Brahma Praises the Form Beyond Form and Begs for Love at Rama's Feet
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 33
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Brahma praises Rama as the eternal abode of happiness, bow bearing Lord of Raghu's line, lion before the elephant of samsara, ocean of virtues, and beauty surpassing countless Cupids. Rama seized the great serpent Ravana as Garuda seizes a snake, yet remains free of anger, full of knowledge, unborn, beginningless, one, all pervading, and compassionate.
He is the generous incarnation who removes earth's burden, makes the lowly Vibhishana king, destroys demon hosts, and without cause befriends the afflicted. With Sita beside him, bow, arrows, quiver, and red eyes shine upon the field. He is the abode of joy who ends pride, desire, delusion, and possessiveness.
Yet this visible Lord is flawless, indivisible, beyond the senses, all forms and not confined by any form. The Vedas proclaim the mystery like sun and sunlight, distinct and not distinct. The vanaras are fulfilled by gazing upon his face, while divine life without devotion is shamefully lost in samsara. Brahma asks Rama to remove the intellect of division that makes sorrow appear as happiness and grants one final boon: enduring love for the lotus feet served by Shiva and Uma.
Brahma brings the whole reach of knowledge to Rama and asks at last for the one treasure knowledge cannot replace: love at his feet.
Read the passage from the Manas
जय राम सदा सुखधाम हरे। रघुनायक सायक चाप धरे।। भव बारन दारन सिंह प्रभो। गुन सागर नागर नाथ बिभो।। तन काम अनेक अनूप छबी। गुन गावत सिद्ध मुनींद्र कबी।। जसु पावन रावन नाग महा। खगनाथ जथा करि कोप गहा।। जन रंजन भंजन सोक भयं। गतक्रोध सदा प्रभु बोधमयं।। अवतार उदार अपार गुनं। महि भार बिभंजन ग्यानघनं।। अज ब्यापकमेकमनादि सदा। करुनाकर राम नमामि मुदा।। रघुबंस बिभूषन दूषन हा। कृत भूप बिभीषन दीन रहा।। गुन ग्यान निधान अमान अजं। नित राम नमामि बिभुं बिरजं।। भुजदंड प्रचंड प्रताप बलं। खल बृंद निकंद महा कुसलं।। बिनु कारन दीन दयाल हितं। छबि धाम नमामि रमा सहितं।। भव तारन कारन काज परं। मन संभव दारुन दोष हरं।। सर चाप मनोहर त्रोन धरं। जरजारुन लोचन भूपबरं।। सुख मंदिर सुंदर श्रीरमनं। मद मार मुधा ममता समनं।। अनवद्य अखंड न गोचर गो। सबरूप सदा सब होइ न गो।। इति बेद बदंति न दंतकथा। रबि आतप भिन्नमभिन्न जथा।। कृतकृत्य बिभो सब बानर ए। निरखंति तवानन सादर ए।। धिग जीवन देव सरीर हरे। तव भक्ति बिना भव भूलि परे।। अब दीन दयाल दया करिऐ। मति मोरि बिभेदकरी हरिऐ।। जेहि ते बिपरीत क्रिया करिऐ। दुख सो सुख मानि सुखी चरिऐ।। खल खंडन मंडन रम्य छमा। पद पंकज सेवित संभु उमा।। नृप नायक दे बरदानमिदं। चरनांबुज प्रेम सदा सुभदं।।
Victory to Rama, eternal abode of bliss! Lord of the Raghus, bearing bow and arrows. O Master, lion who tears apart the forest of worldly existence, Ocean of virtues, graceful Lord of all. Your form surpasses countless Cupids in beauty, Sages, great seers and poets sing Your glories. Your sacred fame seized the mighty Ravana As Garuda seizes a great serpent in wrath. Delighter of devotees, destroyer of sorrow and fear, Ever free from anger, Lord of pure consciousness. Incarnation generous and boundless in virtue, Destroyer of earth's burden, mass of divine knowledge. Unborn, all-pervading, One without beginning, Compassionate Rama, I bow with joy. Ornament of Raghu's line, slayer of the wicked, You made Vibhishana king, protector of the meek. Treasure of virtue and wisdom, without pride, unborn, I bow always to Rama, all-pervading and pure. Your mighty arms possess tremendous valor, Skilled destroyer of hosts of demons.