Rama Calls Bhakti the Free and Blissful Path
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 43
Doha 45 · Movement 1 of 2
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If you desire well-being here and beyond, Rama tells the assembly, hold these words firmly in the heart. The Puranas and Vedas sing his bhakti as a path both accessible and filled with happiness.
Knowledge is difficult to reach, crossed by many obstacles, demanding hard practice without an easy support for the mind. Even if attained through great labor, knowledge without devotion does not make the practitioner dear to Rama.
Bhakti is sovereign and the treasury of every happiness, yet it is not found without satsang. Saints are met through accumulated merit, and their company ends samsara. Rama then praises wholehearted service offered without deceit, through mind, action, and word. The accessible path is not casual. It becomes simple because love, holy company, sincerity, and reverence gather the scattered powers of the seeker toward one Lord.
Bhakti is free because love needs no difficult machinery, yet it asks the whole heart to become simple and true.
Read the passage from the Manas
जौं परलोक इहाँ सुख चहहू। सुनि मम बचन ह्रृदयँ दृढ़ गहहू।। सुलभ सुखद मारग यह भाई। भगति मोरि पुरान श्रुति गाई।। ग्यान अगम प्रत्यूह अनेका। साधन कठिन न मन कहुँ टेका।। करत कष्ट बहु पावइ कोऊ। भक्ति हीन मोहि प्रिय नहिं सोऊ।। भक्ति सुतंत्र सकल सुख खानी। बिनु सतसंग न पावहिं प्रानी।। पुन्य पुंज बिनु मिलहिं न संता। सतसंगति संसृति कर अंता।। पुन्य एक जग महुँ नहिं दूजा। मन क्रम बचन बिप्र पद पूजा।। सानुकूल तेहि पर मुनि देवा। जो तजि कपटु करइ द्विज सेवा।।
If you desire happiness both in this world and the next, listen to my words and hold them firmly in your heart. This path of bhakti to me is easy and blissful, O brother, as sung by the Puranas and Vedas. Jnana is difficult to attain, with many obstacles. Its practices are hard, and the mind finds no steady support. Even one who undergoes great hardships may achieve it, but without bhakti, such a person is not dear to me. Bhakti is sovereign and the source of all happiness, but beings cannot attain it without satsanga. Without accumulated punya, one does not meet saints. And the company of saints brings an end to samsara. There is no other punya in this world equal to worshipping the feet of brahmins with mind, deed, and speech. Sages and devas are favorable to one who abandons deceit and serves the twice-born with sincerity.