For Twenty-Seven Kalpas, Bhushundi Returns to Ayodhya whenever Bala Rama Appears
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 109
Doha 115 · Movement 1 of 2
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Neither Time, karma, qualities, defects, nor changing nature will trouble Bhushundi. Hidden and manifest mysteries of Rama will become known without strain, and love for the Lord's feet will remain forever new.
A deep celestial voice confirms Lomasa's blessing: so be it. This crow is my devotee in action, mind, and speech. Bhushundi bows repeatedly to the sage, receives permission to depart, and comes joyfully to the hermitage made sacred by grace.
Twenty-seven kalpas have passed while he sings Raghupati's qualities to wise birds. Whenever Rama assumes a human body in Ayodhya for devotees, Bhushundi travels there, watches the childhood lila, and returns with Bala Rama held in his heart. The long mystery is complete: why he bears a crow body, why Time cannot destroy him, how the Manas reached him, and why his ashrama dispels delusion. Every answer rests within the immeasurable glory of Rama-bhakti.
Ages end and worlds arise, but the ancient crow keeps flying home to the same child in Ayodhya.
Read the passage from the Manas
काल कर्म गुन दोष सुभाऊ। कछु दुख तुम्हहि न ब्यापिहि काऊ।। राम रहस्य ललित बिधि नाना। गुप्त प्रगट इतिहास पुराना।। बिनु श्रम तुम्ह जानब सब सोऊ। नित नव नेह राम पद होऊ।। जो इच्छा करिहहु मन माहीं। हरि प्रसाद कछु दुर्लभ नाहीं।। सुनि मुनि आसिष सुनु मतिधीरा। ब्रह्मगिरा भइ गगन गँभीरा।। एवमस्तु तव बच मुनि ग्यानी। यह मम भगत कर्म मन बानी।। सुनि नभगिरा हरष मोहि भयऊ। प्रेम मगन सब संसय गयऊ।। करि बिनती मुनि आयसु पाई। पद सरोज पुनि पुनि सिरु नाई।। हरष सहित एहिं आश्रम आयउँ। प्रभु प्रसाद दुर्लभ बर पायउँ।। इहाँ बसत मोहि सुनु खग ईसा। बीते कलप सात अरु बीसा।। करउँ सदा रघुपति गुन गाना। सादर सुनहिं बिहंग सुजाना।। जब जब अवधपुरीं रघुबीरा। धरहिं भगत हित मनुज सरीरा।। तब तब जाइ राम पुर रहऊँ। सिसुलीला बिलोकि सुख लहऊँ।। पुनि उर राखि राम सिसुरूपा। निज आश्रम आवउँ खगभूपा।। कथा सकल मैं तुम्हहि सुनाई। काग देह जेहिं कारन पाई।। कहिउँ तात सब प्रस्न तुम्हारी। राम भगति महिमा अति भारी।।
Time, karma, the gunas, faults, and nature: none of these sorrows shall ever touch you. The beautiful and varied mysteries of Rama, both hidden and revealed in ancient histories and Puranas, without effort you shall know them all. May ever-fresh love for Rama's feet be yours. Whatever desire you hold in your mind, nothing is difficult to obtain by Hari's grace. Hearing the sage's blessing, O wise one, a deep divine voice resounded in the sky: 'Evam astu (So be it). Your words are true, O wise sage. This is my devotee in deed, mind, and speech.' Hearing the celestial voice, great joy arose in me. Absorbed in love, all doubt vanished. Making humble request and receiving the sage's leave, I bowed my head again and again at his lotus feet. With joy I came to this hermitage, having obtained a rare boon by the Lord's grace. Listen, O lord of birds: dwelling here, twenty-seven kalpas have passed. I constantly sing the virtues of Raghupati, which the wise birds listen to with reverence. Whenever the hero of Raghu takes human form in Ayodhya for the sake of His devotees, I go and dwell in Rama's city, gaining joy by witnessing His childhood lila. Then, keeping Rama's child form in my heart, I return to my hermitage, O king of birds. I have told you the entire story of why I obtained this crow's body. I have answered all your questions, dear one. The glory of Rama-bhakti is immeasurably great.