Salutation to the Guru
The poet bows to the Guru, the compassionate light who removes ignorance and awakens wisdom. By the Guru’s grace, the true meaning of Rama’s story becomes accessible.
Bal Kand · Episode 2 / 59
Episode Text
बंदउँ गुरु पद पदुम परागा। सुरुचि सुबास सरस अनुरागा॥ अमिअ मूरिमय चूरन चारू। समन सकल भव रुज परिवारू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ guru pada paduma parāgā। suruci subāsa sarasa anurāgā॥ amia mūrimaya cūrana cārū। samana sakala bhava ruja parivārū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the pollen of the Guru’s lotus feet, which is of fine taste, fragrance, and the sweetness of devotion. It is the beautiful powder of the life-giving herb, capable of curing the whole family of ailments of worldly existence.
सुकृति संभु तन बिमल बिभूती। मंजुल मंगल मोद प्रसूती॥ जन मन मंजु मुकुर मल हरनी। किएँ तिलक गुन गन बस करनी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sukṛti saṃbhu tana bimala bibhūtī। mañjula maṅgala moda prasūtī॥ jana mana mañju mukura mala haranī। kieṃ tilaka guna gana basa karanī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
That dust is a pure ash ornament shining on the body of the virtuous Lord Shiva; it brings forth beauty, auspiciousness, and joy. It removes the dirt from the beautiful mirror of the mind and, when applied as tilak, brings noble qualities under control.
श्रीगुर पद नख मनि गन जोती। सुमिरत दिब्य दृष्टि हियँ होती॥ दलन मोह तम सो सप्रकासू। बड़े भाग उर आवइ जासू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śrīguru pada nakha mani gana jotī। sumirata dibya dṛṣṭi hiyaṃ hotī॥ dalana moha tama so saprakāsū। baṛe bhāga ura āvai jāsū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The radiance of the jewel-like nails of the holy Guru’s feet is like the light of gems; remembering it awakens divine vision in the heart. That light destroys the darkness of delusion, and blessed indeed is the one whose heart it enters.
उघरहिं बिमल बिलोचन ही के। मिटहिं दोष दुख भव रजनी के॥ सूझहिं राम चरित मनि मानिक। गुपुत प्रगट जहँ जो जेहि खानिक॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ugharahiṃ bimala bilochana hī ke। miṭahīṃ doṣa dukha bhava rajanī ke॥ sūjhahiṃ rāma carita mani mānika। guputa pragaṭa jahaṃ jo jehi khānika॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
When it enters the heart, the pure eyes of the heart are opened, and the faults and sorrows of the night of worldly existence disappear. Then the jewel and ruby of Rama’s life-story become visible—hidden or manifest, wherever and in whatever mine they may be.
जथा सुअंजन अंजि दृग साधक सिद्ध सुजान। कौतुक देखत सैल बन भूतल भूरि निधान॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jathā suañjana añji dṛga sādhaka siddha sujāna। kautuka dekhat saila bana bhūtala bhūri nidhāna॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Just as, by applying the miraculous collyrium to the eyes, seekers, adepts, and the wise behold many mines in mountains, forests, and on the earth, even as a wonder...
गुरु पद रज मृदु मंजुल अंजन। नयन अमिअ दृग दोष बिभंजन॥ तेहिं करि बिमल बिबेक बिलोचन। बरनउँ राम चरित भव मोचन॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
guru pada raja mṛdu mañjula añjana। nayana amia dṛga doṣa bibhajana॥ tehiṃ kari bimala bibeka bilochana। barnauṃ rāma carita bhava mocana॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The dust of the Guru’s feet is a soft, beautiful collyrium, like nectar for the eyes and a destroyer of all eye-defects. Applying that collyrium to the eyes of discrimination, I now describe Rama’s life-story, which liberates from worldly bondage.
बंदउँ प्रथम महीसुर चरना। मोह जनित संसय सब हरना॥ सुजन समाज सकल गुन खानी। करउँ प्रनाम सप्रेम सुबानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ prathama mahīsura caranā। moha janita saṃsaya saba haranā॥ sujana samāja sakala guna khānī। karauṃ pranāma saprema subānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
First I bow to the feet of the Brahmins, the gods on earth, who remove all doubts born of delusion. Then, with loving speech, I offer my respectful salutations to the society of the good, the mine of all virtues.
साधु चरित सुभ चरित कपासू। निरस बिसद गुनमय फल जासू॥ जो सहि दुख परछिद्र दुरावा। बंदनीय जेहिं जग जस पावा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sādhu carita subha carita kapāsū। nirasa bisada gunamaya phala jāsū॥ jo sahi dukha parachidra durāvā। bandanīya jehiṃ jaga jasa pāvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The conduct of saints is pure and wholesome like cotton; its fruit is tasteless, clear, and full of virtues. (Cotton is tasteless; saintly conduct is free from attachment, so it too is tasteless. Cotton is bright; the saint’s heart is free from the darkness of ignorance and sin, so it is clear. Cotton has fibers; likewise, a saint’s conduct is a treasure of virtues.) Just as cotton thread covers the hole made by a needle with its own body, or as cotton bears the pain of being picked, carded, spun, and woven and then becomes cloth that covers the hidden parts of others, so a saint bears suffering and covers the faults of others; because of this, he earns praise that is worthy of worship in the world.
मुद मंगलमय संत समाजू। जो जग जंगम तीरथराजू॥ राम भक्ति जहँ सुरसरि धारा। सरसइ ब्रह्म बिचार प्रचारा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muda maṅgalamaya saṃta samājū। jo jaga jaṃgama tīratharājū॥ rāma bhakti jahaṃ surasari dhārā। sarasai brahma bicāra pracārā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The company of saints is full of joy and auspiciousness; it is a moving Prayag, the king of pilgrimages, in the world. There, the stream of Rama-bhakti flows like the Ganga, and the spreading of Brahma-vichara is like Sarasvati.
बिधि निषेधमय कलिमल हरनी। करम कथा रबिनंदनि बरनी॥ हरि हर कथा बिराजति बेनी। सुनत सकल मुद मंगल देनी॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bidhi niṣedhamaya kalimala haranī। karama kathā rabinaṃdani baranī॥ hari hara kathā birājati benī। sunata sakala muda maṅgala dīnī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
The account of duties and prohibitions is the Yamuna, daughter of the Sun, who removes the sins of Kali Yuga; and the stories of Hari and Hara shine together like the sacred confluence. Just hearing them grants all joy and auspiciousness.
बटु बिस्वास अचल निज धरमा। तीरथराज समाज सुकरमा॥ सबहि सुलभ सब दिन सब देसा। सेवत सादर समन कलेसा॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
baṭu bisvāsa acala nija dharamā। tīratharāja samāja sukarmā॥ sabahi sulabha saba dina saba deśā। sevata sāдара samana kalesā॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
In that Prayag of the saintly company, steadfast faith in one’s own dharma is the banyan tree, and righteous deeds are the accompanying host. It is easily accessible to all, in every place and at all times, and serving it with reverence destroys suffering.
सुनि समुझहिं जन मुदित मन मज्जहिं अति अनुराग। लहहिं चारि फल अछत तनु साधु समाज प्रयाग॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni samujhahiṃ jana mudita mana majjhahiṃ ati anurāga। lahahiṃ cāri phala achata tanu sādhu samāja prayāga॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who hear and understand the power of this Prayag of saintly society with a joyful heart, and then bathe in it with intense devotion, attain the four fruits—dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation—while still in the body.