The Poor Poet Before the King of Kosala
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 28
Sortha 28 · Movement 1 of 2
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The Name may be spoken with clear love or tangled intention, in anger or in laziness, yet auspiciousness travels from it through all ten directions. Trusting that mercy, Tulsidas remembers the sound, bows his head to Raghunath, and turns at last toward the telling of Ram's virtues. The great narrative waits before him like a royal road he feels unworthy to enter.
He sees himself as a poor servant standing before the finest of masters. Ram is the ocean of compassion whose giving cannot exhaust compassion. In the customs of the world and the Vedas, a noble ruler hears a humble petition and recognizes the love within it. Rich and poor, village dweller and citizen, learned and ignorant, gifted poet and stumbling poet all come with their praise. A virtuous king does not mock the imperfect voice. He receives each according to devotion, reverence, and need.
How much more will the King of Kosala understand? Tulsidas brings no claim of eloquence. He brings the naked sincerity of affection and asks Ram to nourish the work from his own side. The court of the heart grows silent. The poet bends lower, certain that pure love can please the Lord even when carried in the words of the most clouded mind.
Before the first tale begins, the poor poet lays his imperfect song at the King's feet.
Read the passage from the Manas
भायँ कुभायँ अनख आलसहूँ। नाम जपत मंगल दिसि दसहूँ।। सुमिरि सो नाम राम गुन गाथा। करउँ नाइ रघुनाथहि माथा।। मोरि सुधारिहि सो सब भाँती। जासु कृपा नहिं कृपाँ अघाती।। राम सुस्वामि कुसेवकु मोसो। निज दिसि दैखि दयानिधि पोसो।। लोकहुँ बेद सुसाहिब रीतीं। बिनय सुनत पहिचानत प्रीती।। गनी गरीब ग्रामनर नागर। पंडित मूढ़ मलीन उजागर।। सुकबि कुकबि निज मति अनुहारी। नृपहि सराहत सब नर नारी।। साधु सुजान सुसील नृपाला। ईस अंस भव परम कृपाला।। सुनि सनमानहिं सबहि सुबानी। भनिति भगति नति गति पहिचानी।। यह प्राकृत महिपाल सुभाऊ। जान सिरोमनि कोसलराऊ।। रीझत राम सनेह निसोतें। को जग मंद मलिनमति मोतें।।
With good intent or ill, in anger or in laziness, however one chants the Name, auspiciousness spreads in all ten directions. Remembering that Name and the story of Ram's virtues, I begin this narrative that bestows blessing upon the world.