Vinay Patrika: Hymn 101

Raag Dhanaasree

Shri Ram Darbar

jaaun kahaan taji charan tumhaare |

kaako naam patit-paavan jaga, kehi ati deen piyaare ||1||

kaaun dev baraai birad-hit, hathhi hathhi adham udhaare |

khag, mrig, byaadh, pashaan, bitap jadh, javan kavan sur taare ||2||

dev, danuj, muni, naag, manuj sab, maayaa-bibas bichaare |

tinke haath daastulsee prabhu, kahaa apanapaau haaare ||3||

Shabari was Very Dear to Shri Ram

O *Naath ! Where else should I go apart from your feet ? Who else has the name of 'patit-pavan' in this world ?The wretched and distressed are very dear to whom? (the manner in which they are to you) ||1||

The Beers & Monkeys in Shri Ram's Army Battling Ravana

Which god to be true to form, persistently gave deliverance to the despicable, in particular? Which deity has granted salvation to birds (*Jatayu), animals(*beers and monkeys and soon), hunter (*Valmiki), stone (*Ahilya),

Deliverance of YamlArjun

rooted trees (*Yamla Arjun) and yavanis or Greeks||2||

The Illusory World

All the poor gods, demons, sages, snakes, human beings and others are controlled by *maya or illusion. (Since a person who has been bound himself can not open the bond of others, therefore) O God! What shall this Tulsidas do by entrusting himself in the hands of those people? ||3||

Naath: the Lord as protector

Patit-pavan: one who purifies the sinful, a title of the Supreme Being

Jatayu: in the Hindu epic Ramayana, Jatayu is the son of Aruṇa and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, is an old friend of Dasharatha (Rama's father). He tries to rescue Sita from Ravana when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but Ravana got the better of him. As Rama and Lakshmana chance upon the dying Jatayu in their search for Sita, he informs them of the fight between him and Ravana and the direction in which Ravana had gone (i.e., south).

Beers and monkeys: when Lord Ram instruction Sugreev to prepare for war against Ravana to free Sita. Sugreev then summoned all the monkeys, bears and brave commanders. Everybody was pleased to serve Lord Ram's cause and thus attained salvation.

Valmiki: The Uttara Khanda, tells the story of Valmiki's early life, a highway robber named Valya Koli. Born as a Dalit, he used to rob people after killing them. Once he tried to rob sage Narada for the benefit of his family. Narada asked him if his family would share the sin.The robber asked his family, but none agreed to bear the burden of his sin. Dejected, the robber finally understood the truth of life and asked for Narada's forgiveness. Narada taught the robber to worship God. The robber meditated for many years and finally, a divine voice declared his penance successful, bestowing him with the name "Valmiki": "one born out of ant-hills" (Valmikam in Sanskrit means Ant-hill).

Ahilya: Ahilya: was the wife of sage Gautama and both lived happily in his ashram. One day during the sage's absence Indra, desirous for the beautiful Ahilya, entered the ashram disguised as Gautama. Vain of her beauty, she yielded to his desire.

When the sin had been committed, she warned Indra of his terrible peril and begged him to leave. Indira was fleeing when he bumped into the rishi who was just returning from his ablutions.The sage cursed Indira that he would loose his manhood immediately.

Then the sage turned to his erring wife said, "living on air, you shall stay here, unseen by anyone. After a long time, Dasaratha's son will pass this way. When he sets foot in this ashram, you will be freed from the curse.”

As years passed by Ahilya remained in the ashram as a stone idol over which vegetation grew up with time. One day Lord Rama, accompaniee by Lakshman happened to pass by on his way to Mithila. And the moment Rama set his foot in the Ashram, the curse was lifted and Ahalya stood before them in all her beauty free from the curse of her husband.

Yaml Arjun: Nalkoobar and Manigreev were the two sons of Shri Kuberji. Once on the banks of the Mandikini River in Mount Kailash, they were passionately making love to women. Sage Narada dropped by and they didn’t even look at him, drunk as they were. Angered at such atrocious behaviour, Narada cursed both of them but assured salvation by Lord Krishna.Born as huge deciduous trees they were known as Yamlarjun. Lord Krishna dragging the mortar he was bound to, passed between the two trees. With a little force he uprooted them and a couple of radiant men evolved and ardently prayed to the Lord. Two deciduous trees adorn the entrance of Nand Bhavan in Mahavan till date.

Maya: the mundane world as perceived by the senses, considered as illusory

Vinay Patrika: Hymn 99

Raag Dhanaasreee

Shri Ram Delights the Poor

birad gareebnivaaj raamko |

gaavat baid-puraan, sambhu-suk, pragat prabhaau naamko ||1||

dhruv, prahlaad, bibheeshan, kapipati, jadh, patang, paandav, sudaamko |

lok sujas parlok sugati, inhamein ko haai raam kaamko ||2||

ganika, kol, kiraat, aadikabi inhate adhik baam ko |

baajimegh kab kiyo ajaamil, gaj gaayo kab saamko ||3||

chhalee, maleen, heen sab hee ang, tulsee so chheen chhaamko |

naam-nares-prataap prabal jag, jug-jug chaalat chaamko ||4||

Lord Shiva Sings the Glories of Shri Ram

The very nature of Shri Ram is to gratify the poor by making them happily content. The Vedas, Puranas, Lord Shiva, *Shukdev ji and others sing of this attribute. The majestic impact of chanting the name of Shri Ram is a visible reality ||1||

Lord Krishna Washes the Feet of Sudama, His Poor Childhood Friend

The Supreme Being gave grand fame to *Dhruv, *Prahlad, *Vibhishan, *Sugreev, lifeless *(Ahilya), birds (*Jatayu, *Kaakbhushundi), all the five *Pandavas and *Sudama in this loka (material world) and granted them deliverance (or release of the soul from the body and from further rebirth) in parloka (the other world after death). In truth, whom out of these was of any worth to Lord Ram! ||2||

Maharshi Valmiki with Luv & Kush

Who could be worse than ganika (*Jivanti), non-Aryan tribes (menial Nisads) and Valmiki, the aadi kavi ?

The Envoys of Lord Vishnu Come to Take Ajamil

When did Ajamil perform the Asvamedha Yagna and when did *Gajraj sing glories of the Sama Veda? ||3||

Shri Ram Dwells in the Heart of Goswami Tulsidas

Who else is as deceitful, dirty, deprived of all means, and thin plus lean, like Tulsidas ? But by the powerful impact of the realm of King Ram's Name, a leather coin has also worked since ages. In other words even those who were extremely despicable have been attaining the Supreme Being by the glorious might of the name of Shri Ram. I am also going to attain Him in precisely the same way ||4||

Shukdev: name of the son of Vyas (narrator of the Bhagavata Purana to Parikshit)

Dhruv: The father of Dhruv was king Uttanpad, who was married to Suruchi and Suneeti. The father preferred Suruchi. Dhruv was Suneeti’s son and Uttam was Suruchi’s son. Once Dhruv saw Uttam sitting on their father’s lap and he wanted to do the same. Suruchi was furious at him, and he ran to Suneeti his mother. She consoled him that if he had to ask for something let that be from God. Dhruv set out for the forest and met Narad Muni who gave him the mantra of 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaaya,' for attaining Lord Vishnu.The Lord appeared before Dhriva and wished that he should return to the kingdom.Thus endorsing the fact that God also gives material wealth to his devotees. Dhruv was transported to the highest point of heaven, where he sits on his Divine father’s lap as the Pole Star also known as the North Star.

Prahlada: is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, wherein he is famed for his dedicated devotion to Vishnu, despite attempts by his father, Hiranyakashipu to turn him to the contrary. He is considered a great devotee, by followers of Vaishnava traditions and is of special importance to devotees of Narasimha Avatar.

Vibhishana: or Bibhishan is a character in the epic Ramayana. He was the younger brother of demon Ravana. Though a half-demon himself, Vibhishana was noble and advised Ravana, who had abducted Sita, to instantly return her to her husband Rama in an orderly fashion. When his brother did not listen to his advice, Vibhishana joined Rama's army. Later, when Rama defeated Ravana, Rama crowned Vibhishana as the king of Lanka.

Sugreev: In the Ramayana, Sugriva was the younger brother of Bali, whom he succeeded as ruler of Kishkindha, the monkey kingdom. Ruma was his wife and he was the son of Surya. As king of the monkeys, Sugriva aided Rama in liberating his wife Sita from the captivity of Ravan, the demon king.

Ahilya: was the wife of sage Gautama and both lived happily in his ashram. One day during the sage's absence Indra, desirous for the beautiful Ahilya, entered the ashram disguised as Gautama. Vain of her beauty, she yielded to his desire.

When the sin had been committed, she warned Indra of his terrible peril and begged him to be gone. Indira was fleeing when he bumped into the rishi who was just returning from his ablutions.The sage cursed Indira that he would loose his manhood immediately.

Then the sage turned to his erring wife said, "living on air, you shall stay here, unseen by anyone. After a long time, Dasaratha's son will pass this way. When he sets foot in this ashram, you will be freed from the curse.”

As years passed by Ahilya remained in the ashram as a stone idol over which vegetation grew up with time. One day Lord Rama, accompaniee by Lakshman happened to pass by on his way to Mithila. And the moment Rama set his foot in the Ashram, the curse was lifted and Ahalya stood before them in all her beauty free from the curse of her husband.

Jatayu : in the Hindu epic Ramayana, Jatayu is the son of Aruṇa and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, is an old friend of Dasharatha (Rama's father). He tries to rescue Sita from Ravana when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but Ravana got the better of him. As Rama and Lakshmana chance upon the dying Jatayu in their search for Sita, he informs them of the fight between him and Ravana and the direction in which Ravana had gone (i.e., south).

Kak Bhushundi: In Uttarkanda, the last chapter of Ramacharitamanas, we find the teachings on bhakti yoga delivered by Kaka Bhusundi, who was an enlightened sage in the body of a crow, to Garuda, the celestial eagle and vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Kaka Bhusundi is a great bhakta of Sri Rama and teaches all the feathered folk who flock around him about the path of devotion to Sri Rama. Kaka Bhusundi first relates the story of Sri Rama's life, but what he is really conveying is the path of bhakti yoga.

The five Pandavas: In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandavas are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva and all five of them were married to the same woman, Draupadi.

Together, the brothers fought and triumphed in a great war against their cousins the Kauravas, which came to be known as the Battle of Kurukshetra. Their alienated half-brother Karna fought against them and was eventually slain by Arjuna.

Sudama: was a childhood friend of Hindu deity Krishna from Mathura, the story of whose visit to Dwaraka to meet Krishna, is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana. He was Narada born as a poor man in order to enjoy the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krishna.

Jivanti: Ajamil was a brahmin who led a righteous life in Kanya Kubja. But one day while collecting flowers to worship the Lord he saw a drunken shudra and Jivanti, a ganika or prostitute engaged in a sexual embrace. He took the ganika home as a maid servant and begot several children from her, after abandoning his family.

Valmiki: Valmiki was going to the river Ganga for his daily ablutions. Looking up, he saw two birds flying together. Valmiki felt very pleased on seeing the happy bird couple. Suddenly, one of the birds fell down, hit by an arrow; it was the male bird. Seeing the wounded one, its mate screamed in agony. Valmiki's heart melted at this pitiful sight. He looked around and saw a hunter with a bow and arrows, nearby. Infurieated Valmiki uttered the following words:

You will find no rest for the long years of Eternity

For you killed a bird in love and unsuspecting

This was the first śloka in Sanskrit literature.Thus Valmiki is revered as the first poet, or Adi Kavi, and the Ramayana, the first kavya.

Ajamil: was the son of a devout devotee of Vishnu. But , unlike his holy father wasted his time in sinful activities.

One day, his father sent him to the nearby forest to pluck flowers. There a beautiful tribal woman, accompanied by her lover, saw the handsome Ajamil and fell in love with him. She approached him and expressed her wish to be his wife. Ajamil agreed to marry her and returned home with his bride. Shocked, his father rejected her and a heated argument followed between Ajamil and his father after which he threw the old man on the ground and asked him to leave the house. Many years passed and Ajamil's sins only increased.Ajamil's wife bore him ten sons. The youngest, called Narayana was the most loved of them all.

Ajamil slowly became poor in health and took to his bed. He saw Yama's two messengers by his bedside. Startled, he shouted his son Narayan's name. Vishnu who is called Narayana heard the plea and responded.

Ashvamedha Yagya: or 'horse sacrifice' was one of the most important royal rituals of Vedic religion, described in detail in the Yajurveda.

Gajraj: Gajendra Moksha is a Puranic legend from Bhagavata Purana. Lord Vishnu came down to earth to protect Gajendra(the leader of a herd of elephants) from the death clutches of Makara (Crocodile).

SamaVeda: the second of the four Vedas or ancient Hindu scriptures

Vinay Patrika: Hymn 94

Raag Dhanaashree

The Idols of Shri Ram & Sita at Kanak Bhavan in Ayodhya

kahe te hari mohin bisaaro |

jaanat nij mahimaa mere agh, tadapi na naath sanbhaaro ||1||

patit-puneet, deenhit, asaran-saran kahat shruti chaaro |

haaun nahin adham, sabheet, deen? kidhaaun bedan mrishaa pukaaro ?

khag-ganikaa-gaj-byaadh-paanti jahan tahan haaunhoon baaithhaaro |

ab kehi laaj kripaanidhaan ! parsat panvaaro phaaro ||3||

jo kalikaal prabal ati hoto, tuv nidesaten nyaaro |

taau hari rosh bharos dosh gun tehi bhajate taji gaaro ||4||

masak biranchi, biranchi masak sam, karahu prabhau tumhaaro |

yah saamrath acchat mohin tyaaghu, naath tahaan kacchu chaaro ||5||

naahin narak parat mokahan dar, jadyapi haaun ati haaro |

yah baddhi traas daastulsee prabhu, naamhu paap na jaaro ||6||

Shri Ram with Lakshman & Sita ji, Raghunath Temple in Jammu

O *Hare ! Why have you forgotten me? O *Nath! You are well aware of both your glory and my sins, even then why don't you support me ?||1||

The Vedas

You are the one who purifies the sinful, are a benefactor of the downtrodden and grant refuge to those who are without shelter, all the four Vedas endorse this fact. Then am I not servile, frightened or needy? Or else ,is this proclamation of the Vedas, false? ||21||

Jatayu Attains Salvation by Shri Ram & Lakshman

You (initially) seated me in the row of a bird *(Jatayu, a vulture), a ganika or prostitute (Jivanti) an *elephant and piercer *(Valmiki), that is accepted me as a *sinner. O treasury of compassion, now ! Ashamed at whom, are you tearing the leaf-full (of religious devotion) which has been served to me||3||

Kaliyuga, the Age of Spiritual Darkness

If Kaliyuga ( the age of spiritual darkness) was more powerful than you and did not agree to your command, then O Hare! Abandoning our implicit faith in you and singing your glories, plus discarding the trouble of being furious at Kaliyuga and accusing him, we would worship him, instead||4||

Brahma, the Creator

(But) you can transform an ordinary mosquito into *Brahma and make Brahma equivalent to a mosquito, such is your majestic energy. Even on having such immense capacity, you are renouncing me. In that case, O Nath! What is in my control?||5||

Goswami Tulsidas Seeking Shri Ram's Blessings

Although I have lost in every possible way and I am not even scared of falling into hell. But for Tulsidas that is me, this is the greatest grief, that even the name of God did not reduce my sins to ashes||6||

Hare: refers to Harati, or He who unties the knot of material desires in the hearts of living entities.

Naath: Lord or protector

Jatayu: In the Ramayan Jatayu is the son of Aruna and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, he was an old friend of Dasharath. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana when he was abducting Sita As Ram and Lakshman chance upon the dying Jatayu in their search for Sita, he informs them of his fight with Ravan and the direction in which he has gone (south).

Jivanti: Ajamil was a brahmin who led a righteous life in Kanya Kubja. But one day while collecting flowers to worship the Lord he saw a drunken shudra and Jivanti, a ganika or prostitute engaged in a sexual embrace. He took the ganika home as a maid servant and begot several children from her, after abandoning his family.

Elephant: Gajendra Moksha

Valmiki:The Uttara Khanda of the Ramayan tells the story of Valmiki's early life. He was a highway robber named Valya Koli, born as a Dalit who used to rob people after killing them.

Sinner: all these sinners attained salvation by the grace of Shri Ram

Brahma: the Supreme Being regarded as personal and especially in his capacity as creator of the world.

Vinay Patrika: Hymn [79], Makes a Humble Petition to Lord Ram

Raag Todi

Lord Ram is Merciful to the Poor

dev-

tuu dayaalu, deen haaun, tuu daani, haaun bhikhaaree |

haaun prasiddh paatkee, tuu paap-punj-haaree ||1||

naath tuu anaathko, anaath kaaun moso |

mo samaan aarat nahin, aartihar toso ||2||

brahma tuu, haaun jeev, tuu haai thakur, haaun chero |

taat-maat, guru-sakhaa, tuu sab bidhi hitu mero ||3||

tohin mohin naate anek, maaniyaai jo bhaavaai |

jyon tyon tulsee kripaalu ! charan-saran paavaai ||4||

Lord Ram Destroys Accumulated Sins

O Lord ! You are merciful to the poor, and in that case I am needy. You are immeasurably beneficent and then I am a beggar. I am a renowned sinner, and at that point of time you are the destructor of accumulated sins ||1||

Lord Ram is the Svami of Orphans

You are the master of destitution and in that case who else is a an orphan like me? There is no one whose grief is comparable to mine and there is none who can alleviate suffering like you can ||2||

Lord Ram is Brahm, the All Pervading Spirit of the Universe

You are *Brahm and I am a living being. You are the svami or master and I am the servitor. What more, you are my mother, father, guru and friend. And you are the one who is a benefactor in every possible way ||3||

The Refuge of Lord Ram's Feet

You and I share several relationships; accept whichever bond you are fond of. But O compassionate one, the concern is! This Tulsidas must attain the refuge of your feet, somehow ||4||

Brahm: the impersonal Ultimate Being, the all pervading spirit of the universe

Vinay Patrika: Hymn [77], Makes a Humble Petition to Lord Ram

Raag Lalit

Shri Ram is the Very Life of Janaki ji

jaankee-jeevan, jag-jeevan, jagat-hit,

jagdees, raghunath, rajeevlochan ram |

sarad-bidhu-badan, sukhseel, shreesadan,

sahaj sundar, tanu, sobha agnit kaam ||1||

jag-supitaa, sumaatu, suguru, suhit, sumeet,

sabko daahino, deenbandhu, kaahooko na baam |

aartiharan, saranad, atulit daani,c

pranatpaalu, kripaalu, patit-paavan naam ||2||

sakal bisva-bandit, sakal sur-sevit,

aagam-nigam kahaain raavreie gungraam |

ihaai jaani tulsee tihaaro jan bhayo,

nyaaro kaai ganibo jahaan gane gareeb gulaam ||3||

Shri Ram, the Lord of the Race of Raghus

O Sri Ram ji ! You are the life of Janaki ji, the very soul of the universe, a well-wisher of the world, svami or Supreme Being of the world, Lord of the race of Raghus and have eyes which are just like a lotus.Your lovely face is like the autumnal full moon (of Sharad Poornima), and bestowing joy is your basic nature. Goddess Lakshmi forever dwells in your being. Innately your body is supremely beautiful, whose radiance is equivalent to countless Kamdevs ||1||

Shri Ram, an Ally of the Needy & Poor

You are the world's father who grants happiness, its mother and guru or spiritual preceptor, well-wisher, friend and favourable to everyone. You are an ally of the needy and poor, but do not bring wrong to anyone. You are the reliever of adversities, grant us shelter, immeasurably generous, a protector of refugees and compassionate.Chanting your Ram Naam (name), purifies the sinful ||2||

Goswami Tulsidas Enslaved to Shri Ram

The entire universe prays to you, all the gods attend to your needs, and the whole lot of Vedas-Shastras (ancient Indian scriptures), sing of your multifaceted virtues. Knowing this reality, Tulsidas was enslaved to you. Now please tell me, will you consider him separate or count him as one of the poor slaves enrolled in your service||3||

Vinay Patrika: Hymn [73] Makes a Humble Petition to Lord Ram

Raag Bhairav

We Must Awaken Spiritually

jaagu, jaagu, jeev jadh! johaai jag-jaaminee |

deh-geh-neh jaani jaaise ghan-daaminee ||1|

sovat sapanehoon sahaai sansriti-santaap re |

boodhyo mrig-baari khaayo jevreeko saanp re ||2||

kahaain baid-budh, too to boojhi manmaahin re |

dosh-dukh sapaneke jaage hee paai jaahin re ||3||

tulsee jaagete jaay taap tihoon taay re |

ram-naam suchi ruchi sahaj subhaay re ||4||

Lightning Within Clouds

Oh foolish being ! Wake up, awaken (spiritually)! Have a look at the night of this (illusionary) world! Consider the love for this body, home and family to be as transitory as the lightning within the clouds, which flashes for a moment and hides soon after ||1||

Drowning in a Mirage of Water

(Not only during the span when you are awake) but even during the time span when you are asleep, you are just bearing the hardships of this material world; Oh ! You are gradually drowning in the water of a mirage because of deception.

Human Bonding in the Mundane World

And the snake of a (human) bond is biting you ||2||

The Vedas & Scholars

The Vedas and learned scholars are repeatedly calling out and stating that all the sorrows and vices of our dreams are actually destroyed when we wake up (evolve spiritually). You must ponder over and understand this reality ||3||

Selfless Love for Lord Ram, Arises in Our Heart

O Tulsi! The *three painful sufferings of this world are expelled when we awaken from the sleep of ignorance. And that is precisely when a selfless, spontaneous and sincere love for the name of Shri Ram arises( in our heart) ||4||

three painful sufferings: Man has to encounter sorrow from three sources while on earth. The scriptures mention these and ask us to be on guard. They are aadhyaathmic (an individual, personal sorrow which afflicts man through physical & mental illnesses), aadhibhowthic (the second faction of sorrows, is created from external elements and derived from living beings like snakes, wild animals, worms, insects and so on) and aadhidhaivic (the third kind of sorrow arises from the super natural and troubles mankind through calamities like floods, droughts, storms and so on.)

Vinay Patrika: Hymn [72], Makes a Humble Petition to Lord Ram

Raag Bhairav

The Kind Goodness of Shri Ram

mero bhalo kiyo ram aapnee bhalaaee |

haaun to saaeen-drohee paai sevak-hit saaeen ||1||

ramson badho haai kaun, moson kaaun chhoto |

ram so kharo haai kaaun, moson kaaun khhoto ||2||

lok kahaai ramko gulaam haaun kahaavaaun |

eto badho apraadh bhaau na man baavaaun ||3||

paath maathe chadhe trin tulsee jyon neecho |

borat na baari taahi jaani aapu seencho ||4

Shri Ram is a Benefactor of His Devotees

Shri Ram brought about my good solely by his kind goodness. (What hope was there of my well-being coming about by my conscientiousness?) Because I am the one who does wrong to my svami ; but my master Shri Ram is a well-wisher of his sevak or devotee||1||

There is None Greater than Shri Ram

Who is greater than Shri Ram ji and who can be more contemptible than me ? Who is more genuine than Him and who can be more fraudulent than me ?||2||

Goswami Tulsidas, Adulates Shri Ram

The world says that I (Tulsidas) am a slave of Ram ji and I am also addressed as such. (In reality, not attending to the needs of Ram, I conveniently accept that position). This is a very grave offence of mine, still the heart of Shri Ram did not turn against me, even a bit ||3||

A Blade of Grass Floating on Water

O Tulsi! Even on being so inferior, just as a blade of grass rises to the surface of water (floats on top)but the water does not drown the blade, assuming that it has been reared due to being irrigated by it. (Similarly Lord Shri Ram thinks the same about his devotees) ||4||

Vinay Patrika: Shri Ram Naam Japa [69]

Raag Bhairav

Do Smarana of Shri Ram

sumiru sanehson too naam ramraayako |

sambal nisambalko, sakhaa asahaayako ||1||

bhaag haai abhaagehooko, gun gunheenko |

gaahak gareebko, dayaalu daani deenko ||2||

kul akuleenko, sunyo haai baid saakhi haai |

pangureko haath-paanya, aandhareko aankhi haai ||3||

maaya-baap bhookheko, adhaar niraadhaarko |

setu bhav-saagarko, hetu sukhsaarko ||4||

patitpaavan ram-naam so na doosro |

sumiri subhoomi bhayo tulsee so oosro ||5||

Lord Ram, the Great King of Kings

O living being! You lovingly do *smarana of the name of Lord Ram, the great king of kings. Chanting his name is the resource (kaleva or a light midday meal) for those travellers who are bereft of any provisions. It is the patron of a person who has no rescuer||1||

Shri Ram with *Shabari

This name of Ram is the good fortune of one who is unfortunate, and the virtue of another who is lacking in good qualities,(those who are unfortunate and not virtuous also become supremely fortunate, and are endowed with all the gunas when they repeatedly do japa of Ram Naam). It is the appraiser which honours the poor, and is a compassionate benefactor of the needy||2||

The Vedas Confirm that the Name of Shri Ram is a Support for the Crippled & the Blind

The name of Ram is the family prestige of those hailing from a disgraceful tribe (even *chandals who do japa of the name of Ram are considered most superior), and this chant becomes the limbs of the crippled and serves as eyes for the blind (those who repeatedly recite the name of Ram, easily cross over the path of this mundane world). The *Vedas endorse this doctrine||3||

Ram Naam Helps us Cross Over the Ocean of this Material World

That Ram Naam turns into parents for the hungry, and a supporter of those who are helpless. It is a bridge to cross over the ocean of this material world and the prime reason for attaining the Supreme Being (esp as equated with Vishnu) ||4||

Reciting the Name of Ram Purifies the Sinful

Who else is as patit-paavan (one who purifies the sinful) as the name of Ram, by doing smarana of which even a barren (person) like Tulsi has transformed into a beautiful fertile patch of land (abounding with the paddy of loving bhakti or religious devotion)||5||

smarana: a concentrated internal practice of imaginative recollecting or meditating upon the Supreme Being

chandals: the lowest of the original mixed Aryan communities

Shabari: was a hunter's daughter belonging to the Bhil tribal community. Just before marriage she renounced the world and met sage Matanga who blessed her, confirming that Lord Ram would give her darshan. On Rama's arrival she tasted the berries before feeding him. When Lakshmana was concerned Lord Ram answered, "Whomsoever offers a fruit, leaf, flower or some water with love, I partake it with great joy."

Vedas: any of the four early Indian scriptures

Vinay Patrika: Shri Ram Naam Japa [66]

Raag Bhairav

Chant the Name of Lord Ram

ram japu, ram japu, ram japu baavre |

ghor bhav-neer-nidhi naam nij naav re ||1||

ek hee saadhan sab riddhi-siddhi saadhi re |

grase kali-rog jog-samjam-samaadhi re ||2||

bhalo jo haai, poch jo haai, daahino jo, baam re |

ram-naam hee son anth sab hee ko kaam re ||3||

jag nabh-baatikaa rahee haai phali phooli re |

dhuvaan kaaise dhaaurhar dekhi too na bhooli re ||4||

ram-naam chhadhi jo bharoso karaai aaur re |

tulsee paroso tyaagi maangaai koor kaaur re ||5||

The Name of Shri Ram is the Boat which Makes us Cross the Ocean of this Material World

Oh insane man! Repeatedly recite the name of Ram, do japa of Ram and chant Ram. The name of Shri Ram is the sole boat which can help us cross over the terrifying ocean of this mundane world. In other words by sitting in this boat of Ram Naam,whenever a person wants he can instantly get across the ocean of existence, because this is his prerogative ||1||

One Acquires all the Riddhis & Siddhis by Chanting the Name of Shri Ram

By the power of Ram Naam, acquire all the *riddhis and *siddhis, because the various means of *yoga, abstinence, *samadhi etcetera, have been devoured by the disease of Kaliyuga (the age of spiritual darkness) ||2||

All Beings Rely on the Sole Name of Lord Ram

Whether a person is righteous or wicked, wrong-headed or straightforward, everyone will ultimately have to rely on the sole name of Ram ||3||

The Flourishing Garden of Life

You must not forget this fact on seeing worldly objects which are momentarily perceptible but vanish soon after, like billowing palaces of smoke. This world is completely deceptive just like the *mirage of a flourishing garden of life, sighted in the universe ||4||

Goswami Tulsidas Adulating Lord Ram

O Tulsidas, a person who abandons the name of Ram and has faith in someone else! Is equivalent to that fool who discarding the food which has been served in front, roams around like a dog from one house to another, begging for every morsel ||5||


riddhis: spiritual prosperity

siddhis: spiritual powers attained by one who has been perfected and sanctified as if by penance

yoga: a practice of abstract meditation undertaken to bring the soul towards union with the supreme spirit

samadhi: profound meditation esp with the mind successfully fixed on the ultimate being, and with the senses completely restrained in the final trance like stage of yoga

mirage: The emptiness of our universe is in all actuality a flourishing garden of life.Therefore the emptiness is an illusion to our eyes that makes the human spirit strive to see that garden which is hidden by our own ignorance.