A Beggar's Mind with a King's Desire
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 8
Doha 8 · Movement 1 of 2
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The horizon fills with life in all its forms, born through the four modes of creation, moving through water, earth, and sky across eighty four lakh kinds of embodiment. Tulsidas beholds Sita and Ram pervading the entire living multitude. He bows not to a selected company but to every creature, asking all to regard him as a servant of the Compassionate One and bless the work ahead.
He has no confidence in his intellect or strength. The story of Raghupati is an ocean, and his understanding cannot find even the first secure descent into it. His mind is a beggar while his aspiration sits like a king. He longs for nectar and cannot obtain even buttermilk.
Still he begins. Perhaps the good will hear his halting speech as parents delight in the broken words of a child. The crooked may laugh, wearing the faults of others as ornaments. Every poet favours his own verse, whether rich or thin, but those who rejoice in another's composition are rare. Small pools swell from water poured into themselves. The great ocean rises at the sight of the full moon.
Before the ocean of Ram's deeds, the beggar lifts a cup and asks all beings to bless it.
Read the passage from the Manas
आकर चारि लाख चौरासी। जाति जीव जल थल नभ बासी।। सीय राममय सब जग जानी। करउँ प्रनाम जोरि जुग पानी।। जानि कृपाकर किंकर मोहू। सब मिलि करहु छाड़ि छल छोहू।। निज बुधि बल भरोस मोहि नाहीं। तातें बिनय करउँ सब पाही।। करन चहउँ रघुपति गुन गाहा। लघु मति मोरि चरित अवगाहा।। सूझ न एकउ अंग उपाऊ। मन मति रंक मनोरथ राऊ।। मति अति नीच ऊँचि रुचि आछी। चहिअ अमिअ जग जुरइ न छाछी।। छमिहहिं सज्जन मोरि ढिठाई। सुनिहहिं बालबचन मन लाई।। जौ बालक कह तोतरि बाता। सुनहिं मुदित मन पितु अरु माता।। हँसिहहि कूर कुटिल कुबिचारी। जे पर दूषन भूषनधारी।। निज कवित केहि लाग न नीका। सरस होउ अथवा अति फीका।। जे पर भनिति सुनत हरषाही। ते बर पुरुष बहुत जग नाहीं।। जग बहु नर सर सरि सम भाई। जे निज बाढ़ि बढ़हिं जल पाई।। सज्जन सकृत सिंधु सम कोई। देखि पूर बिधु बाढ़इ जोई।।
Across the eighty-four lakh yonis (species of life), born of the four modes of creation, dwelling in water, on land, and in the sky: knowing this entire jagat (world) to be pervaded by Siya and Ram, I bow down with both hands joined in pranam. Knowing me, too, to be a humble kinkar (servant) of the All-Merciful One, may all of you together, setting aside all chhal (deceit), show me your chhoh (grace). I have no confidence in my own buddhi (intellect) or bal (strength). Therefore I make this vinay (humble entreaty) before everyone.