Rama Names His Friends the Boats That Carried Him across the Sea of War
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 8
Doha 9 · Movement 1 of 2
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Vibhishana, Sugriva, Nala, Nila, Jambavan, Angada, Hanuman, and the vanara heroes stand in beautiful human forms. They praise Bharata's love, character, vows, and discipline, then marvel at the effortless devotion flowing through Ayodhya's citizens toward Rama's feet.
Rama calls the companions of the forest and teaches them to bow before Sage Vashishtha. He names the Guru as the revered guardian of his house and says that by Vashishtha's grace the demons were overcome in battle.
Then the king turns the honor back upon his friends. Hear, O Sage, he says, these companions became boats for me upon the ocean of war. For my sake they placed their very lives at hazard. They are dearer to me even than Bharata. The warriors who built a bridge across the sea now hear themselves called the vessels by which Rama crossed a greater sea. Each moment opens into fresh happiness, for the Lord remembers service publicly and magnifies the ones who offered it.
Those who built Rama a bridge discover that in his heart they themselves were the boats.
Read the passage from the Manas
लंकापति कपीस नल नीला। जामवंत अंगद सुभसीला।। हनुमदादि सब बानर बीरा। धरे मनोहर मनुज सरीरा।। भरत सनेह सील ब्रत नेमा। सादर सब बरनहिं अति प्रेमा।। देखि नगरबासिन्ह कै रीती। सकल सराहहि प्रभु पद प्रीती।। पुनि रघुपति सब सखा बोलाए। मुनि पद लागहु सकल सिखाए।। गुर बसिष्ट कुलपूज्य हमारे। इन्ह की कृपाँ दनुज रन मारे।। ए सब सखा सुनहु मुनि मेरे। भए समर सागर कहँ बेरे।। मम हित लागि जन्म इन्ह हारे। भरतहु ते मोहि अधिक पिआरे।। सुनि प्रभु बचन मगन सब भए। निमिष निमिष उपजत सुख नए।।
Vibhishana, lord of Lanka; Sugriva, king of the monkeys; Nala, Nila, Jambavan, and Angada of noble character; Hanuman and all the other brave monkey warriors had taken on beautiful human forms. All praised Bharat's affection, his virtue, his vows, and his religious discipline, speaking with great love and respect. Seeing the ways of the people of Ayodhya, every one of them marvelled at the citizens' devotion to the Lord's feet. The monkeys said to one another: 'How blessed are these people, who live in the city of Rama! 'Their love for Raghupati is so natural, so effortless. Even the gods must envy such fortune. 'We fought demons and crossed the ocean, yet the devotion of these simple townspeople puts us to shame. 'To dwell where the Lord dwells, to breathe the air He breathes: this is the highest reward of all.'