Tulsi Offers a Fragment of the Boundless Wedding Glory
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 358
Doha 361 · Movement 1 of 3
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Vamadeva again narrates Vishwamitra's story, and Dasharatha quietly marvels at the merit that brought such grace to his house. Visiting guests receive leave, while every street continues singing of Ram's marriage.
From the day Ram returned as a bridegroom, joy dwells perpetually in Ayodhya. The wedding's glory spreads through the three worlds, too immense even for thousand tongued Shesha to describe.
Tulsidas knows Ram and Sita's glory as the life breath of poets and a pure mine of auspiciousness. He therefore offers only a fragment, not as one claiming mastery of the ocean, but as a servant seeking to sanctify his own speech through the attempt.
Before the ocean of Ram and Sita's glory, Tulsi offers one handful of song to purify his voice.
Read the passage from the Manas
बामदेव रघुकुल गुर ग्यानी। बहुरि गाधिसुत कथा बखानी।। सुनि मुनि सुजसु मनहिं मन राऊ। बरनत आपन पुन्य प्रभाऊ।। बहुरे लोग रजायसु भयऊ। सुतन्ह समेत नृपति गृहँ गयऊ।। जहँ तहँ राम ब्याहु सबु गावा। सुजसु पुनीत लोक तिहुँ छावा।। आए ब्याहि रामु घर जब तें। बसइ अनंद अवध सब तब तें।। प्रभु बिबाहँ जस भयउ उछाहू। सकहिं न बरनि गिरा अहिनाहू।। कबिकुल जीवनु पावन जानी।।राम सीय जसु मंगल खानी।। तेहि ते मैं कछु कहा बखानी। करन पुनीत हेतु निज बानी।।
Vamadeva, the wise guru of the Raghu dynasty, then narrated once more the story of Gadhi's son. Hearing the sage's noble fame, the king quietly marveled in his heart at the power of his own blessed merit. By royal command, the visiting guests were given leave. The king returned home with all his sons. Everywhere, the people sang of Rama's marriage. This pure and holy fame spread throughout the three worlds. From the day Rama came home as a bridegroom, joy has dwelt eternally in all of Ayodhya. The jubilation born of the Lord's wedding is beyond all telling. Even Shesha, the thousand-tongued serpent of eloquence, could not describe it. Knowing the glory of Rama and Sita to be the very life-breath of all poets, and a pure mine of auspiciousness, I, Tulsi, have told but a fragment of it, only to sanctify my own humble speech.