Saturday, June 9, 2012

Sloka Uttar Kand

     yatpurvam prabhunå krtam sukavinå srisambhunå durgamam
     srimadråmapadåbjabhaktimanisam pråptyai tu råmåyanam  |
     matvå tadraghunåthanåmaniratam svåntastamahsåntaye
     bhåsåbaddhamidam cakåra tulasidåsastathå månasam  ||1||
     punyam påpaharam sadå sivakaram vigyånabhaktipradam
     måyåmohamalåpaham suvimalam premåmbupuram subham  |
     srimadråmacaritramånasamidam bhaktyåvagåhanti ye
     te samsårapatangaghorakiranairdahyanti no månavå ̈  ||2||

The Manasa-Ramayana Was Composed by Lord Shambhu
The same inaccessible Manasa-Råmayana (the story of Lord Rama metaphorically spoken of as a Manasa or a holy  Himalayan lake) which was composed long ago by Lord Shambhu, the best of poets, with the objective of developing unceasing devotion for the lotus-feet of the supremely beautiful Lord Råma,  


Goswami Tulsidas Wrote the Ramayana in Awadhi
The Ramcharitmanas, the Sanskrit Ramayana has been likewise written in the vernacular (Awadhi) by Tulasidåsa for dispersing the dark gloom of his heart, well knowing that it is devoted to the Name of Lord Raghunathji (the Lord of the Raghus).

The Ramcharitmanas Purifies the Body & Soul Instantly
This glorious, holy, Sri Ramcharitmanas (lake of Lord Rama's exploits), is a purifier of sins and is always conducive to our well-being. The Manasa bestows wisdom and religious devotion, destroys delusion, infatuation and impurity, is brimming with the water of supremely tender love and is auspicious. Those who devoutly plunge into this Manas-Sarovar (a large and fine lake) are never burnt by the scorching rays of the sun of worldly illusion.


[PAUSE 30 FOR A THIRTY-DAY RECITATION]

[PAUSE 9 FOR A NINE-DAY RECITATION]


iti srimadramacaritamanase sakalakalikalu¶avidhvamsane saptama ̈ sopåna ̈ samåpta ̈.

The Manasa of Lord Rama Expiates all the Impurities of Kaliyuga
Thus ends the seventh descent into the Manasa of Lord Rama's exploits, that eradicates all the impurities of Kaliyuga.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

129th & 130th Dohas of Uttar Kand

Chaupai:
       råma kathå girijå mai barani,  kali mala samani manomala haran|
       samsrti  roga sajivana muri, råma kathå gåvahi sruti sur||1||
       ehi maha° rucira sapta sopånå, raghupati bhagati kera pamthånå  |
       ati hari krpå jåhi para hoi, påu° dei ehi måraga soi  ||2||
       mana kåmanå siddhi nara påvå, je yaha kathå kapata taji gåvå  |
       kahahi sunahi anumodana karahi, te gopada iva bhavanidhi tarahi°  ||3||
       suni saba kathå hrdaya ati bhåi, girijå boli girå suhåi  |
       nåtha krpå° mama gata samdehå, råma carana upajeu nava nehå  ||4||


 
The Ramacharitmanas is Likened to the Sanjeevani Herb
O Girijia! I have narrated the story of Lord Råma, which expiates the sins of Kaliyuga and removes impurities of the mind. The narrative of Lord Rama, is the sanjeevani herb(which has the magical power to cure any malady) for curing the disease of birth and death, so say the Vedas and the seers. It has seven beautiful ladders, which are paths leading to the religious devotion of Lord Raghuvir. Only he who has the utmost grace of Lord Hari can set foot on this road (of bhakti or religious devotion.) Men who discard deceit and sing this story, attain the object of their soul's desire. Those who repeat or listen to it or approve of its recitation, cross over the ocean of this mundane world as they would the print of a cow's hoof.


 
Goddess Girija's Doubts are Dispelled
(Sage Yagyavalkya says*) On hearing the whole narrative, Girija (daughter of the mountain-king) really liked the tale and she replied beautifully: By the grace of my lord (Yourself) my doubts have been steadily dispelled and a new loving devotion for Lord Rama's feet has arisen.

Doha:
     mai krtakrtya bhaiu°aba tava prasåda bisvesa  |
     upaji råma bhagati drRha bite sakala kalesa  ||129||


Lord Shiva & Paravati Moved by Dedicated Devotion to Lord Rama
O Vishwanath! By your grace, I have now accomplished the purpose of my life. Unswerving devotion to Lord Råma has sprung in my heart and all my afflictions have come to an end.(129)

Chaupai:
    yaha subha sambhu umå sambådå, sukha sampådana samana bisådå  |
    bhava bhamjana gamjana samdehå, jana ramjana sajjana priya ehå  ||1||
    råma upåsaka je jaga måhi, ehi sama priya tinha ke° kachu nåh|
    raghupati krpå° jathåmati gåvå, mai yaha påvana carita suhåvå  ||2||
    ehi kalikåla na sådhana dujå, joga jagya japa tapa brata pujå  |
    råmahi sumiria gåia råmahi, samtata sunia råma guna gråmahi  ||3||
    jåsu patita påvana baRa bånå, gåvahi kabi sruti samta purånå  |
    tåhi bhajahi mana taji kutilåi, råma bhaje°gati kehi nahi påi  ||4||


 
The Ramayana is a Diaoluge Between Lord Shambhu & Uma
This blessed dialogue between Lord Shambhu and Goddess Uma gives us joy and gets rid of sorrow. It ends the cycle of birth and death, dispels doubt, delights devotees and is very dear to saints.To the Ram bhaktas (however many) in this world, there is nothing so dear as this (narrative of Lord Rama). By the grace of the Lord of the Raghus, I have sung this sacred and charming story, to the best of my ability.



 
Goswami Tulsidas Sings the Glories of Lord Rama
(Goswami Tulsidas says) No other means neither Yoga (mind-control) nor sacrifices, nor Japa (incantations)or austere penance, nor any sacred vows or ritual is of any use in this age of Kali: Just the smarana (concentrated recollection)of Lord  Rama, singing the glories of Lord Rama and constantly hearing the multitude of Lord Rama's virtues should be adopted. O mind of mine! Discarding crookedness, worship Him whose great trait it is to sanctify the fallen, so sing the seers and saints, the Vedas and Puranas. Who has not got redemption (merging of the soul with the Ultimate) by worshipping Lord Rama?

Chhand:
      påi na kehi gati patita påvana råma bhaji sunu satha manå  |
      ganikå ajåmila byådha gidha gajådi khala tåre ghanå  ||
      åbhira jamana kiråta khasa svapacådi ati agharupa je  |
      kahi nåma båraka tepi påvana hohi råma namåmi te  ||1||
      raghubamsa bhusana carita yaha nara kahahi sunahi je gåvahi  |
      kali mala manomala dhoi binu srama råma dhåma sidhåvahi  |
      sata pamca caupåi° manohara jåni jo nara ura dharai  |
     dåruna abidyå pamca janita bikåra sriraghubara harai  ||2||
     sumdara sujåna krpå nidhåna anåtha para kara priti jo  |
     so eka råma akåma hita nirbånaprada sama åna ko  |
     jåki krpå lavalesa te matimamda tulasidåsahu°  |
     påyo parama bisråmu råma samåna prabhu nåhi° kahu°  ||3||


 Worship Lord Rama to Attain Salvation
Listen! O stupid soul! Who has not got paramgati (higest condition where the soul merges with the Ultimate Being) by worshipping Lord Rama, the purifier of the sinful? Prostitute (Pingala), Ajamila, the hunter (Vålmiki),  


The Deliverance of Jatayu by Lord Rama
the vulture (Jatayu), the elephant and many other despicable wretches have been delivered by Him. Even Åbhiras (a hilly tribe inhabiting the south-west coast, in ancient times), Yavanas, Kiratas (Bhilas), Khasas (another hill-tribe of Assam), Candalas (the pariahs) and others who are the very embodiments of grave sin, are purified by merely uttering His name just once : I respectfully salute that Lord Rama.


The Ramcharitmanas or Lake of Lord Rama's Exploits
Men who repeat to others, listen to (when repeated by others) or chant by themselves this narrative of Lord Rama (the Ornament of the Raghus) thereby wash away the sins of Kaliyuga and impurities of their soul, and go to the supreme Abode of Lord Rama, without any effort. What more, the Chief of the Raghus cures  disorders arising from the fivefold* ignorance, of those men who retain in their heart even a few chaupais of this narrative that appeal as most charming (which means what to talk of the entire Ramayan even a person who understants four-five chaupais and treasures their meaning in his heart, Lord Rama gets rid of all his sufferings arising due to ignorance).


Tulsidasa finds Absolute Peace by the Grace of Lord Rama
If there is anyone who is (supremely) beautiful, so very wise and all-merciful and who loves those who are destitutes, it is Rama and Rama alone. Who else is comparable to Him who works for our well-being (without any self interest) and grants moksha or salvation? Nowhere can we find a lord like Lord Rama, by a   fraction of whose grace even the dull-witted Tulasidåsa has found absolute peace.


Doha:
    mo sama dina na dina hita tumha samåna raghubira  |
    asa bicåri raghubamsa mani harahu bisama bhava bhira  ||130(A)||
    kåmihi nåri piåri jimi lobhihi priya jimi dåma  |
    timi raghunåtha niramtara priya lågahu mohi råma  ||130(B)||



May Lord Rama be Forever Dear to Me
O Lord Raghuvir! There is no one as miserable as me nor such a friend of the down-trodden as You! Realizing this, O Shiromani (paragon) of the Raghus, take away my fear of birth and death, which is so terrifying. Just as a woman is dear to a lascivious man and wealth is dear to a greedy person; in the same way, O Lord of the Raghus, may you be forever dear to me.(130 A-B)



*Sage Yagyanavalkya: Basically The Ramcharitmanas is three distinct dialogues between Shiv & Parvati, Bharadvaj Muni & Sage Yagyanavalkya, and finally Kakbhushundiji & Garuda. It is believed that there is an underlying interaction between Goswami Tulsidas and Lord Ram, as well.


*The fivefold ignorance has been characterized as mistaking (1) the unreal for real, (2) the ephemeral for the eternal, (3) the painful as pleasurable, (4) the impure for pure and (5) that which is worth discarding for something worth acquiring.