The Story Passed from Voice to Voice
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 30
Sortha 30 · Movement 1 of 2
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A chain of listening stretches across mountains, hermitages, and ages. Shiva first shapes the beautiful account and speaks it to Uma upon Kailash. Knowing Kakabhushundi to be a worthy devotee of Ram, he places the story in the heart of the immortal crow sage. From that keeper of remembrance, Yajnavalkya receives it and later sings it to Bharadvaja.
Teller and listener face one another with equal purity. They know Hari's Leela with the clear vision of those for whom past, present, and future lie as plainly as an amla fruit resting in the open palm. Knowledge does not make the exchange unnecessary. It makes their hearing more complete.
Tulsidas now enters that lineage and asks all noble souls to listen with joy. Other wise devotees speak, hear, and understand the same sacred movement in many ways. The story remains one, yet each faithful voice becomes another lamp through which it passes.
From Shiva to Uma, from sage to sage, the flame crosses without growing less.
Read the passage from the Manas
जागबलिक जो कथा सुहाई। भरद्वाज मुनिबरहि सुनाई।। कहिहउँ सोइ संबाद बखानी। सुनहुँ सकल सज्जन सुखु मानी।। संभु कीन्ह यह चरित सुहावा। बहुरि कृपा करि उमहि सुनावा।। सोइ सिव कागभुसुंडिहि दीन्हा। राम भगत अधिकारी चीन्हा।। तेहि सन जागबलिक पुनि पावा। तिन्ह पुनि भरद्वाज प्रति गावा।। ते श्रोता बकता समसीला। सवँदरसी जानहिं हरिलीला।। जानहिं तीनि काल निज ग्याना। करतल गत आमलक समाना।। औरउ जे हरिभगत सुजाना। कहहिं सुनहिं समुझहिं बिधि नाना।।
The beautiful story that Yajnavalkya (Jagabalik) narrated to the great sage Bharadvaj, I shall tell that same sacred dialogue in full. Listen, all good souls, and let your hearts find joy in it.