Narada Asks for the Marks of the Saints Who Hold Rama under Their Sway
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 43
Doha 45 · Movement 1 of 2
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Narada hears Raghupati's words, and joy raises every hair upon his body while tears fill his eyes. What other Lord, he asks, bears such affection and protective love for a servant? Those who abandon delusion yet fail to worship such a master are poor in knowledge, dull, and unfortunate.
Then the sage turns respectfully toward another question. He asks Rama, knower of realized wisdom and destroyer of the fear of becoming, to describe the marks of the saints. Rama agrees to name the qualities by which these devotees hold even him beneath their sway.
They conquer the six modifications, remain sinless and free of selfish desire, steady, without possessive claim, pure, and dwellings of happiness. Their understanding is measureless. They are free from grasping, moderate in enjoyment, rooted in truth, poetic, learned, and joined to yoga. Vigilant and patient, they honor others, carry no pride, and know the path of dharma with consummate clarity.
Narada asks what makes a saint, and Rama begins naming the virtues before which the Lord himself yields.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि रघुपति के बचन सुहाए। मुनि तन पुलक नयन भरि आए।। कहहु कवन प्रभु कै असि रीती। सेवक पर ममता अरु प्रीती।। जे न भजहिं अस प्रभु भ्रम त्यागी। ग्यान रंक नर मंद अभागी।। पुनि सादर बोले मुनि नारद। सुनहु राम बिग्यान बिसारद।। संतन्ह के लच्छन रघुबीरा। कहहु नाथ भव भंजन भीरा।। सुनु मुनि संतन्ह के गुन कहऊँ। जिन्ह ते मैं उन्ह कें बस रहऊँ।। षट बिकार जित अनघ अकामा। अचल अकिंचन सुचि सुखधामा।। अमितबोध अनीह मितभोगी। सत्यसार कबि कोबिद जोगी।। सावधान मानद मदहीना। धीर धर्म गति परम प्रबीना।।
Hearing the sweet words of Raghupati, the Muni's body thrilled with joy and his eyes filled with tears. Tell me, what Prabhu possesses such a nature: such tender love and affection for His sevaka? Those who do not worship such a Prabhu, casting off delusion, are poor in jnana, dull, and unfortunate. Then sage Narada spoke respectfully: Listen, O Rama, master of all vijnana. O Raghuvira, destroyer of the fear of samsara, please describe the qualities of the Santas, O Lord. Listen, Muni. I shall tell the virtues of the Santas, by which I remain under their loving control. They have conquered the six vikara. They are sinless, desireless, steadfast, akimchana, pure, and abodes of sukha. They possess boundless bodha, are free from selfish desire, moderate in enjoyment, grounded in satya, and are learned kavis, kovids, and yogis. They are ever vigilant, honoring others while free from mada themselves, patient, and supremely skilled in the path of dharma.