Kevat's Devotion and the Crossing of the Ganga
Kevat offers his simple, pure devotion by washing the Lord's feet. He then lovingly ferries Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana across the Ganga.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 17 / 49
Episode Text
जासु बियोग बिकल पसु ऐसें। प्रजा मातु पितु जिइहहिं कैसें॥ बरबस राम सुमंत्रु पठाए। सुरसरि तीर आपु तब आए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāsu biyoga bikala pasu aiseṃ। prajā mātu pitu jīihahiṃ kaisẽ॥ barabasa rāma sumaṃtru paṭhāe। surasari tīra āpu taba āe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
If even the animals are so distressed in separation from Him, how can the people, His mother, and His father continue to live without Him? Lord Rama forcibly sent Sumantra back. Then He came to the bank of the Ganga.
मागी नाव न केवटु आना। कहइ तुम्हार मरमु मैं जाना॥ चरन कमल रज कहुँ सबु कहई। मानुष करनि मूरि कछु अहई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
māgī nāva na kevaṭu ānā। kahai tumhāra maramu maiṃ jānā॥ carana kamala raja kahuṃ sabu kahai। mānuṣa karani mūri kachu ahai॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Rama asked the boatman for a boat, but he did not bring one. The boatman said, 'I have understood your secret. People all say that the dust of your lotus feet is some herb that turns one into a human being.'
छुअत सिला भइ नारि सुहाई। पाहन तें न काठ कठिनाई॥ तरनिउ मुनि घरिनी होइ जाई। बाट परइ मोरि नाव उड़ाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
chuata silā bhai nāri suhāī। pāhana teṃ na kāṭha kaṭhināī॥ taraniu muni gharinī hoi jāī। bāṭa parai mori nāva uṛāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The very touch of whom turned a stone into a lovely woman [and my boat is made of wood]. Wood is not harder than stone. My boat too would become a sage's wife, and then it would fly away; I would be ruined [or the path would be blocked, so you could not cross and my livelihood would be lost] (my means of earning my bread would be destroyed).
एहिं प्रतिपालउँ सबु परिवारू। नहिं जानउँ कछु अउर कबारू॥ जौं प्रभु पार अवसि गा चहहू। मोहि पद पदुम पखारन कहहू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehīṃ pratipalauṃ sabu parivārū। nahiṃ jānaūṃ kachu auru kabārū॥ joṃ prabhu pāra avasi gā cahahu। mohi pada paduma pakhārana kahahū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
I support my whole family with this boat alone. I know no other trade. O Lord, if you truly wish to cross over, then first tell me to wash your lotus feet.
पद कमल धोइ चढ़ाइ नाव न नाथ उतराई चहौं। मोहि राम राउरि आन दसरथ सपथ सब साची कहौं॥ बरु तीर मारहुँ लखनु पै जब लगि न पाय पखारिहौं। तब लगि न तुलसीदास नाथ कृपाल पारु उतारिहौं॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pada kamala dhoi chaṛhāi nāva na nātha utarāī cahauṃ। mohi rāma rāuri āna dasaratha sapatha saba sācī kahauṃ॥ baru tīra mārahuṃ lakhanu pai jaba lagi na pāya pakhārihauṃ। taba lagi na tulasīdāsa nātha kṛpāla pāru utārihauṃ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, I will wash your lotus feet and then put you aboard the boat; I seek no fare from you. O Rama, I call upon you, and by Dasharatha's oath I speak the truth. Even if Lakshmana should strike me with arrows, until I have washed your feet I shall not take you across, O compassionate Lord.
सुनि केवट के बैन प्रेम लपेटे अटपटे। बिहसे करुनाऐन चितइ जानकी लखन तन॥ १०० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni kevaṭa ke baina prema lapete aṭapaṭe। bihase karuṇāaina citaī jānakī lakhana tana॥ 100 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the boatman's awkward words wrapped in love, the compassionate Lord Rama smiled, glancing toward Janaki and Lakshmana.
कृपासिंधु बोले मुसुकाई। सोइ करु जेहिं तव नाव न जाई॥ बेगि आनु जल पाय पखारू। होत बिलंबु उतारहि पारू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kṛpāsiṃdhu bole musukai। soi karu jehiṃ tava nāva na jāī॥ begi ānu jala pāya pakhāru। hota bilaṃbu utārahi pāru॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The Ocean of Mercy, Lord Rama, smiled and said to the boatman: 'Do that by which your boat will not go away. Bring water quickly and wash my feet. There is delay; ferry us across.'
जासु नाम सुमिरत एक बारा। उतरहिं नर भवसिंधु अपारा॥ सोइ कृपालु केवटहि निहोरा। जेहिं जगु किय तिहु पगहु ते थोरा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāsu nāma sumirata eka bārā। utarahiṃ nara bhavasiṃdhu apārā॥ soi kṛpālu kevatahi nihorā। jehiṃ jagu kiy tihu pagahu te thorā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
By remembering whose name even once, people cross the boundless ocean of worldly existence—and that same merciful Lord, who in the Vamana incarnation made the world smaller than three steps (measuring the three worlds in just two steps), is now pleading with the boatman to ferry Him across!
पद नख निरखि देवसरि हरषी। सुनि प्रभु बचन मोहँ मति करषी॥ केवट राम रजायसु पावा। पानि कठवता भरि लेइ आवा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pada nakha nirakhi devasari haraṣī। suni prabhu bacana mohaṃ mati karaṣī॥ kevata rāma rajāyasu pāvā। pāni kaṭhavatā bhari lei āvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the Lord's words, the river-goddess Ganga was bewildered by wonder [that the Lord Himself, though all-powerful, was begging the boatman to ferry Him across]. But when she saw the nails of His feet, she rejoiced [recognizing Him]. (She understood that the Lord was enacting His human play, and her delusion vanished; delighted at the thought of receiving the touch of those feet, she became joyful.) The boatman, receiving Lord Rama's command, brought water in a wooden pail.
अति आनंद उमगि अनुरागा। चरन सरोज पखारन लागा॥ बरषि सुमन सुर सकल सिहाहीं। एहि सम पुन्यपुंज कोउ नाहीं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati ānanda umagi anurāgā। carana saroja pakhārana lāgā॥ baraṣi sumana sura sakala sihāhīṃ। ehi sama puṇyapuṃja kou nāhīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Overflowing with great joy and devotion, he began washing the Lord's lotus feet. All the gods showered flowers and marvelled that no one possessed a store of merit like this.
पद पखारि जलु पान करि आपु सहित परिवार। पितर पारु करि प्रभुहि पुनि मुदित गयउ लेइ पार॥ १०१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pada pakhāri jalu pāna kari āpu sahita parivāra। pitara pāru kari prabhuhi puni mudita gayau lei pāra॥ 101 ॥
Meaning:
After washing the feet and drinking that water himself along with his whole family, he first brought his ancestors across the ocean of existence through that great merit, and then joyfully ferried Lord Rama across.
उतरि ठाढ़ भए सुरसरि रेता। सीय रामु गुह लखन समेता॥ केवट उतरि दंडवत कीन्हा। प्रभुहि सकुच एहि नहिं कछु दीन्हा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
utari ṭhāḍha bhae surasari retā। sīya rāmu guha lakhana sametā॥ kevata utari daṇḍavata kīnhā। prabhuhi sakuchehi nahiṃ kachu dīnhā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Rama, Sita, Guha, and Lakshmana stepped ashore and stood on the sands of the Ganga. Then the boatman came down and bowed down fully. Seeing this, the Lord felt embarrassed that He had given him nothing.
पिय हिय की सिय जाननिहारी। मनि मुदरी मन मुदित उतारी॥ कहेउ कृपाल लेहि उतराई। केवट चरन गहे अकुलाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
piya hiyakī siya jānani hārī। mani mudarī mana mudita utārī॥ kheue kṛpāla lehi utarāī। kevata carana gahe akulāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Sita, who knows the heart of her husband, joyfully removed her jeweled ring from her finger. The merciful Lord Rama said to the boatman, 'Take the fare.' The boatman, overwhelmed, clasped His feet.
नाथ आजु मैं काह न पावा। मिटे दोष दुख दारिद दावा॥ बहुत काल मैं कीन्हि मजूरी। आजु दीन्ह बिधि बनि भलि भूरी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nātha āju maiṃ kāha na pāvā। miṭe doṣa dukha dārida dāvā॥ bahuta kāla maiṃ kīnhi majūrī। āju dīnh bidhi bani bhali bhūrī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
[He said:] 'O Lord! What have I not gained today? The fire of my faults, sorrows, and poverty has been extinguished. I worked for wages for a long time. Today fate has given me a very good and abundant reward.'
अब कछु नाथ न चाहिअ मोरें। दीनदयाल अनुग्रह तोरें॥ फिरती बार मोहि जो देबा। सो प्रसादु मैं सिर धरि लेबा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aba kachu nātha na cāhia morẽ। dīnadayāla anugraha torẽ॥ phiratī bāra mohi jo debā। so prasādu maiṃ sira dhari lebā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord! O friend of the poor! By your grace I need nothing now. Whatever you give me on the return journey, I shall accept as prasad and place it on my head.
बहुत कीन्ह प्रभु लखन सियँ नहिं कछु केवटु लेइ। बिदा कीन्ह करुनायतन भगति बिमल बरु देइ॥ १०२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bahuta kīnha prabhu lakhana siyaṃ nahiṃ kachu kevatu lei। bidā kīnha karuṇāyatana bhagati bimala baru dei॥ 102 ॥
Meaning:
The Lord, Lakshmana, and Sita urged him much, but the boatman would take nothing. Then the abode of compassion, Lord Rama, blessed him with pure devotion and sent him off.
तब मज्जनु करि रघुकुलनाथा। पूजि पारथिव नायउ माथा॥ सियँ सुरसरिहि कहेउ कर जोरी। मातु मनोरथ पुरउबि मोरी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba majjanu kari raghukulanāthā। pūji pārathiva nāyau māthā॥ siyaṃ surasarihi kaheu kara jorī। mātu manoratha puraubi morī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Then the Lord of Raghu's line bathed, performed the earthen worship, and bowed His head. Sita, with folded hands, said to Ganga, 'Mother, please fulfill my wish.'
पति देवर सँग कुसल बहोरी। आइ करौं जेहिं पूजा तोरी॥ सुनि सिय बिनय प्रेम रस सानी। भइ तब बिमल बारि बर बानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pati devara saṅga kusala bahorī। āi karauṃ jehiṃ pūjā torī॥ suni siya binaya prema rasa sānī। bhai taba bimala bāri bara bānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
So that I may return safely with my husband and brother-in-law and worship you. Hearing Sita's prayer soaked in the nectar of love, a noble voice then arose from Ganga's pure waters—
सुनु रघुबीर प्रिया बैदेही। तव प्रभाउ जग बिदित न केही॥ लोकप होहिं बिलोकत तोरें। तोहि सेवहिं सब सिधि कर जोरें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunu raghubīra priyā baidehī। tava prabhāu jaga bidita na kehī॥ lokapa hohiṃ bilokata torẽ। tohi sevahiṃ saba sidhi kara jorẽ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Listen, beloved of Raghu's hero, Vaidehi: who in the world does not know your power? Merely by looking upon you, one becomes a lord among beings. All powers stand with joined palms and serve you.
तुम्ह जो हमहि बड़ि बिनय सुनाई। कृपा कीन्हि मोहि दीन्हि बड़ाई॥ तदपि देबि मैं देबि असीसा। सफल होन हित निज बागीसा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tumha jo hamahi baṛi binaya sunāī। kṛpā kīnhi mohi dīnhi baṛāī॥ tadapi debi maiṃ debi asīsā। saphala hona hita nija bāgīsā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
What you have done by making such a great request of me is to show me grace and bestow honor upon me. Still, O goddess, I shall bless you so that my words may bear fruit.
प्राननाथ देवर सहित कुसल कोसला आइ। पूजिहि सब मनकामना सुजसु रहिहि जग छाइ॥ १०३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prānanātha devara sahita kusala kosalā āi। pūjihi saba manakāmanā sujasu rahihi jaga chāi॥ 103 ॥
Meaning:
You will return safely to Kosala with your lord and brother-in-law. All your wishes will be fulfilled, and your beautiful fame will spread throughout the world.
गंग बचन सुनि मंगल मूला। मुदित सीय सुरसरि अनुकूला॥ तब प्रभु गुहहि कहेउ घर जाहू। सुनत सूख मुखु भा उर दाहू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gaṅga bacana suni maṅgala mūlā। mudita sīya surasari anukūlā॥ taba prabhu guhahi kaheu ghara jāhū। sunata sūkha mukhu bhā ura dāhū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the words of Ganga, the source of all auspiciousness, and seeing the divine river favorable, Sita became delighted. Then Lord Rama said to Guha, “Brother, now go home.” As soon as he heard this, his mouth dried up and his heart was filled with anguish.
दीन बचन गुह कह कर जोरी। बिनय सुनहु रघुकुलमनि मोरी॥ नाथ साथ रहि पंथु देखाई। करि दिन चारि चरन सेवकाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dīna bacana guha kaha kara jorī। binaya sunahu raghukulamani morī॥ ātha sātha rahi panthu dekhāī। kari dina cāri carana sevakāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Guha, with folded hands, spoke humbly: “O jewel of Raghu’s line, please hear my plea. Let me remain with You, show You the path, and serve Your feet for four days—”
जेहिं बन जाइ रहब रघुराई। परनकुटी मैं करबि सुहाई॥ तब मोहि कहँ जसि देब रजाई। सोइ करिहउँ रघुबीर दोहाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jehiṃ bana jāi rahaba raghurāī। paranakuṭī maiṃ karabi suhāī॥ taba mohi kahañ jasi deba rajāī। soi karihauṃ raghubīra dohāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O Raghuraj! Wherever You go to dwell in the forest, I will build a beautiful leaf-hut there. Whatever command You give me, by the vow of Raghuvira I will do exactly that.
सहज सनेह राम लखि तासू। संग लीन्ह गुह हृदयँ हुलासू॥ पुनि गुहँ ग्याति बोलि सब लीन्हे। करि परितोषु बिदा तब कीन्हे॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahaja saneha rāma lakhi tāsū। saṅga līnha guha hṛdayaṃ hulāsū॥ puni guhaṃ gyāti boli saba līnhe। kari paritoṣu bidā taba kīnhe॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing his natural affection, Lord Rama took him along, and Guha’s heart was filled with joy. Then Guha called all his kinsmen, satisfied them, and afterward bade them farewell.
तबगनपति सिव सुमिरि प्रभु नाइ सुरसरिहि माथ। सखा अनुज सिय सहित बन गवनु कीन्ह रघुनाथ॥ १०४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tabaganapati siva sumiri prabhu nāi surasarihi mātha। sakhā anuja siya sahita bana gavanu kīnha raghunātha॥ 104 ॥
Meaning:
Then Lord Raghunath, remembering Ganesh and Shiva and bowing His head to the divine river, set out for the forest with His friend Nishadaraj, His younger brother Lakshman, and Sita.