A Heart Cleared of the Inner Storm
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 130
Doha 130 · Movement 1 of 2
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Valmiki names a heart from which lust, anger, pride, vanity, delusion, greed, agitation, attachment, and malice have departed. Deceit and display find no hidden chamber there. In that cleared interior, Raghuraya may dwell.
Its owner is dear and helpful to all, steady through grief and pleasure, praise and insult. Speech is truthful, kind, and considered. Waking and sleeping alike remain within Ram's refuge, with no second destination secretly reserved.
Another's wife is regarded as mother and another's wealth as deadly poison. Another person's prosperity awakens joy, and another's calamity brings genuine pain. When Ram is dearer than life, purity is no longer withdrawal from the world. It becomes a radical tenderness that refuses to exploit and learns to rejoice beyond the boundaries of self.
Once the inner storm has emptied, Ram finds an auspicious dwelling in truthfulness, refuge, and joy for another's good.
Read the passage from the Manas
काम कोह मद मान न मोहा। लोभ न छोभ न राग न द्रोहा।। जिन्ह कें कपट दंभ नहिं माया। तिन्ह कें हृदय बसहु रघुराया।। सब के प्रिय सब के हितकारी। दुख सुख सरिस प्रसंसा गारी।। कहहिं सत्य प्रिय बचन बिचारी। जागत सोवत सरन तुम्हारी।। तुम्हहि छाड़ि गति दूसरि नाहीं। राम बसहु तिन्ह के मन माहीं।। जननी सम जानहिं परनारी। धनु पराव बिष तें बिष भारी।। जे हरषहिं पर संपति देखी। दुखित होहिं पर बिपति बिसेषी।। जिन्हहि राम तुम्ह प्रानपिआरे। तिन्ह के मन सुभ सदन तुम्हारे।।
Those who are free from lust, anger, pride, vanity, and delusion; who harbour no greed, agitation, attachment, or malice. Those in whose hearts there is no deceit, hypocrisy, or illusion. In their hearts, O Raghuraaya, may You dwell. Dear to all and benefactors of all, to whom sorrow and joy, praise and blame are alike. Who speak only truth and kind, considered words; who take refuge in You whether awake or asleep. Beyond You they know no other shelter. O Rama, dwell in the hearts of such souls. Who regard another's wife as their own mother, and consider another's wealth heavier poison than poison itself. Who rejoice upon seeing another's prosperity, and grieve deeply at another's misfortune. Those to whom You, Rama, are dearer than life. Their pure hearts are Your auspicious dwelling places.