Garuda's Question Opens the Memory of Bhushundi's Many Births
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 93
Doha 96 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhushundi rejoices at Garuda's words. Blessed is your understanding, enemy of serpents. Your question is exceedingly dear. Its loving clarity opens a gate within the crow, and memories of many births return.
He promises to sing the entire history. Listen with reverence and a gathered mind. Before beginning, Bhushundi names the fruit toward which every sacred labor moves: japa, austerity, sacrifice, self-control, vows, charity, detachment, discernment, yoga, and realized knowledge all ripen as love for Raghupati's feet.
Without that love, none reaches true welfare. Bhushundi received Rama-bhakti in his present crow body, and therefore cherishes it intensely. Every being loves that through which the deepest good has come. The explanation of immortality begins not with a technique for defeating Time, but with gratitude for the body in which devotion flowered.
The door to Bhushundi's ancient past opens when Garuda asks with love, and every remembered path points toward Rama's feet.
Read the passage from the Manas
गरुड़ गिरा सुनि हरषेउ कागा। बोलेउ उमा परम अनुरागा।। धन्य धन्य तव मति उरगारी। प्रस्न तुम्हारि मोहि अति प्यारी।। सुनि तव प्रस्न सप्रेम सुहाई। बहुत जनम कै सुधि मोहि आई।। सब निज कथा कहउँ मैं गाई। तात सुनहु सादर मन लाई।। जप तप मख सम दम ब्रत दाना। बिरति बिबेक जोग बिग्याना।। सब कर फल रघुपति पद प्रेमा। तेहि बिनु कोउ न पावइ छेमा।। एहि तन राम भगति मैं पाई। ताते मोहि ममता अधिकाई।। जेहि तें कछु निज स्वारथ होई। तेहि पर ममता कर सब कोई।।
Hearing Garuda's words, the crow Kakbhushundi was filled with joy. He spoke, O Uma, with supreme love. Blessed, blessed is your understanding, O Uragari! Your question is exceedingly dear to me. Hearing your loving and beautiful question, memories of many past births have come flooding back to me. I shall sing my entire story for you, O dear one. Listen with reverence and a focused heart. Japa, tapas, yajna, self-control, restraint, vrata, dana, vairagya, viveka, yoga, and vijnana. The fruit of all these is love for the feet of Raghupati. Without that love, none attains true welfare. In this very body I received Rama-bhakti, and so I hold great affection for it. Everyone naturally cherishes that through which their deepest good has come.