Autumn Clears the Waters while Rama Waits for the Rare Rain of Bhakti
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 16
Doha 16ख · Movement 1 of 2
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The rains pass, and Rama asks Lakshmana to behold the supreme beauty of autumn. White kasha grass covers the earth like the old age of the monsoon made visible. Agastya rises and dries the water from the roads as contentment dries greed. Rivers and lakes become clear like a saint's heart after pride and delusion have gone, and their slowly receding waters resemble the wise gradually releasing possessiveness.
Wagtails arrive at the fitting season like good deeds becoming lovely at the proper time. Earth without mud or dust resembles the conduct of a king skilled in right policy. Fish suffer as shallow waters contract, like an undiscerning householder deprived of wealth. Above them, the sky shines empty of clouds like Hari's devotee who has relinquished every expectation.
Only a little autumn rain falls here and there. Rama sees in its rarity the rarity of his own bhakti. The season has cleared road, river, lake, earth, and sky, but the grace for which all these images open remains scarce. Across the transparent landscape, one soul may receive the rain of devotion.
Autumn clears the whole horizon, yet Rama says the rain of his devotion falls upon only a rare heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
बरषा बिगत सरद रितु आई। लछिमन देखहु परम सुहाई।। फूलें कास सकल महि छाई। जनु बरषाँ कृत प्रगट बुढ़ाई।। उदित अगस्ति पंथ जल सोषा। जिमि लोभहि सोषइ संतोषा।। सरिता सर निर्मल जल सोहा। संत हृदय जस गत मद मोहा।। रस रस सूख सरित सर पानी। ममता त्याग करहिं जिमि ग्यानी।। जानि सरद रितु खंजन आए। पाइ समय जिमि सुकृत सुहाए।। पंक न रेनु सोह असि धरनी। नीति निपुन नृप कै जसि करनी।। जल संकोच बिकल भइँ मीना। अबुध कुटुंबी जिमि धनहीना।। बिनु धन निर्मल सोह अकासा। हरिजन इव परिहरि सब आसा।। कहुँ कहुँ बृष्टि सारदी थोरी। कोउ एक पाव भगति जिमि मोरी।।
The monsoon has passed and the lovely Sharad Ritu (autumn) has arrived. "Lakshmana, behold how supremely beautiful it is." The kaas grass has bloomed white across the entire earth, as though the rains have revealed their old age. The star Agastya has risen and dried the water from the paths, just as santosh (contentment) dries up greed. Rivers and lakes shine with clear, pure water, like the heart of a saint freed from pride and delusion. The water of rivers and lakes is slowly receding, just as the wise (gyaani) gradually let go of mamata (attachment). Knowing that autumn has come, the wagtails (khanjan) have arrived, just as good deeds (sukrit) appear beautiful when the right moment comes. The earth is lovely without mud or dust, like the conduct of a king who is skilled in righteous governance. The fish grow restless as the waters shrink around them, like an unwise householder who has lost his wealth. The sky shines pure and cloudless, like a devotee of Hari who has given up all desires. Here and there a few drops of autumn rain may fall, just as scarcely one soul in this world attains true devotion to Me.