Chitrakoot Outshines the Celestial Gardens
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 138
Doha 138 · Movement 1 of 2
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Elephants, lions, monkeys, bears, and deer move together without hostility. Herds pause before Ram's beauty and grow especially joyful. The ordinary law of fear relaxes around the dwelling of the compassionate Lord.
Celestial forests feel humbled before this woodland. Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Godavari, and every lake, sea, river, and stream praise Mandakini. Eastern and western mountains, Kailasa, Mandara, Meru, Himalaya, and divine peaks sing the fame of Chitrakoot.
Even Brahma's heart overflows because the mountain he fashioned has gained immense honor without further labor. Ram's presence rearranges sacred geography. A forest once one among many becomes the place toward which rivers, peaks, and heavenly gardens turn in admiration.
With Ram beneath its trees, Chitrakoot becomes the mountain before which rivers, peaks, and heaven's gardens offer praise.
Read the passage from the Manas
केरि केहरि कपि कोल कुरंगा। बिगतबैर बिचरहिं सब संगा।। फिरत अहेर राम छबि देखी। होहिं मुदित मृगबंद बिसेषी।। बिबुध बिपिन जहँ लगि जग माहीं। देखि राम बनु सकल सिहाहीं।। सुरसरि सरसइ दिनकर कन्या। मेकलसुता गोदावरि धन्या।। सब सर सिंधु नदी नद नाना। मंदाकिनि कर करहिं बखाना।। उदय अस्त गिरि अरु कैलासू। मंदर मेरु सकल सुरबासू।। सैल हिमाचल आदिक जेते। चित्रकूट जसु गावहिं तेते।। बिंधि मुदित मन सुखु न समाई। श्रम बिनु बिपुल बड़ाई पाई।।
Elephants, lions, monkeys, bears, and deer all wander together, free of enmity. Roaming herds of deer behold Rama's beauty and become especially joyful. All the divine forests and groves in creation feel ashamed when they see Rama's woodland. The Ganga grows jealous, the Yamuna (daughter of the Sun), the Narmada (daughter of Mekala), the blessed Godavari: every lake, ocean, river, and stream sings the praises of the Mandakini. The mountains of sunrise and sunset, Kailasa, Mandara, Meru, and every abode of the gods: the Himalayas and all other mountains sing the glory of Chitrakoot. Brahma's heart overflows with a joy that cannot be contained, having gained immense honor without any effort.