Water Drawn from the Poet's Lowliness
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 43
Sortha 43 · Movement 1 of 2
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Tulsidas pours his anguish, supplication, humility, and littleness into the Manas. What the world might conceal as weakness becomes abundant clear water. The lake is not made pure by the poet claiming height. It is made approachable by his willingness to bow.
Hearing of this wondrous water awakens the thirsty. It nourishes pure love for Ram, washes away Kali's stain, dries the exhaustion of becoming, and removes sin, sorrow, poverty, and fault. Lust, anger, pride, and delusion lose their hold, while discernment and detachment rise clean from the depths. To bathe reverently is to let the heart itself be washed.
Those who refuse the water wander across the heat of worldly existence like deer pursuing a mirage. Light flashes ahead, promising relief, then vanishes as they approach. The true lake stands near, filled by humility, but pride keeps turning the thirsty toward what cannot be drunk.
The mirage burns on the horizon while the water of humility waits beside the traveller.
Read the passage from the Manas
आरति बिनय दीनता मोरी। लघुता ललित सुबारि न थोरी।। अदभुत सलिल सुनत गुनकारी। आस पिआस मनोमल हारी।। राम सुप्रेमहि पोषत पानी। हरत सकल कलि कलुष गलानी।। भव श्रम सोषक तोषक तोषा। समन दुरित दुख दारिद दोषा।। काम कोह मद मोह नसावन। बिमल बिबेक बिराग बढ़ावन।। सादर मज्जन पान किए तें। मिटहिं पाप परिताप हिए तें।। जिन्ह एहि बारि न मानस धोए। ते कायर कलिकाल बिगोए।। तृषित निरखि रबि कर भव बारी। फिरिहहि मृग जिमि जीव दुखारी।।
My anguish, my supplication, and my lowliness are the lovely, plentiful, pure water of this lake. Its wondrous water brings blessing to all who hear of it; for those who thirst with longing, it is the supreme friend.