राम
Contemplative Interlude

Every Practice Asks for One Reward

Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 129

Doha 129 · Movement 2 of 2

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The devotee has offered food, honored teacher and scripture, repeated the name, tended sacred fire, fed the learned, and given freely. Yet these many practices do not scatter into many ambitions.

One fruit alone is requested: deep love for Ram's feet. Ritual does not seek wealth, distinction, power, or even the pride of purity. Each act bends toward affection as rivers bend toward the sea.

Such a mind becomes a temple, and Valmiki asks Sita and Raghunandan to dwell there together. The Lord is not installed through external accomplishment but welcomed by the unified longing beneath it. A thousand forms of worship become one doorway when every result desired is love.

Where all sacred effort ripens into one prayer for love, Sita and Ram enter the heart's temple together.

Read the passage from the Manas

सबु करि मागहिं एक फलु राम चरन रति होउ। तिन्ह कें मन मंदिर बसहु सिय रघुनंदन दोउ।।129।।

Having done all this, they ask for only one reward: let there be rati, deep loving attachment, to Rama's feet. In the temple of their hearts, O Raghunandana, dwell together with Sita, the two of You.