Two Rivers of Purification
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 15
Doha 15 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ganga and Saraswati flow through the invocation as two sacred rivers. One receives the pilgrim through bathing and drinking, washing away sin. The other moves through telling and hearing, carrying ignorance from the mind. Their waters differ, yet both descend for purification.
Tulsidas bows to Guru, father, mother, Shiva, and Bhavani, every relation of shelter through which grace has reached him. Seeing the hardship of Kali Yuga, Shiva and Gauri fashioned simple mantras for the welfare of the world. Their syllables may appear unrefined and their meanings obscure, yet Shiva's power makes their effect unmistakable.
Remembering Uma and Mahesh, the poet begins Ram's story with joy. Through Shiva's grace, his composition rises like the moon among gathered stars. Those who tell it, hear it, and understand it with love will grow attached to Ram's feet, freed from the stain of the age and carried toward auspiciousness.
Ganga washes the pilgrim's limbs while Saraswati clears the inward sky.
Read the passage from the Manas
पुनि बंदउँ सारद सुरसरिता। जुगल पुनीत मनोहर चरिता।। मज्जन पान पाप हर एका। कहत सुनत एक हर अबिबेका।। गुर पितु मातु महेस भवानी। प्रनवउँ दीनबंधु दिन दानी।। सेवक स्वामि सखा सिय पी के। हित निरुपधि सब बिधि तुलसीके।। कलि बिलोकि जग हित हर गिरिजा। साबर मंत्र जाल जिन्ह सिरिजा।। अनमिल आखर अरथ न जापू। प्रगट प्रभाउ महेस प्रतापू।। सो उमेस मोहि पर अनुकूला। करिहिं कथा मुद मंगल मूला।। सुमिरि सिवा सिव पाइ पसाऊ। बरनउँ रामचरित चित चाऊ।। भनिति मोरि सिव कृपाँ बिभाती। ससि समाज मिलि मनहुँ सुराती।। जे एहि कथहि सनेह समेता। कहिहहिं सुनिहहिं समुझि सचेता।। होइहहिं राम चरन अनुरागी। कलि मल रहित सुमंगल भागी।।
Once more I bow to Saraswati and the Ganga, both holy, both beautiful in their deeds. One removes sin through bathing and drinking; the other removes ignorance through telling and hearing. I bow to the Guru, to father and mother, to Mahesh and Bhavani, friend of the lowly, giver of light.