The Lake Shiva Kept Within
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 35
Doha 35 · Movement 1 of 2
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To behold Sarayu, touch it, bathe in it, or drink from it is to meet a holiness the Vedas and Puranas declare and even Saraswati cannot fully praise. Beside that river shines Ayodhya, giver of Ram's abode, a city so sacred that beings of every mode of birth who leave the body there do not return to the cycle of becoming.
Within this auspicious city, Tulsidas begins another body of water. The pure story receives its name, Ramcharitmanas. Minds scorched by the forest fire of sense desire may fall into this lake and become cool. Lust, pride, and pretension lose their force along its banks, while the ears that receive its waters discover rest.
Shiva first fashioned the lake within his own mind. There it remained, beautiful and hidden, destroying threefold affliction, sorrow, poverty, Kali's crookedness, and inherited stain. When the right hour came, Mahesha spoke it to Parvati. Delighting in the Manas held within his manas, he gave the story its name. Tulsidas now invites good people to approach with reverence and listen.
The lake long hidden in Shiva's mind opens its first path toward the world.
Read the passage from the Manas
दरस परस मज्जन अरु पाना। हरइ पाप कह बेद पुराना।। नदी पुनीत अमित महिमा अति। कहि न सकइ सारद बिमलमति।। राम धामदा पुरी सुहावनि। लोक समस्त बिदित अति पावनि।। चारि खानि जग जीव अपारा। अवध तजे तनु नहि संसारा।। सब बिधि पुरी मनोहर जानी। सकल सिद्धिप्रद मंगल खानी।। बिमल कथा कर कीन्ह अरंभा। सुनत नसाहिं काम मद दंभा।। रामचरितमानस एहि नामा। सुनत श्रवन पाइअ बिश्रामा।। मन करि विषय अनल बन जरई। होइ सुखी जौ एहिं सर परई।। रामचरितमानस मुनि भावन। बिरचेउ संभु सुहावन पावन।। त्रिबिध दोष दुख दारिद दावन। कलि कुचालि कुलि कलुष नसावन।। रचि महेस निज मानस राखा। पाइ सुसमउ सिवा सन भाषा।। तातें रामचरितमानस बर। धरेउ नाम हियँ हेरि हरषि हर।। कहउँ कथा सोइ सुखद सुहाई। सादर सुनहु सुजन मन लाई।।
To see it, to touch it, to bathe in it, to drink of it: each removes sin, so declare the Vedas and the Puranas. This holy river's glory is beyond all measure. Even Sharada (Saraswati) herself cannot describe it fully, try as she may in countless ways.