राम
Contemplative Interlude

Every Blade of Grass Is Called Blessed

Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 138

Doha 138 · Movement 2 of 2

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At Chitrakoot, merit is no longer spoken only of sages and sacred rivers. Birds, deer, vines, trees, and every species of grass are gathered into the blessing.

The gods look upon the whole living field and call each form a heap of holy fortune. Day and night, their praise descends over wing, hoof, leaf, branch, and blade.

Ram's presence dissolves the hierarchy by which some beings appear spiritually important and others become background. Nothing near him is merely scenery. The smallest grass shares the mountain's consecration, and the woodland becomes a vast congregation whose members need no human voice to be declared blessed.

At Chitrakoot, even one blade of grass stands inside the praise of heaven and bears the fortune of Ram's nearness.

Read the passage from the Manas

चित्रकूट के बिहग मृग बेलि बिटप तृन जाति। पुन्य पुंज सब धन्य अस कहहिं देव दिन राति।।138।।

The birds, the deer, the creepers, the trees, and every kind of grass at Chitrakoot: all are heaps of merit, all are blessed. So declare the gods, day and night.