Meeting a Tapas on the Forest Path
On the forest path, the travelers meet an ascetic who feels blessed by the Lord's presence. Brief though it is, the encounter reveals the depth of devotion and grace.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 19 / 49
Episode Text
तेहि अवसर एक तापसु आवा। तेजपुंज लघुबयस सुहावा॥ कबि अलखित गति बेषु बिरागी। मन क्रम बचन राम अनुरागी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Tehi avasara eka tāpasu āvā। Tejapuñja laghubayasa suhāvā॥ Kabi alakkhita gati beṣu birāgī। Mana krama bacana Rāma anurāgī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
At that moment a hermit arrived there, radiant like a mass of light, youthful and beautiful. His movement was beyond the poets' grasp [or he was a hermit who did not wish to be recognized]. He wore the dress of a renunciant and was devoted to Rama in mind, speech, and deed.
सजल नयन तन पुलकि निज इष्टदेउ पहिचानि। परेउ दंड जिमि धरनितल दसा न जाइ बखानि॥ ११० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Sajala nayana tana pulaki nija iṣṭadeu pahicāni। Pareu daṇḍa jimi dharanitala dasā na jāi bakhāni॥ 110 ॥
Meaning:
Recognizing his chosen Lord, his eyes filled with tears and his body thrilled with delight. He fell to the ground like a staff; his state of loving ecstasy cannot be described.
राम सप्रेम पुलकि उर लावा। परम रंक जनु पारसु पावा॥ मनहुँ प्रेमु परमारथु दोऊ। मिलत धरें तन कह सबु कोऊ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Rāma saprema pulaki ura lāvā। Parama raṃka janu pārasu pāvā॥ Manahuṃ premu paramārathu doū। Milata dhareṃ tana kaha sabu koū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Rama embraced him lovingly, his body thrilled with joy. It was as though a destitute man had found the philosopher's stone. Everyone present said, 'It is as if Love and the Supreme Truth itself have taken on bodies and met.'
बहुरि लखन पायन्ह सोइ लागा। लीन्ह उठाइ उमगि अनुरागा॥ पुनि सिय चरन धूरि धरि सीसा। जननि जानि सिसु दीन्हि असीसा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Bahuri lakhana pāyanha soi lāgā। Līhna uṭhāi umagi anurāgā॥ Puni siya carana dhūri dhari sīsā। Janani jāni sisu dīhni asīsā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then he touched Lakshmana's feet. Lakshmana, overflowing with affection, lifted him up. Next he placed the dust of Sita's feet upon his head. Mother Sita, seeing him as a child, gave him her blessings.
कीन्ह निषाद दंडवत तेही। मिलेउ मुदित लखि राम सनेही॥ पिअत नयन पुट रूपु पियूषा। मुदित सुअसनु पाइ जिमि भूखा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Kīhna niṣāda daṇḍavata tehī। Mileu mudita lakhi Rāma sanehī॥ Piyata nayana puṭa rūpu piyūṣā। Mudita suasanu pāi jimi bhūkhā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then the Nishada king bowed down to him in prostration. Seeing that he was a devotee of Rama, he greeted him joyfully. The ascetic drank in the nectar of Rama's beauty through the twin cups of his eyes, and rejoiced like a hungry person who has found delicious food.
ते पितु मातु कहहु सखि कैसे। जिन्ह पठए बन बालक ऐसे॥ राम लखन सिय रूपु निहारी। होहिं सनेह बिकल नर नारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Te pitu mātu kahahu sakhi kaise। Jinha paṭhae bana bālaka aise॥ Rāma lakhana siya rūpu nihārī। Hohīṃ saneha vikala nara nārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Meanwhile the women of the village were saying, 'O friend, tell us, what sort of parents are they who sent such beautiful, tender children into the forest?' Seeing the beauty of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, all men and women become overwhelmed with affection.
तब रघुबीर अनेक बिधि सखहि सिखावनु दीन्ह। राम रजायसु सीस धरि भवन गवनु तेइँ कीन्ह॥ १११ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Taba raghubīra aneka bidhi sakhi sikhāvanu dīhna। Rāma rajāyasu sīsa dhari bhavana gavanu teiṃ kīhna॥ 111 ॥
Meaning:
Then Shri Ramachandra, in many ways, counseled his friend Guha to return home. Taking Rama's command upon his head, Guha went back to his house.