Indra Leaves the Formless to Ask for Rama's Form Within His Heart
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 8
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Indra praises Rama as the abode of beauty and rest for the surrendered, holding excellent bow and arrows in mighty arms. He hails the destroyer of Khara, Dushana, Ravana, and the demon hosts, the compassionate Lord who removed earth's burden and gave the gods a protector.
Ravana's strength had subdued gods, gandharvas, sages, siddhas, humans, birds, and nagas, obstructing every path. Harm returned to the one devoted to harming others. Indra then confesses his own former pride. He believed no one equal to him, but the sight of Rama's lotus feet has dissolved that burden.
Some may meditate upon attributeless, unmanifest Brahman praised by scripture. Indra's heart loves the manifest form of Sri Rama, king of Kosala. He asks Rama, with Vaidehi and Lakshmana, to dwell within him, recognize him as a servant, and grant devotion. He bows to the tender compassion served by Brahma and Shiva, beyond duality yet visible in human form, destroyer of fear and giver of happiness to all who seek refuge.
Indra has seen the reach of celestial power and asks instead for the saguna Rama to make a home inside his heart.
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जय राम सोभा धाम। दायक प्रनत बिश्राम।। धृत त्रोन बर सर चाप। भुजदंड प्रबल प्रताप।।1।। जय दूषनारि खरारि। मर्दन निसाचर धारि।। यह दुष्ट मारेउ नाथ। भए देव सकल सनाथ।।2।। जय हरन धरनी भार। महिमा उदार अपार।। जय रावनारि कृपाल। किए जातुधान बिहाल।।3।। लंकेस अति बल गर्ब। किए बस्य सुर गंधर्ब।। मुनि सिद्ध नर खग नाग। हठि पंथ सब कें लाग।।4।। परद्रोह रत अति दुष्ट। पायो सो फलु पापिष्ट।। अब सुनहु दीन दयाल। राजीव नयन बिसाल।।5।। मोहि रहा अति अभिमान। नहिं कोउ मोहि समान।। अब देखि प्रभु पद कंज। गत मान प्रद दुख पुंज।।6।। कोउ ब्रह्म निर्गुन ध्याव। अब्यक्त जेहि श्रुति गाव।। मोहि भाव कोसल भूप। श्रीराम सगुन सरूप।।7।। बैदेहि अनुज समेत। मम हृदयँ करहु निकेत।। मोहि जानिए निज दास। दे भक्ति रमानिवास।।8।। दे भक्ति रमानिवास त्रास हरन सरन सुखदायकं। सुख धाम राम नमामि काम अनेक छबि रघुनायकं।। सुर बृंद रंजन द्वंद भंजन मनुज तनु अतुलितबलं। ब्रह्मादि संकर सेब्य राम नमामि करुना कोमलं।।
Victory to Rama, abode of beauty, Granter of peace to the surrendered! Holding excellent bow and arrows, Your mighty arms possess great valor. Victory to enemy of Dushana and Khara, Destroyer bearing the form of death for demons! You have slain this wicked one, O Lord, All gods have found their protector. Victory to reliever of earth's burden, Your glory is generous and boundless! Victory to Ravana's foe, O compassionate one, You made the demons helpless. Lanka's lord, drunk with power, Had subdued gods and gandharvas. Sages, perfected ones, men, birds and serpents; He forcibly blocked everyone's path. Delighting in harming others, utterly wicked, That sinner received his due fruit. Now listen, merciful to the humble, O lotus-eyed one with expansive eyes! I was filled with great pride, Thinking none equal to me. Now seeing Your lotus feet, O Lord, My pride is gone, You grant freedom from sorrow.