The Cosmic Witness Performs a Human Role
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 127
Doha 127 · Movement 1 of 2
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The world is spectacle and Ram the true witness, before whom Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva move as dancers. Even they cannot fathom his secret. Only one to whom he reveals himself can know, and the knower, entering that knowledge, becomes one with the known.
Devotees recognize Raghunandan only by his grace. His form is consciousness and bliss, free from every defect, yet he has accepted a human body for saints and gods. He speaks and acts with the natural completeness of an earthly prince.
The dull become enchanted by hearing these deeds, while the wise rejoice. Nothing in the performance is false. Once the costume is taken, the dance must be enacted perfectly. Ram's humanity is not a crack in divinity but the flawless gesture through which the unseen makes itself near.
The witness of the cosmos wears a prince's form so perfectly that every human gesture becomes transparent to the infinite.
Read the passage from the Manas
जगु पेखन तुम्ह देखनिहारे। बिधि हरि संभु नचावनिहारे।। तेउ न जानहिं मरमु तुम्हारा। औरु तुम्हहि को जाननिहारा।। सोइ जानइ जेहि देहु जनाई। जानत तुम्हहि तुम्हइ होइ जाई।। तुम्हरिहि कृपाँ तुम्हहि रघुनंदन। जानहिं भगत भगत उर चंदन।। चिदानंदमय देह तुम्हारी। बिगत बिकार जान अधिकारी।। नर तनु धरेहु संत सुर काजा। कहहु करहु जस प्राकृत राजा।। राम देखि सुनि चरित तुम्हारे। जड़ मोहहिं बुध होहिं सुखारे।। तुम्ह जो कहहु करहु सबु साँचा। जस काछिअ तस चाहिअ नाचा।।
The world is a spectacle, and You are the one who truly sees. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shambhu (Shiva) all dance at your bidding. Yet even they do not know your hidden mystery. Who else, then, could ever claim to know You? Only the one to whom You reveal Yourself can know You. And the soul that truly knows You becomes You. By your grace alone, O Raghunandan (joy of Raghu's line), do devotees come to know You. You are the chandan (sandalwood) cooling every devotee's heart. Your form is chidanandamaya, pure consciousness and bliss, free from every flaw. Only the worthy soul perceives this. You have taken a human body for the sake of saints and gods, yet You speak and act just like an ordinary king. O Rama, seeing and hearing your divine deeds, even the dull-witted fall under love's spell, while the wise are filled with joy. Whatever You say and do is wholly true. As the costume is worn, so must the dance be performed.