Ram Receives His Guru at the Door
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 9
Doha 9 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha sends Vasishtha to counsel Ram. The moment he hears of his guru's arrival, Ram comes to the doorway, bows at the sage's feet, offers arghya, and leads him within for worship.
Together with Sita, he clasps the guru's feet again. A master's coming to a servant's home, Ram says, destroys misfortune and makes the dwelling sacred, though proper order would have allowed the master simply to summon him.
Whatever Vasishtha commands will be done. Ram calls service itself the servant's fortune when the master accepts it. On the eve of being raised above the kingdom, he defines his place below the guru, making humility the first throne upon which he sits.
Before hearing of his crown, Ram makes the doorway of his home a place of service at the guru's feet.
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तब नरनाहँ बसिष्ठु बोलाए। रामधाम सिख देन पठाए।। गुर आगमनु सुनत रघुनाथा। द्वार आइ पद नायउ माथा।। सादर अरघ देइ घर आने। सोरह भाँति पूजि सनमाने।। गहे चरन सिय सहित बहोरी। बोले रामु कमल कर जोरी।। सेवक सदन स्वामि आगमनू। मंगल मूल अमंगल दमनू।। तदपि उचित जनु बोलि सप्रीती। पठइअ काज नाथ असि नीती।। प्रभुता तजि प्रभु कीन्ह सनेहू। भयउ पुनीत आजु यहु गेहू।। आयसु होइ सो करौं गोसाई। सेवक लहइ स्वामि सेवकाई।।
Then the king summoned sage Vasishtha and sent him to Rama's palace to impart sacred counsel. Hearing of his guru's arrival, Raghunatha came to the doorway and bowed his head at the sage's feet. With reverence he offered arghya, welcomed him inside, and honored him with worship of sixteen kinds. Then, together with Sita, Rama clasped the guru's feet once more and spoke with lotus-like palms joined in prayer: "The master's coming to his servant's dwelling is the very root of blessing and the destroyer of all misfortune. Yet the proper way, O Lord, is to send for one's servant with a loving summons and assign him his task. Setting aside your lordly station, my Master, you have shown pure affection. Today this house has become sacred. Whatever you command, that I shall do, O Gosain. It is the servant's great fortune when the master accepts his service."