Rama Explains Why He Guarded Narada like a Mother Guards a Child
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 41
Doha 43ख · Movement 1 of 2
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Seeing Rama greatly pleased, Narada asks another question. When the Lord sent forth his Maya, the sage himself was deluded and desired marriage. Why did Rama prevent the wish from being fulfilled? The question returns to an old humiliation, but it is asked now within the safety of the Lord's embrace.
Rama tells him that those who abandon every other reliance and worship him receive his constant protection, as a mother guards her child. When the little one runs toward fire or serpent, the mother catches and holds it back. Once the child has grown, she does not watch in the same way as before. Her love remains, but maturity carries another kind of freedom and danger.
The realized devotee resembles the grown son, while the egoless servant resembles the small child. The servant knows and relies upon Rama's strength, while the jnani relies upon his own. Desire and anger remain enemies to both. Knowing this, the wise continue to worship the Lord. Even after knowledge has arisen, they never abandon bhakti.
The hand that denied Narada's desire was the mother's hand drawing a child back from fire.
Read the passage from the Manas
अति प्रसन्न रघुनाथहि जानी। पुनि नारद बोले मृदु बानी।। राम जबहिं प्रेरेउ निज माया। मोहेहु मोहि सुनहु रघुराया।। तब बिबाह मैं चाहउँ कीन्हा। प्रभु केहि कारन करै न दीन्हा।। सुनु मुनि तोहि कहउँ सहरोसा। भजहिं जे मोहि तजि सकल भरोसा।। करउँ सदा तिन्ह कै रखवारी। जिमि बालक राखइ महतारी।। गह सिसु बच्छ अनल अहि धाई। तहँ राखइ जननी अरगाई।। प्रौढ़ भएँ तेहि सुत पर माता। प्रीति करइ नहिं पाछिलि बाता।। मोरे प्रौढ़ तनय सम ग्यानी। बालक सुत सम दास अमानी।। जनहि मोर बल निज बल ताही। दुहु कहँ काम क्रोध रिपु आही।। यह बिचारि पंडित मोहि भजहीं। पाएहुँ ग्यान भगति नहिं तजहीं।।
Seeing Raghunatha extremely pleased, Narada again spoke in gentle words. O Raghuraya, when Rama sent forth His own Maya, it deluded even me. Please listen. Then I desired to marry, but why did the Prabhu not grant this to me? Listen, O Muni, I tell you with emphasis: those who worship Me, abandoning all other refuge, I always protect them, just as a mother protects her child. When a child runs toward fire or serpent, the mother holds him back and shields him. But when the son becomes mature, the mother does not show the same watchful protection as before. My wise devotees are like grown sons, while the egoless servants are like young children. One relies on My strength, the other on his own. Both face the enemies of kama and krodha. Considering this, the wise worship Me. Even after gaining jnana, they do not abandon bhakti.