Four Ancient Children Enter Rama's Flowering Grove
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 30
Doha 32 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama walks with his brothers and beloved Hanuman into a beautiful grove where every tree carries flowers and new leaves. At the fitting moment, Sanaka and the other three Kumaras approach as concentrated forms of radiance, virtue, and gentle character.
They are absorbed always in the bliss of Brahman, ancient beyond measure yet appearing as children. Equal in vision and free from division, they look like the four Vedas that have taken living bodies and entered the garden.
Their hope, clothing, and deepest delight are all one: to hear Raghupati's story wherever it is spoken. Shiva tells Parvati that they had stayed with the wise pot-born sage Agastya, who narrated Rama's deeds in many forms. Those stories were like friction sticks from which the fire of knowledge blazed. Now the listeners formed by that sacred fire stand before Rama himself among the flowering trees.
The four Vedas seem to arrive as ageless children, carrying the fire of Rama's story into a grove dressed in new leaves.
Read the passage from the Manas
भ्रातन्ह सहित रामु एक बारा। संग परम प्रिय पवनकुमारा।। सुंदर उपबन देखन गए। सब तरु कुसुमित पल्लव नए।। जानि समय सनकादिक आए। तेज पुंज गुन सील सुहाए।। ब्रह्मानंद सदा लयलीना। देखत बालक बहुकालीना।। रूप धरें जनु चारिउ बेदा। समदरसी मुनि बिगत बिभेदा।। आसा बसन ब्यसन यह तिन्हहीं। रघुपति चरित होइ तहँ सुनहीं।। तहाँ रहे सनकादि भवानी। जहँ घटसंभव मुनिबर ग्यानी।। राम कथा मुनिबर बहु बरनी। ग्यान जोनि पावक जिमि अरनी।।
Once Rama went with His brothers, accompanied by His most beloved Hanuman, the son of the wind, to visit a beautiful grove where every tree was in bloom with fresh flowers and new leaves. Knowing the right moment, the four Kumaras arrived: Sanaka and his brothers, radiant with spiritual fire, adorned with virtue and gentle grace. Always absorbed in the bliss of Brahman, they appeared as children, though ancient beyond reckoning. They seemed as if the four Vedas had taken living form: sages of equal vision, free from all distinction. Their sole hope, sole garment, sole delight was this: to hear the story of Raghupati wherever it was told. O Parvati, the four Kumaras had stayed with the great sage Agastya, the wise one born of a sacred vessel. That noble muni had narrated many tales of Rama, which kindle the fire of knowledge like friction-sticks of wisdom.