Rama's Story Is a Firm Boat for the Seeker and Sweet Music for the Worldly
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 51
Doha 53ख · Movement 1 of 2
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Those who become tired of Rama's story have not tasted its particular rasa, Uma says. Even great sages liberated while living continue to hear Hari's qualities without interruption.
For the one who longs to cross the ocean of becoming, Rama-katha is a firm boat. For a person still immersed in sense life, the same glory is sweet to the ear and delightful to the mind.
The story meets both shores of spiritual maturity. It carries the seeker who knows the danger of the ocean and charms the listener who has not yet turned away from the world. Who possesses ears yet finds no beauty in Raghupati's deeds? Uma calls such refusal self-harm, then thanks Shiva for singing the Manasa lake of Hari's acts that Bhushundi first offered to Garuda.
Rama-katha becomes a boat for the ready and a beautiful song that quietly makes the unready turn toward the shore.
Read the passage from the Manas
राम चरित जे सुनत अघाहीं। रस बिसेष जाना तिन्ह नाहीं।। जीवनमुक्त महामुनि जेऊ। हरि गुन सुनहीं निरंतर तेऊ।। भव सागर चह पार जो पावा। राम कथा ता कहँ दृढ़ नावा।। बिषइन्ह कहँ पुनि हरि गुन ग्रामा। श्रवन सुखद अरु मन अभिरामा।। श्रवनवंत अस को जग माहीं। जाहि न रघुपति चरित सोहाहीं।। ते जड़ जीव निजात्मक घाती। जिन्हहि न रघुपति कथा सोहाती।। हरिचरित्र मानस तुम्ह गावा। सुनि मैं नाथ अमिति सुख पावा।। तुम्ह जो कही यह कथा सुहाई। कागभसुंडि गरुड़ प्रति गाई।।
Those who tire of hearing Rama's stories have not tasted the special rasa within them. Even the great sages who are liberated while living listen to Hari's virtues without ceasing. For one who yearns to cross the ocean of worldly life, Rama's katha is a sturdy boat. For those entangled in worldly pleasures, too, Hari's glories are sweet to the ear and pleasing to the mind. Who in this world has ears that are not charmed by the deeds of Raghupati? Those are dull souls, destroyers of their own selves, who find no delight in Raghupati's katha. You have sung the Hari-charitra-manasa (the lake of Hari's deeds), and hearing it, O Lord, I have found immeasurable joy. This beautiful story that you have narrated, Kakbhushundi sang it first to Garuda.