Lomasa Reveals the Secret Lake of the Manas and Gives Bhushundi the Bala Rama Mantra
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 108
Doha 114 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhushundi tells Garuda there was no fault in Lomasa. Raghunatha inspired the entire event to test his love. Once the Lord knew him as a servant in mind, speech, and action, the sage's understanding cleared.
Lomasa saw Bhushundi's humility and unwavering trust in Rama's feet. Astonished and repentant, he called the crow back, honored him, gave the Rama-mantra, and taught meditation upon the beautiful child form that Bhushundi later shared first with Garuda.
The sage kept him nearby and revealed the Ramcharitmanas, the secret lake of Rama's story received through Shiva's grace. This katha must not be given where Rama-bhakti is absent. After many instructions, Bhushundi bowed with love. Lomasa placed a lotus hand upon his head and blessed unbroken devotion to dwell forever within the crow's heart. Curse, test, mantra, image, scripture, and blessing are revealed as one hidden architecture of grace.
The curse that gave black wings finally brings Bhushundi beneath a lotus hand, where Bala Rama and the secret Manas are entrusted to his heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनु खगेस नहिं कछु रिषि दूषन। उर प्रेरक रघुबंस बिभूषन।। कृपासिंधु मुनि मति करि भोरी। लीन्हि प्रेम परिच्छा मोरी।। मन बच क्रम मोहि निज जन जाना। मुनि मति पुनि फेरी भगवाना।। रिषि मम महत सीलता देखी। राम चरन बिस्वास बिसेषी।। अति बिसमय पुनि पुनि पछिताई। सादर मुनि मोहि लीन्ह बोलाई।। मम परितोष बिबिध बिधि कीन्हा। हरषित राममंत्र तब दीन्हा।। बालकरूप राम कर ध्याना। कहेउ मोहि मुनि कृपानिधाना।। सुंदर सुखद मिहि अति भावा। सो प्रथमहिं मैं तुम्हहि सुनावा।। मुनि मोहि कछुक काल तहँ राखा। रामचरितमानस तब भाषा।। सादर मोहि यह कथा सुनाई। पुनि बोले मुनि गिरा सुहाई।। रामचरित सर गुप्त सुहावा। संभु प्रसाद तात मैं पावा।। तोहि निज भगत राम कर जानी। ताते मैं सब कहेउँ बखानी।। राम भगति जिन्ह कें उर नाहीं। कबहुँ न तात कहिअ तिन्ह पाहीं।। मुनि मोहि बिबिध भाँति समुझावा। मैं सप्रेम मुनि पद सिरु नावा।। निज कर कमल परसि मम सीसा। हरषित आसिष दीन्ह मुनीसा।। राम भगति अबिरल उर तोरें। बसिहि सदा प्रसाद अब मोरें।।
Listen, O king of birds: there is no fault in the sage. The ornament of Raghu's lineage was the one who inspired it all. The ocean of compassion, making the sage's mind clouded, tested the strength of my love. Knowing me as His devotee in mind, word, and deed, the Lord then restored the sage's understanding. Seeing my great humility, the sage developed special faith in Rama's feet. Filled with wonder and repeatedly repenting, the sage respectfully called me to him. He pleased me in various ways, and then joyfully gave me the Rama-mantra. The compassionate sage instructed me to meditate upon Rama in His child form. Beautiful and blissful, this meditation pleased me greatly. It was this I shared with you first. The sage kept me there for some time, then spoke the Ramcharitmanas to me. He respectfully narrated this story, then spoke in sweet words: 'This beautiful, secret lake of Rama's story, dear one, I received by Shiva's grace. Knowing you to be Rama's own devotee, I have told everything to you. Those who do not have Rama's devotion in their hearts: never share this with them.' The sage instructed me in many ways. I lovingly bowed my head at his feet. Touching my head with his lotus hand, the great sage joyfully gave his blessing: 'By my grace, unceasing devotion to Rama shall dwell in your heart forever.'