The Formless Takes the Road
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 13
Doha 13 · Movement 1 of 2
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No one can encompass the Lord's sovereignty, yet no heart touched by it can remain silent. The Vedas give the reason: praise itself carries transforming power, and devotion finds countless ways to speak toward what speech cannot contain.
The One is desireless, formless, nameless, unborn, and the supreme dwelling of existence, consciousness, and bliss. All pervading, He is the universe and beyond it. Then compassion answers the love of devotees. The Formless accepts a body. The Nameless enters a name. The Unborn walks through time and performs deeds that can be remembered beside a fire, sung in a field, and carried from parent to child.
He comes for those who take refuge, tender toward the poor and mighty in their protection. Knowing this, wise poets make their words fruitful through Hari's praise. The sages have already opened a path through the wilderness of the inexpressible. Tulsidas bows to Ram's feet and steps into their tracks.
Footprints appear upon the earth where the Formless has chosen to walk.
Read the passage from the Manas
सब जानत प्रभु प्रभुता सोई। तदपि कहें बिनु रहा न कोई।। तहाँ बेद अस कारन राखा। भजन प्रभाउ भाँति बहु भाषा।। एक अनीह अरूप अनामा। अज सच्चिदानंद पर धामा।। ब्यापक बिस्वरूप भगवाना। तेहिं धरि देह चरित कृत नाना।। सो केवल भगतन हित लागी। परम कृपाल प्रनत अनुरागी।। जेहि जन पर ममता अति छोहू। जेहिं करुना करि कीन्ह न कोहू।। गई बहोर गरीब नेवाजू। सरल सबल साहिब रघुराजू।। बुध बरनहिं हरि जस अस जानी। करहि पुनीत सुफल निज बानी।। तेहिं बल मैं रघुपति गुन गाथा। कहिहउँ नाइ राम पद माथा।। मुनिन्ह प्रथम हरि कीरति गाई। तेहिं मग चलत सुगम मोहि भाई।।
All know the sovereignty of the Lord, and yet no one can refrain from speaking of it. The Vedas themselves have kept a reason for this: they describe the power of bhajana in countless ways. The Lord is without desire, without form, without name. Yet through bhakti, He assumes name and form for the sake of His devotees.