Sages Leave Samadhi to Hear the Ever-New Story of Rama
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 40
Doha 42 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama's brothers rejoice until love can no longer fit inside their hearts. They bow and speak their gratitude repeatedly, while Hanuman's inward happiness becomes immeasurable. Then Rama returns to his palace, continuing new lilas each day.
Narada comes again and again, sings the sacred deeds, and carries each fresh account to Brahmaloka. Brahma listens in delight and asks his son to sing Rama's virtues once more.
Sanaka and the other sages praise Narada, though they themselves are absorbed in Brahman beyond form. When Rama's qualities begin to sound, these masters willingly set aside samadhi and listen with reverence. The silence of realization is not broken by the story. It bends toward lila, discovering that the infinite known without form is also inexhaustibly sweet when heard as Rama's ever-new deeds.
Even samadhi opens its eyes when Narada brings another ever-new song from Rama's living court.
Read the passage from the Manas
श्रीमुख बचन सुनत सब भाई। हरषे प्रेम न हृदयँ समाई।। करहिं बिनय अति बारहिं बारा। हनूमान हियँ हरष अपारा।। पुनि रघुपति निज मंदिर गए। एहि बिधि चरित करत नित नए।। बार बार नारद मुनि आवहिं। चरित पुनीत राम के गावहिं।। नित नव चरन देखि मुनि जाहीं। ब्रह्मलोक सब कथा कहाहीं।। सुनि बिरंचि अतिसय सुख मानहिं। पुनि पुनि तात करहु गुन गानहिं।। सनकादिक नारदहि सराहहिं। जद्यपि ब्रह्म निरत मुनि आहहिं।। सुनि गुन गान समाधि बिसारी।। सादर सुनहिं परम अधिकारी।।
Hearing the blessed words from Rama's holy mouth, all the brothers rejoiced. Love could not be contained in their hearts. They offered humble prayers again and again, while Hanuman's heart overflowed with boundless joy. Then Raghupati went to his palace, thus performing ever-new divine acts each day. Sage Narada comes repeatedly and sings the sacred deeds of Rama. Seeing these ever-new divine acts, the sage departs and narrates all these stories in Brahmaloka. Hearing this, Brahma feels immense joy and says, 'Dear son, sing His virtues again and again.' Sanaka and the other sages praise Narada, though they themselves are sages absorbed in Brahman beyond form. Hearing the songs of His virtues, they set aside their samadhi and listen with deep reverence, being supreme masters of knowledge.