Shiva Confesses That Even a Hundred Crore Deeds Cannot Exhaust Rama
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 50
Doha 53क · Movement 1 of 2
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Shiva tells Girija that he has narrated the radiant story only according to the reach of his own understanding. Rama's deeds extend through a hundred crore forms and beyond, exceeding even the speech of Vedas and Sarasvati.
Rama is infinite, and so are his virtues, births, actions, and names. Drops of water and grains of earth might be counted before the stories of Raghupati could be brought to an end.
Yet each portion carries the whole gift. This pure katha bestows Hari's feet and gives rise to unfailing devotion. Shiva has retold what Bhushundi spoke to Garuda and now asks Uma what more she wishes to hear. Uma answers in joy that she is blessed beyond measure, for Rama's virtues have destroyed the fear of becoming. An infinite story has not been finished, but one heart has been freed by listening.
Rama's story cannot be completed by speech, yet a single current of it can complete the listener's freedom from fear.
Read the passage from the Manas
गिरिजा सुनहु बिसद यह कथा। मैं सब कही मोरि मति जथा।। राम चरित सत कोटि अपारा। श्रुति सारदा न बरनै पारा।। राम अनंत अनंत गुनानी। जन्म कर्म अनंत नामानी।। जल सीकर महि रज गनि जाहीं। रघुपति चरित न बरनि सिराहीं।। बिमल कथा हरि पद दायनी। भगति होइ सुनि अनपायनी।। उमा कहिउँ सब कथा सुहाई। जो भुसुंडि खगपतिहि सुनाई।। कछुक राम गुन कहेउँ बखानी। अब का कहौं सो कहहु भवानी।। सुनि सुभ कथा उमा हरषानी। बोली अति बिनीत मृदु बानी।। धन्य धन्य मैं धन्य पुरारी। सुनेउँ राम गुन भव भय हारी।।
O Girija, listen. This is a radiant story. I have told it all as my understanding allowed. Rama's deeds number a hundred crore and beyond. Even the Vedas and Saraswati cannot describe them fully. Rama is infinite, with infinite virtues. His births, deeds, and names are all infinite. One might count the drops of water and the grains of dust on earth, yet the stories of Raghupati would never come to an end. This pure story bestows Hari's lotus feet. Hearing it gives rise to unfailing devotion. O Uma, I have told you the entire beautiful tale that Bhushundi narrated to Garuda. I have described some of Rama's virtues at length. What more shall I say? Tell me, O Bhavani. Hearing this auspicious katha, Uma was filled with joy. She spoke in the most humble and gentle words: 'Blessed, blessed am I, thrice blessed, O Purari! I have heard Rama's virtues that destroy the fear of worldly existence.'