Ram Dwells Where Ears Become Oceans
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 128
Doha 128 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram smiles shyly at Valmiki's love steeped answer. The sage laughs and begins to name the dwellings in which Sita, Ram, and Lakshmana may truly reside.
Some ears are vast as oceans. Beautiful rivers of Ram's story pour into them without ceasing, yet they are never filled enough to refuse another current. In hearts joined to such listening, the Lord finds a lovely home.
Some eyes become chataka birds, rejecting river, sea, and lake while waiting only for the rain cloud of Ram's form. A single drop of that beauty gives them joy. Within those blissful chambers, Valmiki asks Raghunayaka to dwell with Sita and his brother, making hearing and seeing into sacred architecture.
Where ears are oceans for Ram's story and eyes thirst only for his form, the Lord discovers his most beautiful house.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि मुनि बचन प्रेम रस साने। सकुचि राम मन महुँ मुसुकाने।। बालमीकि हँसि कहहिं बहोरी। बानी मधुर अमिअ रस बोरी।। सुनहु राम अब कहउँ निकेता। जहाँ बसहु सिय लखन समेता।। जिन्ह के श्रवन समुद्र समाना। कथा तुम्हारि सुभग सरि नाना।। भरहिं निरंतर होहिं न पूरे। तिन्ह के हिय तुम्ह कहुँ गृह रूरे।। लोचन चातक जिन्ह करि राखे। रहहिं दरस जलधर अभिलाषे।। निदरहिं सरित सिंधु सर भारी। रूप बिंदु जल होहिं सुखारी।। तिन्ह के हृदय सदन सुखदायक। बसहु बंधु सिय सह रघुनायक।।
Hearing the sage's words, steeped in the rasa of pure love, Rama smiled shyly within His heart. Valmiki laughed and spoke once more, his speech sweet and drenched in the nectar of immortality. 'Listen, O Rama, now I shall name the dwelling where You may reside with Sita and Lakshmana. Those whose ears are vast as the ocean, and into whom Your beautiful stories flow like countless rivers, filling them without ceasing yet never leaving them satisfied: in their hearts You have the loveliest of homes. Those who have made their eyes into chaataka birds, gazing at You as the chaataka gazes at the rain cloud, spurning rivers, seas, and great lakes, finding all their joy in a single drop of Your beauty: in the blissful chambers of their hearts, O Raghunaayaka, dwell with Your brother and with Sita.'