Brihaspati Teaches Indra to Love Bharata's Feet
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 219
Doha 219 · Movement 1 of 2
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Brihaspati asks Indra to understand the law around which Ram's visible life turns: the devoted servant is supremely dear to him. Service rejoices in serving, while rivalry and mastery poison the servant's heart.
Ram is impartial, untouched by attachment and anger, and has established a world where every action yields its fruit. Yet he responds according to the inward posture of devotee and non-devotee, allowing love to shape the manner of his grace.
Beyond qualities, unstained and one in essence, Ram accepted form under the power of his devotees' love. Veda, Purana, saint, and god witness that he guards the wish of the servant. Knowing this, Indra must release cunning and cultivate beautiful love for Bharata's feet.
The guru of heaven turns Indra away from strategy and toward Bharata's feet, where the formless Lord has already yielded to love.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनु सुरेस उपदेसु हमारा। रामहि सेवकु परम पिआरा।। मानत सुखु सेवक सेवकाई। सेवक बैर बैरु अधिकाई।। जद्यपि सम नहिं राग न रोषू। गहहिं न पाप पूनु गुन दोषू।। करम प्रधान बिस्व करि राखा। जो जस करइ सो तस फलु चाखा।। तदपि करहिं सम बिषम बिहारा। भगत अभगत हृदय अनुसारा।। अगुन अलेप अमान एकरस। रामु सगुन भए भगत पेम बस।। राम सदा सेवक रुचि राखी। बेद पुरान साधु सुर साखी।। अस जियँ जानि तजहु कुटिलाई। करहु भरत पद प्रीति सुहाई।।
Listen, O king of the gods, to our counsel. A devoted servant is supremely dear to Rama. The servant finds joy in serving. Enmity and lordship are a servant's greatest foes. Though He is impartial, free of attachment and anger, untouched by sin, virtue, merit, or fault. He has made the world governed by karma; whatever one does, one tastes that very fruit. Yet He acts with equal and unequal grace according to the hearts of devotees and non-devotees. Though beyond all qualities, unattached, without pride, and of one essence, Rama took on form, won over by the love of His devotees. Rama always honors the wishes of His servants. The Vedas, the Puranas, the saints, and the gods all bear witness. Knowing this in your heart, abandon all cunning and cultivate a beautiful love for Bharat's feet.