Garuda's Doubt Vanishes at the Ashrama, Yet He Begs to Hear the Whole Story
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 62
Doha 64ख · Movement 1 of 2
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Garuda tells Bhushundi that the purpose of his journey has already been fulfilled by darshan. The instant he saw the supremely holy ashrama, delusion, doubt, and confusion departed. The answer began as presence before it became speech.
Still he asks for the purifying story of Shri Rama, ever-giving happiness and destroying mountains of sorrow. Again and again he begs the crow-sage to narrate it. Relief from doubt does not end his listening. Freedom from the question opens a deeper hunger for the Lord whose lila had first unsettled him.
Bhushundi hears the humble, simple, loving words, and great enthusiasm fills his heart. He begins to sing Raghupati's glory. With profound love he first describes the lake of Rama's story, then Narada's vast delusion, the birth of Ravana, the Lord's avatara, and the childhood deeds. Under the banyan, the whole Manas begins to rise again through a crow's voice as the king of birds listens.
Garuda arrives seeking one answer and receives the entire ocean of Rama's story, beginning again beneath the ancient banyan.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनहु तात जेहि कारन आयउँ। सो सब भयउ दरस तव पायउँ।। देखि परम पावन तव आश्रम। गयउ मोह संसय नाना भ्रम।। अब श्रीराम कथा अति पावनि। सदा सुखद दुख पुंज नसावनि।। सादर तात सुनावहु मोही। बार बार बिनवउँ प्रभु तोही।। सुनत गरुड़ कै गिरा बिनीता। सरल सुप्रेम सुखद सुपुनीता।। भयउ तासु मन परम उछाहा। लाग कहै रघुपति गुन गाहा।। प्रथमहिं अति अनुराग भवानी। रामचरित सर कहेसि बखानी।। पुनि नारद कर मोह अपारा। कहेसि बहुरि रावन अवतारा।। प्रभु अवतार कथा पुनि गाई। तब सिसु चरित कहेसि मन लाई।।
Garuda said: 'Listen, dear one. The purpose for which I came has all been fulfilled by obtaining your darshan.' 'Seeing your supremely sacred ashrama, all my delusion, doubt, and confusion have vanished.' 'Now please narrate the supremely purifying story of Shri Rama, which is ever joy-giving and destroys the multitude of sorrows.' 'Respectfully, dear father, narrate it to me. Again and again I humbly beseech you, O Lord.' Hearing Garuda's humble, simple, loving, and pure words, great joy arose in Bhushundi's heart. He began to sing the glorious qualities of Lord Raghupati. First, with great love, O Bhavani, he described the lake of Rama's story. Then he told of Narada's boundless delusion and narrated the incarnation of Ravana. Then he sang of the Lord's incarnation and afterwards narrated His childhood deeds with a focused mind.