Dialogue Between Narada and Rama
The sage Narada raises profound questions before Rama about devotion and divine grace. Through their dialogue, the importance of the holy name, love, and the Lord's compassion is revealed.
Aranya Kand · Episode 17 / 18
Episode Text
बिरहवंत भगवंतहि देखी। नारद मन भा सोच बिसेषी॥ मोर साप करि अंगीकारा। सहत राम नाना दुख भारा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
birahavanta bhagavantahi dekhī। nārada mana bhā soca biseṣī॥ mora sāpa kari aṅgīkārā। sahata rāma nānā dukha bhārā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the Lord afflicted by separation, Narada's mind was filled with deep concern. He thought, "Having accepted my curse, Rama is bearing the burden of many sorrows."
ऐसे प्रभुहि बिलोकउँ जाई। पुनि न बनिहि अस अवसरु आई॥ यह बिचारि नारद कर बीना। गए जहाँ प्रभु सुख आसीना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aise prabhuhi bilokauṃ jāī। puni na banihi asa avasaru āī॥ yaha bicāri nārada kara bīnā। gae jahāṃ prabhu sukha āsīnā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
I shall go and behold such a Lord. Such an opportunity may never come again. Thinking this, Narada took up his vina and went to where the Lord was resting happily.
गावत राम चरित मृदु बानी। प्रेम सहित बहु भाँति बखानी॥ करत दंडवत लिए उठाई। राखे बहुत बार उर लाई॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gāvata rāma carita mṛdu bānī। prema sahita bahu bhāṃti bakhānī॥ karata daṇḍavata lie uṭhāī। rākhe bahuta bāra ura lāī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
He was singing the deeds of Rama in a soft voice, praising them lovingly in many ways. Seeing him prostrate in obeisance, Shri Ramchandra lifted Narada up and held him to His heart for a long time.
नाना बिधि बिनती करि प्रभु प्रसन्न जियँ जानि। नारद बोले बचन तब जोरि सरोरुह पानि॥ ४१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nānā bidhi binatī kari prabhu prasanna jiyaṃ jāni। nārada bole bacana taba jori saroruha pāni॥ 41 ॥
Meaning:
Having made many kinds of entreaties and knowing that the Lord was pleased in His heart, Narada then spoke, joining his lotus-like hands.
सुनहु उदार सहज रघुनायक। सुंदर अगम सुगम बर दायक॥ देहु एक बर मागउँ स्वामी। जद्यपि जानत अंतरजामी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunahu udāra sahaja raghunāyaka। sundara agama sugama bara dāyaka॥ dehu eka bara māgauṃ svāmī। jadyapi jānata antarajāmī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Listen, O generous and naturally gracious Raghunath: You are beautiful, inaccessible, yet easily granting boons. O Lord, grant me one boon, though as the indwelling Knower You already know all.
जानहु मुनि तुम्ह मोर सुभाऊ। जन सन कबहुँ कि करउँ दुराऊ॥ कवन बस्तु असि प्रिय मोहि लागी। जो मुनिबर न सकहु तुम्ह मागी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jānahu muni tumha mora subhāū। jana sana kabahuṃ ki karauṃ durāū॥ kavana bastu asi priya mohi lāgī। jo munibara na sakahu tumha māgī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
You know my nature, O sage. Do I ever hide anything from My devotees? What thing is there that I would not gladly grant, O best of sages?
जन कहुँ कछु अदेय नहिं मोरें। अस बिस्वास तजहु जनि भोरें॥ तब नारद बोले हरषाई। अस बर मागउँ करउँ ढिठाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jana kahuṃ kacchu adeya nahiṃ moreṃ। asa bisvāsa tajahu jani bhoreṃ॥ taba nārada bole haraṣāī। asa bara māgauṃ karauṃ ḍhiṭhāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
For a devotee, nothing is withheld from Me. Do not abandon this faith even in delusion. Then Narada, delighted, said, "I ask for such a boon, even if it seems audacious."
जद्यपि प्रभु के नाम अनेका। श्रुति कह अधिक एक तें एका॥ राम सकल नामन्ह तें अधिका। होउ नाथ अघ खग गन बधिका॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jadyapi prabhu ke nāma anekā। śruti kahā adhika eka teṃ ekā॥ rāma sakala nāmanha teṃ adhikā। hou nātha agha khaga gana badhikā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Although the Lord has countless names, the Vedas say that each is greater than the last. May the name Rama be supreme among all names, O Lord, like a hunter of the birds of sin.
राका रजनी भगति तव राम नाम सोइ सोम। अपर नाम उडगन बिमल बसहुँ भगत उर ब्योम॥ ४२ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rākā rajanī bhagati tava rāma nāma soi soma। apara nāma uḍagana bimala basahuṃ bhagata ura byoma॥ 42 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Your devotion is the night of the full moon; within it, the name Rama is the moon itself, and all the other names are stars, dwelling in the pure sky of the devotee's heart.
एवमस्तु मुनि सन कहेउ कृपासिंधु रघुनाथ। तब नारद मन हरष अति प्रभु पद नायउ माथ॥ ४२ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
evamastu muni sana kaheu kṛpāsiṃdhu raghunātha। taba nārada mana haraṣa ati prabhu pada nāyau mātha॥ 42 (b) ॥
Meaning:
The ocean of compassion, Raghunath, said to the sage, "So be it." Then Narada, filled with great joy in his heart, bowed his head at the Lord's feet.
अति प्रसन्न रघुनाथहि जानी। पुनि नारद बोले मृदु बानी॥ राम जबहिं प्रेरेउ निज माया। मोहेहु मोहि सुनहु रघुराया॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati prasanna raghunāthahi jānī। puni nārada bole mṛdu bānī॥ rāma jabahiṃ prereu nija māyā। mohehu mohi sunahu raghurāyā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Raghunath exceedingly pleased, Narada again spoke in a gentle voice: "Rama, when You stirred Your own illusion and deluded me, O Raghuraya, listen..."
तब बिबाह मैं चाहउँ कीन्हा। प्रभु केहि कारन करै न दीन्हा॥ सुनु मुनि तोहि कहउँ सहरोसा। भजहिं जे मोहि तजि सकल भरोसा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba bibāha maiṃ cāhauṃ kīnha। prabhu kehi kārana karai na dīnhā॥ sunu muni tohi kahauṃ saharosā। bhajahiṃ je mohi taji sakala bharosā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
At that time I wished to marry. O Lord, why did You not let me do so? Listen, O sage, I tell you with joy: those who leave all other support and worship only Me...
करउँ सदा तिन्ह कै रखवारी। जिमि बालक राखइ महतारी॥ गह सिसु बच्छ अनल अहि धाई। तहँ राखइ जननी अरगाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karauṃ sadā tinh kai rakhavārī। jimi bālaka rākhai mahatārī॥ gaha sisu baccha anala ahi dhāī। tahaṃ rākhai jananī argāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
I always protect them, just as a mother protects her child. When a little child runs to seize fire or a snake, the mother pulls him aside and saves him.
प्रौढ़ भएँ तेहि सुत पर माता। प्रीति करइ नहिं पाछिलि बाता॥ मोरें प्रौढ़ तनय सम ग्यानी। बालक सुत सम दास अमानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prauḍha bhaeṃ tehi suta para mātā। prīti karai nahiṃ pāchili bātā॥ moreṃ prauḍha tanaya sama gyānī। bālaka suta sama dāsa amānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
A mother continues to love a son even after he has grown up, but the earlier dependence is no longer there. The wise are like My grown-up sons, while the servant who does not pride himself on his own strength is like My infant son.
जनहि मोर बल निज बल ताही। दुहु कहँ काम क्रोध रिपु आही॥ यह बिचारि पंडित मोहि भजहीं। पाएहुँ ग्यान भगति नहिं तजहीं॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
janahi mora bala nija bala tāhī। duhu kahuṃ kāma krodha ripu āhī॥ yaha bicāri paṇḍita mohi bhajahīṃ। pāehuṃ gyāna bhagati nahiṃ tajahīṃ॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
The one who knows My power alone as his strength has My strength; the other relies on his own strength. But for both, the enemies are lust and anger. Considering this, the learned worship Me. Even after attaining knowledge, they do not abandon devotion.
काम क्रोध लोभादि मद प्रबल मोह कै धारि। तिन्ह महँ अति दारुन दुखद मायारूपी नारि॥ ४३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāma krodha lobhādi mada prabala moha kai dhāri। tinha mahaṃ ati dārun dukhadā māyārūpī nāri॥ 43 ॥
Meaning:
Lust, anger, greed, pride, and such are the powerful forces of delusion. Among them, the woman who is Maya itself is exceedingly dreadful and brings terrible suffering.
सुनु मुनि कह पुरान श्रुति संता। मोह बिपिन कहुँ नारि बसंता॥ जप तप नेम जलाश्रय झारी। होइ ग्रीषम सोषइ सब नारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunu muni kaha purāna śruti saṃtā। moha bipina kahuṃ nāri basaṃtā॥ japa tapa nema jalāśraya jhārī। hoi grīṣama soṣi saba nārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Listen, O sage: the Puranas, the Vedas, and the saints say that, for the forest of delusion, woman is like the spring season. In summer she dries up all reservoirs of water such as vows, austerities, and disciplines.
काम क्रोध मद मत्सर भेका। इन्हहि हरषप्रद बरषा एका॥ दुर्बासना कुमुद समुदाई। तिन्ह कहँ सरद सदा सुखदाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāma krodha mada matsara bhekā। inhahi haraṣaprada baraṣā ekā॥ durbāsanā kumuda samudāī। tinha kahuṃ sarada sadā sukhadāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Lust, anger, pride, and jealousy are like frogs. This one woman is the rain that delights them. Evil tendencies are like a cluster of kumud flowers; for them, autumn is ever pleasant.
धर्म सकल सरसीरुह बृंदा। होइ हिम तिन्हहि दहइ सुख मंदा॥ पुनि ममता जवास बहुताई। पलुहइ नारि सिसिर रितु पाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dharma sakala sarsīruha bṛndā। hoi hima tinhahi dahai sukha mandā॥ puni mamatā javāsa bahutāī। paluhai nāri sisira ritu pāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
All dharmas are like clusters of lotuses; this cold season burns them despite their gentle happiness. Then the weed of possessiveness flourishes greatly when it receives the woman-like winter season.
पाप उलूक निकर सुखकारी। नारि निबिड़ रजनी अँधिआरी॥ बुधि बल सील सत्य सब मीना। बनसी सम त्रिय कहहिं प्रबीना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pāpa ulūka nikara sukhakārī। nāri nibaḍa rajanī aṃdhiārī॥ buddhi bala sīla satya saba mīnā। banasī sama triya kahahiṃ prabīnā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
For the host of owls that are sins, woman is the dark, dense night that brings delight. Wisdom, strength, character, and truth are all fish; the wise say that woman is like a fishing rod for catching them.
अवगुन मूल सूलप्रद प्रमदा सब दुख खानि। ताते कीन्ह निवारन मुनि मैं यह जियँ जानि॥ ४४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
avaguṇa mūla sūlaprada pramadā saba dukha khāni। tāte kīnha nivārana muni maiṃ yaha jiyaṃ jāni॥ 44 ॥
Meaning:
A woman is the root of faults, a giver of pain, and the mine of all sorrow. Therefore, O sage, I had restrained you from marriage, knowing this in my heart.
सुनि रघुपति के बचन सुहाए। मुनि तन पुलक नयन भरि आए॥ कहहु कवन प्रभु कै असि रीती। सेवक पर ममता अरु प्रीती॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni raghupati ke bacana suhāe। muni tana pulaka nayana bhari āe॥ kahahu kavana prabhu kai asi rītī। sevaka para mamatā aru prītī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Shri Raghunathji's lovely words, the sage's body thrilled with joy and his eyes filled with tears. [He thought to himself:] Tell me, what lord has such a nature that he shows so much affection and love for his servant?
जे न भजहिं अस प्रभु भ्रम त्यागी। ग्यान रंक नर मंद अभागी॥ पुनि सादर बोले मुनि नारद। सुनहु राम बिग्यान बिसारद॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
je na bhajahiṃ asa prabhu bhrama tyāgī। gyāna raṃka nara manda abhāgī॥ puni sādara bole muni nārada। sunahu rāma bigyāna bisārada॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who, having cast off delusion, do not worship such a Lord are poor in wisdom, foolish, and unfortunate. Then sage Narad respectfully said: "Listen, O Rama, master of true knowledge!"
संतन्ह के लच्छन रघुबीरा। कहहु नाथ भव भंजन भीरा॥ सुनु मुनि संतन्ह के गुन कहऊँ। जिन्ह ते मैं उन्ह कें बस रहऊँ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
santanha ke lacchana raghubīrā। kahahu nātha bhava bhañjana bhīrā॥ sunu muni santanha ke guna kahauṃ। jinha te maiṃ unha keṃ basa rahauṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O Raghubir, O destroyer of worldly fear! Please tell me the marks of the saints. [Shri Rama said:] Listen, O sage, I shall tell you the virtues of saints, by which I remain under their influence.