Jatayu Praises the Formless One Standing before Him in Forest Form
Aranya Kanda, Chhand 4
Doha 32 · Movement 2 of 3
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Jatayu hails Rama whose form is incomparable, who is nirguna and saguna, and who impels every quality. He beholds the future destroyer of Ravana's mighty arms, the warrior whose fierce arrows will adorn the earth. The body before him is dark as a rain cloud, the face a lotus, the wide eyes lotus petals, and the great compassionate arms release beings from the fear of becoming.
This visible Rama is also immeasurable power, beginningless, unborn, unmanifest, one, and beyond the senses. He is Govinda, destroyer of duality, compact mass of knowledge, and bearer of the earth. Innumerable saints and devotees chant the Rama mantra, and Rama delights their hearts. He is beloved of the desireless and destroys the armies of desire and its companions. The stainless, all-pervading Brahman praised by scripture and reached by sages through meditation, knowledge, detachment, and yoga has appeared here as the root of compassion.
That splendor enchants everything moving and still. Jatayu asks Rama to live as a bee within the lotus of his heart, limbs more beautiful than Love himself. Beyond reach yet easy to attain, pure, unequaled, equal toward all, and forever serene, he is the one yogis labor to behold by mastering mind and senses. The Lord of the three worlds is the abode of Lakshmi and remains subject to his servants. Jatayu asks that the Rama who ends samsara and whose glory purifies all should remain within his heart.
The Brahman sought through every discipline stands close enough for Jatayu's tears to behold.
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जय राम रूप अनूप निर्गुन सगुन गुन प्रेरक सही। दससीस बाहु प्रचंड खंडन चंड सर मंडन मही।। पाथोद गात सरोज मुख राजीव आयत लोचनं। नित नौमि रामु कृपाल बाहु बिसाल भव भय मोचनं।।1।। बलमप्रमेयमनादिमजमब्यक्तमेकमगोचरं। गोबिंद गोपर द्वंद्वहर बिग्यानघन धरनीधरं।। जे राम मंत्र जपंत संत अनंत जन मन रंजनं। नित नौमि राम अकाम प्रिय कामादि खल दल गंजनं।।2। जेहि श्रुति निरंजन ब्रह्म ब्यापक बिरज अज कहि गावहीं।। करि ध्यान ग्यान बिराग जोग अनेक मुनि जेहि पावहीं।। सो प्रगट करुना कंद सोभा बृंद अग जग मोहई। मम हृदय पंकज भृंग अंग अनंग बहु छबि सोहई।।3।। जो अगम सुगम सुभाव निर्मल असम सम सीतल सदा। पस्यंति जं जोगी जतन करि करत मन गो बस सदा।। सो राम रमा निवास संतत दास बस त्रिभुवन धनी। मम उर बसउ सो समन संसृति जासु कीरति पावनी।।4।।
Victory to Rama, whose rupa is beyond compare! Nirguna and saguna both, the true prerak of all guna. O destroyer of the Dasasisa's mighty arms, whose fierce arrows adorn the earth. His body the color of rain-clouds, his face a saroja, his eyes wide and beautiful as lotuses. I bow forever to Rama the kripala, whose vast arms release all beings from the fear of bhava. His bala is beyond measure, without beginning, unborn, unmanifest, one, and beyond the senses. Govinda, beyond all prakriti, destroyer of all duality, a solid mass of vijnana, upholder of the earth. The saints who chant the Rama-mantra bring endless delight to the hearts of devotees. I bow forever to Rama, beloved of the desireless, crusher of the armies of Kama and all other foes. He whom the Shruti sing as Niranjana Brahma, all-pervading, beyond rajas, and unborn. Through dhyana, jnana, vairagya, and yoga, countless munis have attained Him. That very One has appeared as Karunakanda, whose splendor enchants all the worlds, moving and still. May He, the bee upon the lotus of my heart, whose limbs outshine even Ananga, dwell there in all his glory. He who is beyond approach yet easy to reach, pure by nature, beyond all comparison yet equal to all, forever serene. The yogis strive with great effort, making mind and senses obedient, to behold that One. That Rama, dwelling-place of Rama, ever subject to his devotees, Lord of the three worlds. May He dwell in my heart, He who ends the cycle of samsriti, whose keerti is utterly pavana.