Garuda's Heart Melts before the Saint Who Carried Him across Delusion
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 120
Doha 126क · Movement 1 of 2
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Garuda tells Bhushundi that his words, steeped in the nectar of Raghuvira-bhakti, have fulfilled his life. Fresh love has awakened for Rama's feet. The calamities born from maya have vanished like storm clouds after sunrise.
Before him sits the boatman who carried him across the ocean of delusion. Garuda can imagine no repayment, so the mighty wings fold and his crowned head bows again and again at a crow's feet. The celestial bearer of Vishnu calls himself the servant of Rama's humble singer.
Then he sees the nature of saints across the whole earth. They are trees giving shade and fruit, rivers carrying water, mountains bearing weight, and the ground receiving every foot. Poets compare the saintly heart to fresh butter, yet even this image falls short. Butter melts from the heat applied to itself; saints melt when another suffers. In that compassion Garuda has found his crossing. His doubts are gone, his birth fruitful, and his heart newly given to Rama.
Garuda came with the strength to cross the skies and found that a saint's melting heart was the boat he needed.
Read the passage from the Manas
मै कृत्कृत्य भयउँ तव बानी। सुनि रघुबीर भगति रस सानी।। राम चरन नूतन रति भई। माया जनित बिपति सब गई।। मोह जलधि बोहित तुम्ह भए। मो कहँ नाथ बिबिध सुख दए।। मो पहिं होइ न प्रति उपकारा। बंदउँ तव पद बारहिं बारा।। पूरन काम राम अनुरागी। तुम्ह सम तात न कोउ बड़भागी।। संत बिटप सरिता गिरि धरनी। पर हित हेतु सबन्ह कै करनी।। संत हृदय नवनीत समाना। कहा कबिन्ह परि कहै न जाना।। निज परिताप द्रवइ नवनीता। पर दुख द्रवहिं संत सुपुनीता।। जीवन जन्म सुफल मम भयऊ। तव प्रसाद संसय सब गयऊ।। जानेहु सदा मोहि निज किंकर। पुनि पुनि उमा कहइ बिहंगबर।।
I have become fulfilled by hearing your words, which are steeped in the rasa of devotion to Raghuvira. Fresh love for Rama's feet has awakened in me, and all the troubles born of maya have departed. You have become a boat for crossing the ocean of delusion, O master, and have given me manifold happiness. I cannot repay your kindness. I bow at your feet, again and again. You are fulfilled in every purpose, devoted to Rama. There is none as fortunate as you, dear one. Saints are like trees, rivers, mountains, and the earth: all their actions serve the welfare of others. The heart of a saint is like fresh butter, as the poets have said, though it cannot be fully described. Fresh butter melts from its own heat, but pure saints melt from the sorrows of others. My life and birth have become fruitful. By your grace, all my doubts have vanished. Know me always as your servant, says Garuda to Uma, again and again.