Rama Describes the Heart in Which a Saint Is Known
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 36
Doha 38 · Movement 1 of 2
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A saint remains unattached to sense pleasures, rich in character and virtue, feeling another's sorrow as sorrow and another's happiness as happiness. Equal toward all, such a person releases pride, attachment, greed, anger, agitation, and fear.
The heart is tender toward the afflicted. Mind, speech, and action serve Rama without deceit. Honor is given to everyone while none is demanded for oneself. Rama tells Bharata that such beings are dear to him as life itself.
Desire fades into devotion to the Name. Peace, dispassion, humility, joy, coolness, simplicity, friendship, sacred reverence, self-control, discipline, and righteous conduct dwell together without harsh speech. These are not ornaments arranged for public admiration. They are qualities inhabiting the heart until conduct flows from them naturally. Where this whole constellation lives, Rama says, know that a saint is truly present.
A saint is recognized where another's joy is welcomed, another's pain is felt, and no harsh word can find a home.
Read the passage from the Manas
बिषय अलंपट सील गुनाकर। पर दुख दुख सुख सुख देखे पर।। सम अभूतरिपु बिमद बिरागी। लोभामरष हरष भय त्यागी।। कोमलचित दीनन्ह पर दाया। मन बच क्रम मम भगति अमाया।। सबहि मानप्रद आपु अमानी। भरत प्रान सम मम ते प्रानी।। बिगत काम मम नाम परायन। सांति बिरति बिनती मुदितायन।। सीतलता सरलता मयत्री। द्विज पद प्रीति धर्म जनयत्री।। ए सब लच्छन बसहिं जासु उर। जानेहु तात संत संतत फुर।। सम दम नियम नीति नहिं डोलहिं। परुष बचन कबहूँ नहिं बोलहिं।।
Unattached to worldly pleasures, a treasure of virtue and good conduct. One who sees others' sorrow as his own sorrow, and others' joy as his own joy. Equal-minded toward all, free from pride and attachment, having abandoned greed, anger, excessive joy and fear. Tender-hearted with compassion for the afflicted, devoted to My worship in mind, word and deed without deceit. One who honors all while remaining humble himself. Such souls are as dear to Me as Bharata's very life. Free from desire, devoted to My name, finding joy in shanti, vairagya, and humble prayer. Possessing coolness of temperament, simplicity and friendliness, with love for the feet of brahmins and devotion that gives birth to dharma. All these qualities dwell in whose heart, know, dear one, that such a person is truly and forever a saint. They remain steady in self-control, restraint, sacred observances and righteous conduct, and never speak harsh words.