The Refuge of the Surrendered Stands beyond Every Calamity
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 267
Doha 267 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata asks what remains for him to say before the ocean of mercy who knows every heart. The guru is pleased, the Lord is gracious, and the thorns imagined by his troubled mind have vanished. As the sun cannot be blamed when others lose direction, Rama stands untouched by the confusion surrounding the exile.
Bharata names the forces that seemed to plant their feet upon him: his misfortune, his mother's crooked counsel, the difficult movement of fate, and the harshness of time. Together they appeared ready to crush him. Yet Rama upheld his ancient vow as protector of whoever surrenders.
This is no new mercy hidden from the world. Scripture and common knowledge alike bear witness to it. Rama's nature is like the divine wish fulfilling tree, withholding shade from neither the one who approaches nor the one who turns away. Bharata's praise cannot add goodness to the one goodness from which every welfare comes. It can only bow beneath it.
All the powers that seemed to crush Bharata fall away before Rama's changeless vow to shelter the surrendered.
Read the passage from the Manas
कहौं कहावौं का अब स्वामी। कृपा अंबुनिधि अंतरजामी।। गुर प्रसन्न साहिब अनुकूला। मिटी मलिन मन कलपित सूला।। अपडर डरेउँ न सोच समूलें। रबिहि न दोसु देव दिसि भूलें।। मोर अभागु मातु कुटिलाई। बिधि गति बिषम काल कठिनाई।। पाउ रोपि सब मिलि मोहि घाला। प्रनतपाल पन आपन पाला।। यह नइ रीति न राउरि होई। लोकहुँ बेद बिदित नहिं गोई।। जगु अनभल भल एकु गोसाईं। कहिअ होइ भल कासु भलाईं।। देउ देवतरु सरिस सुभाऊ। सनमुख बिमुख न काहुहि काऊ।।
What shall I say, what shall I call myself now, O Swami? You are the ocean of mercy and the knower of all hearts (Antarjami). When the guru is pleased and the master is gracious, all the imagined thorns of a troubled mind vanish entirely. I fear nothing without cause, nor do I carry any worry. The sun is not at fault if the gods lose their way. My misfortune, my mother's crookedness, the twisted course of destiny, and the harshness of time itself. All of these conspired together, planting their feet upon me to destroy me. Yet You have upheld Your sacred vow to shelter the surrendered (Pranatapala). This is no new way of Yours, O Lord. It is known to the world and to the Vedas alike; nothing is hidden. The world may not see clearly, but You alone are good, O Gosain. Tell me, whose true welfare comes from mere praise? Grant me a nature like the divine wish-fulfilling tree (Devataru), which stands alike before all, showing favor to none and turning away from none.