Shiva Asks Rama to Live Forever With Sita and Lakshmana in His Heart
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 5
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Shiva asks the bow bearing Lord of Raghu's line to protect him. Rama is wind before the thick cloud of delusion, fire within the forest of doubt, sun against the darkness of confusion, and lion before the elephants of lust, anger, and pride. He is both beyond qualities and the beautiful temple of every virtue.
He is frost upon the lotus forest of sense desire and Mandara Mountain within the ocean of becoming, carrying beings across the difficult current. His body is dark, his eyes lotus bright, and he befriends the lowly while ending the anguish of those who surrender.
Shiva asks for the most intimate grace: Rama, king and Lord, dwell forever in the interior of my heart with Janaki and Lakshmana. Delight of sages, ornament of the earth, destroyer of Tulsidas's fear, remain within the forest of the devotee's mind. The prayer gathers nirguna and saguna, cosmic rescue and visible beauty, into one request for ceaseless indwelling.
Shiva asks the Lord beyond every quality to remain forever in one beloved form within the small forest of his heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
मामभिरक्षय रघुकुल नायक। धृत बर चाप रुचिर कर सायक।। मोह महा घन पटल प्रभंजन। संसय बिपिन अनल सुर रंजन।।1।। अगुन सगुन गुन मंदिर सुंदर। भ्रम तम प्रबल प्रताप दिवाकर।। काम क्रोध मद गज पंचानन। बसहु निरंतर जन मन कानन।।2।। बिषय मनोरथ पुंज कंज बन। प्रबल तुषार उदार पार मन।। भव बारिधि मंदर परमं दर। बारय तारय संसृति दुस्तर।।3।। स्याम गात राजीव बिलोचन। दीन बंधु प्रनतारति मोचन।। अनुज जानकी सहित निरंतर। बसहु राम नृप मम उर अंतर।।4।। मुनि रंजन महि मंडल मंडन। तुलसिदास प्रभु त्रास बिखंडन।।5।।
Protect me always, O leader of Raghu's race! Holding the excellent bow, arrows graceful in Your hands. You dispel the thick clouds of delusion, fire in the forest of doubt, delight of gods. Attributeless, with attributes, temple of virtues beautiful, sun whose fierce radiance destroys the darkness of confusion. Five-faced elephant of lust, anger and pride; dwell forever in the forest of devotees' hearts. Frost to the lotus garden of worldly desires, generous moon of the noble-minded. Mountain for the ocean of existence, You prevent and deliver from this hard-to-cross cycle of birth. Dark-bodied, lotus-eyed, friend of the humble, liberator from the suffering of suppliants. With younger brother and Janaki always, dwell, O King Rama, in the depths of my heart. Delight of sages, ornament of earth's realm, Tulsidas's Lord, destroyer of all fears.