The Brothers Walk beneath Dharma's Armor while Rama Nama Shines upon Shiva's Face
Kishkindha Kanda, Shloka 2
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At the threshold of the Kanda, the poet beholds Rama and Lakshmana as a radiant pair, one lovely as jasmine and one as the blue lotus. Both possess immeasurable strength and are dwellings of realized knowledge. The noble bowmen are praised by the Vedas and dear to hosts of cows and Brahmins. Though Maya gives them the appearance of men, the finest of Raghu's line wear true dharma as armor, walk the road intent upon finding Sita, and stand ready to grant devotion.
The invocation then rises toward the nectar of Rama Nama, born from the ocean of Brahman, imperishable and destructive of the impurities of Kali. It shines forever upon the beautiful moon-face of Shambhu, as though Shiva's own countenance were the vessel in which the name is displayed.
The name is medicine for the disease of worldly existence, giver of happiness, and the very life of Janaki. Blessed are those whose sacred work is to drink that nectar without ceasing. Before the forest action resumes, the poet has placed the fair and dark brothers upon the road, Rama Nama upon Shiva's face, and the prayer for bhakti within the heart.
Rama seeks Sita along the forest road while Rama Nama shines like nectar upon Shiva's moonlike face.
Read the passage from the Manas
कुन्देन्दीवरसुन्दरावतिबलौ विज्ञानधामावुभौ शोभाढ्यौ वरधन्विनौ श्रुतिनुतौ गोविप्रवृन्दप्रियौ। मायामानुषरूपिणौ रघुवरौ सद्धर्मवर्मौं हितौ सीतान्वेषणतत्परौ पथिगतौ भक्तिप्रदौ तौ हि नः।।1।। ब्रह्माम्भोधिसमुद्भवं कलिमलप्रध्वंसनं चाव्ययं श्रीमच्छम्भुमुखेन्दुसुन्दरवरे संशोभितं सर्वदा। संसारामयभेषजं सुखकरं श्रीजानकीजीवनं धन्यास्ते कृतिनः पिबन्ति सततं श्रीरामनामामृतम्।।2।।
Beautiful as jasmine and blue lotus, mighty beyond measure, both Rama and Lakshmana are twin repositories of divine wisdom. Radiant bearers of noble bows, praised in the Vedas, beloved of all gentle creatures and the learned. Appearing in human form through maya, these finest sons of Raghu's line are armored in dharma, friends to all beings, intent upon finding Sita, traveling the forest path. May they both grant us the treasure of devotion. (1) That which is born from the ocean of Brahman, which destroys the impurities of the Kali age, which is imperishable, which is forever adorned in the beautiful moon-face of Shambhu. That which is the one remedy for the sickness of worldly existence, the giver of bliss, the very life-breath of Janaki. Blessed are those who drink ceaselessly of the nectar of Sri Rama's holy name. (2)