Shiva Reveals the Heart Prepared to Receive Rama-Katha
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 123
Doha 128 · Movement 1 of 2
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Shiva tells Parvati that he once kept the story hidden. Seeing the depth of love within her mind, he opened the treasury and narrated Raghupati's lila according to her understanding. The revelation arose within relationship, trust, and ripened longing.
He names the dispositions that leave the door closed: obstinacy that will not listen, greed, anger, lust, hostility toward the sacred, and refusal to worship the Lord of all moving and unmoving life. Even royal power equal to Indra cannot create the needed fitness.
The true qualifications are quieter. Love for satsanga, affection for the Guru's feet, fidelity to righteous conduct, service, and a listening mind prepare the vessel. For one to whom Sri Raghuraya is dearer than life, the story becomes especially joy-giving. Rama-katha is not secret because the Lord withholds compassion. It is subtle because love alone recognizes the gift. Parvati's attentive heart has become the chamber in which the entire Manas could be spoken.
The gates of Rama-katha open where love for the Lord has become dearer than breath.
Read the passage from the Manas
मति अनुरूप कथा मैं भाषी। जद्यपि प्रथम गुप्त करि राखी।। तव मन प्रीति देखि अधिकाई। तब मैं रघुपति कथा सुनाई।। यह न कहिअ सठही हठसीलहि। जो मन लाइ न सुन हरि लीलहि।। कहिअ न लोभिहि क्रोधहि कामिहि। जो न भजइ सचराचर स्वामिहि।। द्विज द्रोहिहि न सुनाइअ कबहूँ। सुरपति सरिस होइ नृप जबहूँ।। राम कथा के तेइ अधिकारी। जिन्ह कें सतसंगति अति प्यारी।। गुर पद प्रीति नीति रत जेई। द्विज सेवक अधिकारी तेई।। ता कहँ यह बिसेष सुखदाई। जाहि प्रानप्रिय श्रीरघुराई।।
I have spoken this story according to your understanding, though at first I had kept it hidden. Seeing the depth of love in your heart, I then narrated the story of Lord Raghupati. This should not be told to the foolish and obstinate, who do not listen to Hari's lila with attentive mind. Do not tell it to the greedy, the wrathful, or the lustful, who do not worship the Lord of all that moves and does not move. Never narrate it to one who hates brahmins, even if he should become a king like Indra. Those who are qualified for Rama's story are they who hold satsanga most dear. Those who have love for the guru's feet and are devoted to righteousness, those servants of the learned are truly qualified. For one to whom Sri Raghurai is dearer than life itself, this story brings supreme joy.