The Ocean of Bliss Dwells Among the Trees
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 139
Doha 139 · Movement 1 of 2
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Those with sight behold Raghubar and receive the fruit of birth, released from sorrow. Trees and mountains, touched only by dust from his feet, become eligible for the supreme state. Chitrakoot's natural beauty deepens into immeasurable sanctity because the ocean of bliss has chosen to dwell there.
Leaving the milk ocean and Ayodhya behind, Sita, Lakshmana, and Ram reside among these hills. Even a hundred thousand Sheshas, each speaking through a thousand tongues, could not finish describing the forest's splendor.
The poet stands before that task like a frog in a small pool asked to lift Mount Mandara. He turns instead toward what can be contemplated in one clear gesture: Lakshmana serving through action, thought, and speech, his character and affection as inexhaustible as the landscape around him.
At Chitrakoot, the forest exceeds a thousand tongues, yet Lakshmana's wordless service reveals its deepest beauty.
Read the passage from the Manas
नयनवंत रघुबरहि बिलोकी। पाइ जनम फल होहिं बिसोकी।। परसि चरन रज अचर सुखारी। भए परम पद के अधिकारी।। सो बनु सैलु सुभायँ सुहावन। मंगलमय अति पावन पावन।। महिमा कहिअ कवनि बिधि तासू। सुखसागर जहँ कीन्ह निवासू।। पय पयोधि तजि अवध बिहाई। जहँ सिय लखनु रामु रहे आई।। कहि न सकहिं सुषमा जसि कानन। जौं सत सहस होंहिं सहसानन।। सो मैं बरनि कहौं बिधि केहीं। डाबर कमठ कि मंदर लेहीं।। सेवहिं लखनु करम मन बानी। जाइ न सीलु सनेहु बखानी।।
Those with eyes who behold the best of Raghus find the fruit of their birth and become free of sorrow. By touching the dust of His feet, even the immovable trees and mountains attain the supreme state. That forest and mountain are naturally beautiful, most auspicious and supremely sacred. How can one describe its glory, where the Ocean of Bliss has made His dwelling? Leaving behind the Ocean of Milk and passing beyond Ayodhya, Sita, Lakshmana, and Rama have come to reside here. Even if there were a hundred thousand Sheshas, each with a thousand tongues, they could not describe the beauty of that forest. How then shall I describe it? Can a frog in a puddle lift Mount Mandara? Lakshmana serves with deed, mind, and speech. His virtue and love cannot be told in words.