Knowledge Opens into Faith, Faith into Love, and Love into Unshakable Bhakti
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 87
Doha 90 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhushundi remains in Ayodhya for a time, tasting the rasa of Rama's childhood. Having received the boon of bhakti, he bows at the Lord's feet and returns to his ashrama. Since Raghunayaka made him his own, maya has never again covered him.
He has now revealed the hidden charitra of how Hari's maya once made him dance. From direct experience he tells Garuda that suffering does not leave without Hari-bhajan, and Rama's majesty cannot be known without Rama's grace.
Without knowing, faith does not arise. Without faith, love cannot deepen. Without love, devotion cannot become firm, just as water cannot possess the clinging quality of oil. Each stage supports the next, yet grace surrounds the whole sequence. Bhushundi's cosmic vision was not given as spectacle. It became knowing; knowing became trust; trust became love; and love became the unbroken devotion for which he asked.
Grace becomes knowledge, knowledge ripens into faith, faith warms into love, and love settles as devotion that cannot be shaken.
Read the passage from the Manas
मैं पुनि अवध रहेउँ कछु काला। देखेउँ बालबिनोद रसाला।। राम प्रसाद भगति बर पायउँ। प्रभु पद बंदि निजाश्रम आयउँ।। तब ते मोहि न ब्यापी माया। जब ते रघुनायक अपनाया।। यह सब गुप्त चरित मैं गावा। हरि मायाँ जिमि मोहि नचावा।। निज अनुभव अब कहउँ खगेसा। बिनु हरि भजन न जाहि कलेसा।। राम कृपा बिनु सुनु खगराई। जानि न जाइ राम प्रभुताई।। जानें बिनु न होइ परतीती। बिनु परतीति होइ नहिं प्रीती।। प्रीति बिना नहिं भगति दिढ़ाई। जिमि खगपति जल कै चिकनाई।।
I then remained in Ayodhya for some time and witnessed the delightful childhood pastimes of Rama. By Rama's prasaad I obtained the precious gift of bhakti, and after bowing at the Lord's feet, I returned to my ashram. Since then, Maya has not touched me, ever since Raghunayak made me His own. All these hidden divine acts I have sung, describing how Hari's Maya once made me dance to its will. Now I speak from my own experience, O Khagesha: without bhajan of Hari, suffering does not depart. Listen, O Khagarai, without Rama's kripa one cannot know the Lord's supreme glory. Without knowing there is no faith, and without faith there is no love. Without love there is no firm bhakti, O Khagapati, just as water has no stickiness.