Tulsidas Bows to the Adversaries
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 4
Doha 4ख · Movement 1 of 2
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After bowing to the saints, Tulsidas turns toward a darker assembly and bows with the same sincerity. Here stand those who oppose without cause, who count another's loss as profit and another's happiness as injury. They move like Rahu toward the full moon of divine glory and like Sahasrabahu toward any good work they can strike down.
Their eyes multiply when a fault can be found. Their minds descend upon another's welfare like flies upon butter. Anger burns in them like open fire, while the wealth they hoard is made of sin and vice. Their arrival is a comet of misfortune. Their sleep, when goodness calls, is as deep as Kumbhakarna's. Like hailstones, they destroy the field and perish in the destruction.
Tulsidas does not praise these deeds. He bows because even hostility must be met before the sacred telling can pass, and because pride cannot survive while the poet places his head beneath every role in the world. A thousand mouths may speak of faults, a thousand ears may seek scandal, and a thousand eyes may watch for weakness. His hands remain joined.
Before the hostile ranks, the poet lowers his head and leaves no weapon in his hands.
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बहुरि बंदि खल गन सतिभाएँ। जे बिनु काज दाहिनेहु बाएँ।। पर हित हानि लाभ जिन्ह केरें। उजरें हरष बिषाद बसेरें।। हरि हर जस राकेस राहु से। पर अकाज भट सहसबाहु से।। जे पर दोष लखहिं सहसाखी। पर हित घृत जिन्ह के मन माखी।। तेज कृसानु रोष महिषेसा। अघ अवगुन धन धनी धनेसा।। उदय केत सम हित सबही के। कुंभकरन सम सोवत नीके।। पर अकाजु लगि तनु परिहरहीं। जिमि हिम उपल कृषी दलि गरहीं।। बंदउँ खल जस सेष सरोषा। सहस बदन बरनइ पर दोषा।। पुनि प्रनवउँ पृथुराज समाना। पर अघ सुनइ सहस दस काना।। बहुरि सक्र सम बिनवउँ तेही। संतत सुरानीक हित जेही।। बचन बज्र जेहि सदा पिआरा। सहस नयन पर दोष निहारा।।
Now, with equal sincerity, Tulsidas bows to the wicked. These are they who turn against even their own well-wishers for no cause at all. Others' loss is their gain; they rejoice when homes are ruined and grieve when others find peace. They eclipse the glory of Hari and Hara the way Rahu swallows the full moon. In destroying others' good, they are warriors as relentless as Sahasrabahu. They spy out others' faults with a thousand eyes, yet their minds are like flies, irresistibly drawn to the butter of others' happiness. Even to these, Tulsidas offers his bow, for they too play their part in the Lord's unfolding story.