and word. Guru, father, mother, brother, husband, and God: one who sees Me in all of these and serves them with unwavering faith. Singing My qualities, the body trembles with ecstasy, the voice chokes, and tears stream from the eyes. One in whom lust, anger, pride, and pretense find no home: in that person, dear one, I dwell without ceasing.