Lotuses Reveal Formless Brahman Taking Form beneath the Autumn Moon
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 17
Doha 17 · Movement 1 of 2
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Fish move happily in deep water like those for whom Hari's refuge leaves no obstacle. Lotuses open across the lake, beautiful as the formless Brahman appearing with form. Bees sound, many-colored birds answer, and the autumn world fills with voices around that meeting of depth, flower, and sky.
Night grieves the chakravaka as another's prosperity grieves the wicked. The thirsty chataka calls without relief like one hostile to Shankara who cannot find happiness. Then the autumn moon removes the heat of night as the darshan of saints removes sin. Flocks of chakoras gaze upon the moon like Hari's servants beholding Hari.
Cold arrives and mosquitoes and biting insects disappear, as hostility toward the learned brings destruction upon a lineage. Rama's sequence moves between refuge and ruin, formed beauty and restless thirst, night sorrow and moonlit release. In the clear season, the lake becomes an altar upon which nirguna and saguna meet in the opening lotus.
The formless shines with form like a lotus opening upon the clear autumn lake.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुखी मीन जे नीर अगाधा। जिमि हरि सरन न एकउ बाधा।। फूलें कमल सोह सर कैसा। निर्गुन ब्रम्ह सगुन भएँ जैसा।। गुंजत मधुकर मुखर अनूपा। सुंदर खग रव नाना रूपा।। चक्रबाक मन दुख निसि पैखी। जिमि दुर्जन पर संपति देखी।। चातक रटत तृषा अति ओही। जिमि सुख लहइ न संकरद्रोही।। सरदातप निसि ससि अपहरई। संत दरस जिमि पातक टरई।। देखि इंदु चकोर समुदाई। चितवतहिं जिमि हरिजन हरि पाई।। मसक दंस बीते हिम त्रासा। जिमि द्विज द्रोह किएँ कुल नासा।।
The fish are happy in the deep waters, just as those who take shelter in Hari face no obstacle whatsoever. The lotus flowers bloom beautifully in the lake, just as the formless Brahman (nirgun) becomes radiant when He takes a beautiful form (sagun). Bees hum their matchless song, and birds of every kind fill the air with lovely melodies. The chakravaka birds feel sorrow at the sight of night, just as the wicked feel pain when they see another's good fortune. The chaataka bird cries out with terrible thirst, just as one who turns against Shankara (Shiva) can never find peace. The autumn moon takes away the heat of the night, just as the darshan of saints washes away all sin. Seeing the moon, flocks of chakor birds gaze upward in rapture, just as devotees of Hari gaze upon their Lord when they find Him. Mosquitoes and biting flies perish when the cold arrives, just as hostility toward the learned brings ruin upon an entire family.