Rama Reveals Who Is Dearest to Him in All the Moving and Unmoving Worlds
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 84
Doha 86ख · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama asks Bhushundi to hold his pure and simple teaching in the mind. The universe born through maya, with all its moving and unmoving beings, is his creation. Every being is dear, and among embodied forms the human opportunity especially pleases him.
The teaching ascends through discipline and realization: the twice-born, bearers of sacred learning, followers of Vedic dharma, the detached, the wise, and those established in realized knowledge. Yet above them all stands Rama's own servant, whose heart has no other refuge or hope.
Again and again the Lord speaks the truth: no one is as dear as the devotee. Without bhakti, even Brahma holds no special nearness; with devotion, a being of the humblest station is dearer than Rama's own life. Cosmic office, social rank, scriptural learning, and realization do not compel divine intimacy. Single-hearted love does, because it answers the universal love through which Rama has already brought every being forth.
The ladder rises beyond learning and realization, then disappears before the servant who has no hope but Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
अब सुनु परम बिमल मम बानी। सत्य सुगम निगमादि बखानी।। निज सिद्धांत सुनावउँ तोही। सुनु मन धरु सब तजि भजु मोही।। मम माया संभव संसारा। जीव चराचर बिबिधि प्रकारा।। सब मम प्रिय सब मम उपजाए। सब ते अधिक मनुज मोहि भाए।। तिन्ह महँ द्विज द्विज महँ श्रुतिधारी। तिन्ह महुँ निगम धरम अनुसारी।। तिन्ह महँ प्रिय बिरक्त पुनि ग्यानी। ग्यानिहु ते अति प्रिय बिग्यानी।। तिन्ह ते पुनि मोहि प्रिय निज दासा। जेहि गति मोरि न दूसरि आसा।। पुनि पुनि सत्य कहउँ तोहि पाहीं। मोहि सेवक सम प्रिय कोउ नाहीं।। भगति हीन बिरंचि किन होई। सब जीवहु सम प्रिय मोहि सोई।। भगतिवंत अति नीचउ प्रानी। मोहि प्रानप्रिय असि मम बानी।।
Now listen to My supremely pure vani (words), which are true, simple, and praised by the Nigamas (Vedas) and shastras. I shall tell you My own siddhanta (doctrine). Listen, fix it in your mind, abandon all else, and worship Me alone. This samsara (world) with all its moving and non-moving beings of various kinds is born from My Maya. All are dear to Me and all are My creation, but among all, human beings please Me most. Among humans, the dvijas (twice-born) are dear. Among dvijas, those who are Shrutidharis (bearers of Vedic knowledge). Among them, those who follow Nigama-dharma (Vedic righteousness). Among them, the detached and the jnanis (wise ones) are dear. And dearer still than the jnanis are the vijnanis (those with realized knowledge). But dearer to Me than even them are My own dasas (devotees), who have no other refuge or hope besides Me. Again and again I tell you truly: no one is as dear to Me as My sevaka (servant-devotee). Without bhakti, even Viranchi (Brahma the creator) is no different from any ordinary being in My eyes. But a devotee, even if of the humblest birth, is dearer to Me than My own life. Such is My vani (word).