The Crooked River Carries Holy Water
Bala Kanda, Chhand 1
Sortha 10 · Movement 2 of 3
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A river turns awkwardly through stone and scrub, bending where a grander stream might have cut a noble course. Tulsidas sees his poetry in that uneven channel. Its movement may lack elegance, but the water within it is the story of Raghunath, bringing auspiciousness and washing away the stains of Kali Yuga.
Purity does not depend upon the beauty of the banks. The Lord's fame enters the verse and makes it pleasing to good hearts. In the same way, ash gathered from a cremation ground becomes sacred when it rests upon Shiva's body. Contact with the holy does not disguise the lowly thing. It reveals what grace can make of it.
The crooked river continues toward those who thirst. No pilgrim asks the water to straighten its path before kneeling to drink.
Around the final bend, the rough river shines with sacred water.
Read the passage from the Manas
मंगल करनि कलि मल हरनि तुलसी कथा रघुनाथ की।। गति कूर कबिता सरित की ज्यों सरित पावन पाथ की।। प्रभु सुजस संगति भनिति भलि होइहि सुजन मन भावनी।। भव अंग भूति मसान की सुमिरत सुहावनि पावनी।।
Tulsidas declares: the story of Raghunath brings auspiciousness and washes away the impurities of Kali Yuga. My poetry flows like a crooked river, yet a river is made holy not by its course but by its waters. In the same way, my imperfect verse will become pleasing to the hearts of good people through the company of the Lord's fair fame. Think of the ash from the cremation ground smeared on Shiva's body: through its association with him, even that ash becomes beautiful and purifying.