Hanuman Warns That Wealth Turned from Rama Dries like a River without a Source
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 23
Doha 23 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hold Rama's lotus feet within your heart, Hanuman tells Ravana, and rule Lanka without instability. The stainless fame of the sage Pulastya is a moon. Do not become the blemish upon it. Pride and delusion must fall before the lineage can remain bright.
Speech without Rama Nama possesses no beauty, just as a noble woman adorned with every ornament does not appear beautiful without clothing. Wealth and lordship turned away from Rama vanish even while they seem possessed. Rivers without a perennial source swell during rain and dry as soon as the rain has passed.
Hanuman plants his warning as a vow. No one can protect the one opposed to Rama. A thousand Shivas, a thousand Vishnus, and a thousand Brahmas could not save Rama's enemy. Lanka may look permanent beneath gold and ocean, but its source has already begun to dry.
Gold cannot preserve a kingdom whose river of power has turned away from Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
राम चरन पंकज उर धरहू। लंका अचल राज तुम्ह करहू।। रिषि पुलिस्त जसु बिमल मंयका। तेहि ससि महुँ जनि होहु कलंका।। राम नाम बिनु गिरा न सोहा। देखु बिचारि त्यागि मद मोहा।। बसन हीन नहिं सोह सुरारी। सब भूषण भूषित बर नारी।। राम बिमुख संपति प्रभुताई। जाइ रही पाई बिनु पाई।। सजल मूल जिन्ह सरितन्ह नाहीं। बरषि गए पुनि तबहिं सुखाहीं।। सुनु दसकंठ कहउँ पन रोपी। बिमुख राम त्राता नहिं कोपी।। संकर सहस बिष्नु अज तोही। सकहिं न राखि राम कर द्रोही।।
"Enshrine Rama's lotus feet in your heart, and rule Lanka in unshakable peace. The sage Pulastya's spotless fame shines like the moon. Do not become a blemish upon it. Without Rama's Name, speech loses all its grace. Reflect upon this and abandon pride and delusion. Just as a beautiful woman adorned with every ornament looks unseemly without garments, so too is glory meaningless without devotion. Wealth and lordship that turn away from Rama slip away even while one holds them. Rivers whose sources have no water dry up the moment the rains cease. Listen, O ten-headed one. I speak this with a solemn vow: there is no protector for one who opposes Rama. Even a thousand Shankaras, a thousand Vishnus, and a thousand Brahmas cannot save one who is hostile to Rama."