The Sages Ask for the Devotion That Becomes a Boat across Samsara
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 33
Doha 35 · Movement 1 of 2
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The sages ask for Rama's most purifying devotion, which ends the threefold affliction and the burning pressure of worldly existence. To those who bow, he is Kamadhenu and Kalpataru, the living answer to the deepest prayer.
Raghunayak is Agastya before the ocean of becoming, able to drink its vastness away. He destroys suffering born in the mind, spreads equanimity, removes hope, fear, jealousy, and expands humility, discernment, and dispassion.
Grant devotion, they pray, the boat that crosses samsara's river. Rama is the swan upon the Manasa lake of sages' hearts, his feet worshiped by Brahma and Shankara, banner of Raghu's line, bridge and protector of revealed wisdom, devourer of time, karma, nature, and guna. Tulsidas enters the close, praising the generous ornament of three worlds who carries beings across and removes every stain.
The river of becoming is vast, but devotion places Rama himself beneath the seeker as a boat.
Read the passage from the Manas
देहु भगति रघुपति अति पावनि। त्रिबिध ताप भव दाप नसावनि।। प्रनत काम सुरधेनु कलपतरु। होइ प्रसन्न दीजै प्रभु यह बरु।। भव बारिधि कुंभज रघुनायक। सेवत सुलभ सकल सुख दायक।। मन संभव दारुन दुख दारय। दीनबंधु समता बिस्तारय।। आस त्रास इरिषादि निवारक। बिनय बिबेक बिरति बिस्तारक।। भूप मौलि मन मंडन धरनी। देहि भगति संसृति सरि तरनी।। मुनि मन मानस हंस निरंतर। चरन कमल बंदित अज संकर।। रघुकुल केतु सेतु श्रुति रच्छक। काल करम सुभाउ गुन भच्छक।। तारन तरन हरन सब दूषन। तुलसिदास प्रभु त्रिभुवन भूषन।।
Grant us devotion to Raghupati, that most sacred devotion which destroys the threefold suffering and the burning of worldly life. You are the wish-fulfilling Kaamadhenu and the Kalpataru for those who bow before you. Be pleased, O Lord, and grant us this boon. O Raghunaayaka, you are like sage Agastya to the ocean of samsaara, easy to serve and the giver of every happiness. You destroy the terrible sorrows born of the mind, O friend of the humble, and spread the blessing of equanimity. You remove longing, fear, jealousy, and all such afflictions, and you expand humility, wisdom, and detachment. O crown-jewel of kings, ornament of the mind and the earth, grant that devotion which is the boat for crossing the river of samsaara. You are the eternal swan gliding upon the Maanasa lake of the sages' hearts. Your lotus feet are worshipped by Brahmaa and Shankara. Banner of Raghu's lineage, bridge of the Vedas, protector of dharma, devourer of time, karma, nature, and the gunas. Says Tulasidaas: O Lord who carries souls across, who removes every blemish, you are the ornament of the three worlds.