Salutation to Rama's Name and Its Glory
The glory of Rama's name is celebrated, especially as the most accessible refuge in the age of Kali. Repetition of Rama’s name is praised as a source of purification, courage, and devotion.
Bal Kand · Episode 11 / 59
Episode Text
बंदउँ नाम राम रघुबर को। हेतु कृसानु भानु हिमकर को॥ बिधि हरि हरमय बेद प्रान सो। अगुन अनूपम गुन निधान सो॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ nāma rāma raghubara ko। hetu kṛsānu bhānu himakara ko॥ bidhi hari haramaya beda prāna so। aguna anūpama guna nidhāna so॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the Name Rama, of Raghubar, which is the source of fire, the sun, and the moon. That Name is Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in one; it is the life of the Vedas, beyond qualities, incomparable, and a treasury of virtues.
महामंत्र जोइ जपत महेसू। कासीं मुकुति हेतु उपदेसू॥ महिमा जासु जान गनराऊ। प्रथम पूजिअत नाम प्रभाऊ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mahāmantra joi japata mahesū। kāsīṃ mukuti hetu upadesū॥ mahimā jāsu jāna ganarāū। prathama pūjiata nāma prabhāū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
This is the great mantra that Mahesh Shiva recites and teaches in Kashi as the means to liberation. Its glory is known to Ganaraja; by the power of this Name, it is worshipped first of all.
जान आदिकबि नाम प्रतापू। भयउ सुद्ध करि उलटा जापू॥ सहस नाम सम सुनि सिव बानी। जपि जेईं पिय संग भवानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāna ādikabi nāma pratāpū। bhayau suddha kari ulaṭā jāpū॥ sahasa nāma sama suni siva bānī। japi jeīṃ piya saṅga bhavānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The primordial poet knew the glory of the Name and became purified by chanting it in reverse. Hearing Shiva’s words that one Name equals a thousand names, Bhavani continually chants it together with her beloved Lord.
हरषे हेतु हेरि हर ही को। किय भूषन तिय भूषन ती को॥ नाम प्रभाउ जान सिव नीको। कालकूट फलु दीन्ह अमी को॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
haraṣe hetu heri hara hī ko। kiya bhūṣana tiya bhūṣana tī ko॥ nāma prabhāu jāna siva nīko। kālakūṭa phalu dīhna amī ko॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing such love in Parvati’s heart for the Name, Shiva rejoiced and made the lady an ornament among ornaments—his own adornment, that is, his consort. Shiva knows well the power of the Name, by which even the deadly Kalakuta poison yielded the fruit of nectar.
बरषा रितु रघुपति भगति तुलसी सालि सुदास। राम नाम बर बरन जुग सावन भादव मास॥ १९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
baraṣā ritu raghupati bhagati tulasī sāli sudāsa। rāma nāma bara barana juga sāvana bhādava māsa॥ 19 ॥
Meaning:
The devotion of Raghupati is the monsoon season. Tulsidas says that the good servants are the paddy crop, and the two beautiful syllables of Rama’s Name are the months of Sawan and Bhadon.
आखर मधुर मनोहर दोऊ। बरन बिलोचन जन जिय जोऊ॥ सुमिरत सुलभ सुखद सब काहू। लोक लाहु परलोक निबाहू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ākhara madhura manohara doū। barana bilochana jana jiya joū॥ sumirata sulabha sukhada saba kāhū। loka lāhu paraloka nibāhū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Both syllables are sweet and beautiful; they are the eyes of the alphabet-body and the life of devotees. They are easy for all to remember and bring joy, and they grant benefit in this world and support in the next (that is, they keep one engaged forever in divine service in the Lord’s abode).
कहत सुनत सुमिरत सुठि नीके। राम लखन सम प्रिय तुलसी के॥ बरनत बरन प्रीति बिलगाती। ब्रह्म जीव सम सहज सँघाती॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahata sunata sumirata suṭhi nīke। rāma lakhana sama priya tulasī ke॥ baranata barana prīti bilagātī। brahma jīva sama sahaja saṅghātī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
They are excellent to say, hear, and remember; to Tulsidas they are as dear as Rama and Lakshmana. Describing the letters separately seems to divide affection (that is, from the standpoint of the seed-mantra, their sound, meaning, and result appear distinct), yet by nature they are united like the individual soul and Brahma.
नर नारायन सरिस सुभ्राता। जग पालक बिसेषि जन त्राता॥ भगति सुतिय कल करन बिभूषन। जग हित हेतु बिमल बिधु पूषन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nara nārāyana sarisa subhrātā। jaga pālaka bisēṣi jana trātā॥ bhagati sutiya kala karana bibhūṣana। jaga hita hetu bimala bidhu pūṣana॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
These two letters are like the beautiful brothers Nara and Narayana. They sustain the world and especially protect devotees. They are like ornaments for the ears of devotion, and for the welfare of the world they are as pure as the moon and the sun.
स्वाद तोष सम सुगति सुधा के। कमठ सेष सम धर बसुधा के॥ जन मन मंजु कंज मधुकर से। जीह जसोमति हरि हलधर से॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
svāda toṣa sama sugati sudhā ke। kamaṭha seṣa sama dhara basudhā ke॥ jana mana mañju kañja madhukara se। jīha jasomati hari haladhara se॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
They are like the sweetness and satisfaction of the nectar of liberation, like the tortoise and Shesha who bear the earth, like a bee moving in the beautiful lotus of the devotee’s mind, and for the tongue they are like Hari and Haladhara are for Yashomati—full of delight.
एकु छत्रु एकु मुकुटमनि सब बरननि पर जोउ। तुलसी रघुबर नाम के बरन बिराजत दोउ॥ २० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eku chatru eku kuṭamani saba baranana para jou। tulasī raghubara nāma ke barana birājata dou॥ 20 ॥
Meaning:
Tulsi says: the two syllables of Lord Raghunatha’s name are most splendid, one standing like a royal umbrella and the other like a jewel on a crown, both above all the letters.
समुझत सरिस नाम अरु नामी। प्रीति परसपर प्रभु अनुगामी॥ नाम रूप दुइ ईस उपाधी। अकथ अनादि सुसामुझि साधी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samujhata sarisa nāma aru nāmī। prīti paraspara prabhu anugāmī॥ nāma rūpa dui īsa upādhī। akatha anādi susāmuji sādhī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
In understanding, name and the named are equal; yet between them there is mutual affection like that of master and servant (that is, even though name and the named are one, the named follows the name just as a servant follows the master. Lord Shri Rama follows His own name; the moment His name is taken, He is present). Name and form are both divine attributes; both are indescribable and without beginning, and their divine, imperishable nature is known only through pure, devoted understanding.
को बड़ छोट कहत अपराधू। सुनि गुन भेदु समुझिहहिं साधू॥ देखिअहिं रूप नाम आधीना। रूप ग्यान नहिं नाम बिहीना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ko baṛa choṭa kahata aparādhū। suni guna bhedu samujhihahiṃ sādhū॥ dekhiahim rūpa nāma ādhīnā। rūpa gyāna nahiṃ nāma bihīnā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
To say which of these—name or form—is greater or lesser is an offense. Hearing of their qualities and distinctions, the wise will understand on their own. Form is seen as dependent on name; without name, form cannot truly be known.
रूप बिसेष नाम बिनु जानें। करतल गत न परहिं पहिचानें॥ सुमिरिअ नाम रूप बिनु देखें। आवत हृदयँ सनेह बिसेषें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rūpa biseṣa nāma binu jāneṃ। karatala gata na parahim pahicāneṃ॥ sumiria nāma rūpa binu dekheṃ। āvata hṛdayaṃ saneha biseṣeṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
A particular form cannot be recognized even when held in the palm of the hand if its name is unknown; and if the name is remembered without seeing the form, then that form comes into the heart with special love.
नाम रूप गति अकथ कहानी। समुझत सुखद न परति बखानी॥ अगुन सगुन बिच नाम सुसाखी। उभय प्रबोधक चतुर दुभाषी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāma rūpa gati akatha kahānī। samujhata sukhada na parati bakhānī॥ aguna saguna bica nāma susākhī। ubhaya prabodhaka catura dubhāṣī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The mystery of the movement of name and form is beyond description. It is joyful to understand, but impossible to fully narrate. Between the निर्गुण and सगुण, the Name is a gracious witness and a clever interpreter that awakens knowledge of both.
राम नाम मनिदीप धरु जीह देहरीं द्वार। तुलसी भीतर बाहेरहुँ जौं चाहसि उजिआर॥ २१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma nāma manidīpa dharu jīha dehrīṃ dvāra। tulasī bhītara bāherahuṃ jaun cāhasi ujiyāra॥ 21 ॥
Meaning:
Tulsi says: if you desire light both within and without, place the jewel-lamp of Rama’s name at the doorway of the tongue, the threshold of the mouth.
नाम जीहँ जपि जागहिं जोगी। बिरति बिरंचि प्रपंच बियोगी॥ ब्रह्मसुखहि अनुभवहिं अनूपा। अकथ अनामय नाम न रूपा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāma jīhaṃ japi jāgahiṃ jogī। birati birañci prapaṃca biyogī॥ brahmasukhahiṃ anubhavahiṃ anūpā। akatha anāmaya nāma na rūpā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Free yogis, detached from Brahma’s created world of appearances, remain awake by chanting this Name with the tongue. They experience the incomparable, indescribable, flawless bliss of Brahma, beyond name and form.
जाना चहहिं गूढ़ गति जेऊ। नाम जीहँ जपि जानहिं तेऊ॥ साधक नाम जपहिं लय लाएँ। होहिं सिद्ध अनिमादिक पाएँ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jānā cahahiṃ gūḍha gati jeū। nāma jīhaṃ japi jānahim teū॥ sādhaka nāma japahiṃ laya lāẽ। hohiṃ siddha animādika pāẽ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who wish to know the deep mystery of the Supreme also come to know it by chanting the Name with the tongue. Practitioners who seek powers meditate on the Name, and by doing so attain the siddhis, beginning with aṇimā.
जपहिं नामु जन आरत भारी। मिटहिं कुसंकट होहिं सुखारी॥ राम भगत जग चारि प्रकारा। सुकृती चारिउ अनघ उदारा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
japahiṃ nāmu jana ārata bhārī। miṭahiṃ kusaṅkaṭa hohiṃ sukhārī॥ rāma bhagata jaga cāri prakārā। sukṛtī cāriu anagha udārā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Devotees in distress remember the Name, and their great troubles are removed; they become happy. There are four kinds of devotees of Rama in the world: the seeker of gain, the distressed, the inquisitive, and the wise. All four are virtuous, sinless, and noble.
चहू चतुर कहुँ नाम अधारा। ग्यानी प्रभुहि बिसेषि पिआरा॥ चहुँ जुग चहुँ श्रुति नाम प्रभाऊ। कलि बिसेषि नहिं आन उपाऊ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cahū catura kahũ nāma adhārā। gyānī prabhuihi biseṣi piyārā॥ cahũ juga cahũ śruti nāma prabhāū। kali biseṣi nahiṃ āna upāū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
For all the wise devotees, the Name is the support; among them, the wise devotee is especially dear to the Lord. The power of the Name exists in all four ages and in all four Vedas, but it is especially powerful in Kali Yuga. Here there is no other means besides the Name.
सकल कामना हीन जे राम भगति रस लीन। नाम सुप्रेम पियूष ह्रद तिन्हहुँ किए मन मीन॥ २२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakala kāmanā hīna je rāma bhagati rasa līna। nāma suprema piyūṣa hrada tinhahuṃ kie mana mīna॥ 22 ॥
Meaning:
Those who are free from all desires, even for enjoyment and liberation, and are absorbed in the rasa of devotion to Rama, have made their minds into fish in the lake of the Name’s sweet nectar of love—that is, they continuously taste that nectar and do not wish to be apart from it even for a moment.
अगुन सगुन दुइ ब्रह्म सरूपा। अकथ अगाध अनादि अनूपा॥ मोरें मत बड़ नामु दुहू तें। किए जेहिं जुग निज बस निज बूतें॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aguna saguna dui brahma sarūpā। akatha agādha anādi anūpā॥ moren mata baṛa nāmu duhū teṃ। kie jehim nija basa nija būteṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The निर्गुण and सगुण are two forms of Brahma. Both are indescribable, unfathomable, beginningless, and incomparable. In my view, the Name is greater than both, for it has brought both under its own control by its power.
प्रौढ़ि सुजन जनि जानहिं जन की। कहउँ प्रतीति प्रीति रुचि मन की॥ एकु दारुगत देखिअ एकू। पावक सम जुग ब्रह्म बिबेकू॥ उभय अगम जुग सुगम नाम तें। कहेउँ नामु बड़ ब्रह्म राम तें॥ ब्यापकु एकु ब्रह्म अबिनासी। सत चेतन घन आनँद रासी॥ २-३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
proṛhi sujana jani jānahim jana kī। kahauṃ pratīti prīti ruci mana kī॥ eku dāru gata dekhiya eku। pāvaka sama juga brahma bibekū॥ ubhaya agama juga sugama nāma teṃ। kaheuṃ nāmu baṛa brahma rāma teṃ॥ byāpaku eku brahma abināsī। sata cetana ghana ānanda rāsī॥ 2-3 ॥
Meaning:
Let the noble ones not take this as mere boldness or poetic fancy on my part. I am speaking from the conviction, love, and taste of my own mind. Knowledge of both the निर्गुण and सगुण Brahma is like fire: निर्गुण is like fire hidden within wood, unseen; सगुण is like the fire that has become manifest and visible. In truth the two are one; only by the distinction of manifest and unmanifest do they seem different. In the same way, निर्गुण and सगुण are one in essence. Even so, both are difficult to know, but through the Name both become easy. Therefore I have said the Name is greater than the निर्गुण Brahma and the सगुण Rama. Brahma is all-pervading, one, imperishable, and a mass of being, consciousness, and bliss.
अस प्रभु हृदयँ अछत अबिकारी। सकल जीव जग दीन दुखारी॥ नाम निरूपन नाम जतन तें। सोउ प्रगटत जिमि मोल रतन तें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa prabhu hṛdayaṃ achata abikārī। sakala jīva jaga dīna dukhārī॥ nāma nirūpana nāma jatana teṃ। sou pragatata jimi mola ratana teṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Even though such an unchanging Lord dwells in the heart, all beings in the world remain helpless and sorrowful. By discerning the true nature, glory, mystery, and power of the Name, and by practicing it with care and faith, that Brahma becomes manifest, just as the value of a gem becomes known when it is recognized.
निरगुन तें एहि भाँति बड़ नाम प्रभाउ अपार। कहउँ नामु बड़ राम तें निज बिचार अनुसार॥ २३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
niraguna teṃ ehi bhāṃti baṛa nāma prabhāu apāra। kahauṃ nāmu baṛa rāma teṃ nija bicāra anusāra॥ 23 ॥
Meaning:
Thus, the power of the Name is exceedingly greater than the निर्गुण. Now, according to my own understanding, I say that the Name is even greater than the सगुण Rama.
राम भगत हित नर तनु धारी। सहि संकट किए साधु सुखारी॥ नामु सप्रेम जपत अनयासा। भगत होहिं मुद मंगल बासा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma bhagata hita naru tanu dhārī। sahi saṃkaṭa kie sādhū sukhārī॥ nāmu saprema japata anayāsā। bhagata hohiṃ muda maṅgala bāsā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
For the welfare of devotees, Lord Rama assumed a human body and endured suffering to make the saints happy; but the devotees, chanting the Name with love, become effortlessly the home of joy and auspiciousness.
राम एक तापस तिय तारी। नाम कोटि खल कुमति सुधारी॥ रिषि हित राम सुकेतुसुता की। सहित सेन सुत कीन्हि बिबाकी॥ सहित दोष दुख दास दुरासा। दलइ नामु जिमि रबि निसि नासा॥ भंजेउ राम आपु भव चापू। भव भय भंजन नाम प्रतापू॥ २-३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma eka tāpasa tiya tārī। nāma koṭi khala kumati sudhārī॥ riṣi hita rāma suketusutā kī। sahita sena suta kīnhi bibākī॥ sahita doṣa dukha dāsa durāsā। dalai nāmu jimi ravi nisi nāsā॥ bhañjeu rāma āpu bhava cāpū। bhava bhaya bhañjana nāma pratāpū॥ 2-3 ॥
Meaning:
Rama alone saved the ascetic’s wife (Ahalya), but the Name corrected the crooked minds of millions of sinners. For the sage’s welfare, Rama destroyed the daughter of Suketu, along with her army and son; yet the Name destroys the faults, sorrows, and evil desires of devotees just as the sun destroys the night. Rama Himself broke Shiva’s bow, but it is the power of the Name that destroys all fear of the world.
दंडक बनु प्रभु कीन्ह सुहावन। जन मन अमित नाम किए पावन॥ निसिचर निकर दले रघुनंदन। नामु सकल कलि कलुष निकंदन॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
daṇḍaka banu prabhu kīnha suhāvana। jana mana amita nāma kie pāvana॥ nisichara nikara dale raghunandana। nāmu sakala kali kaluṣa nikandana॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Lord Rama made the dreadful Dandaka forest lovely, but the Name purified the minds of countless people. Shri Raghunatha slew the hosts of demons, but the Name uproots all sin in Kali Yuga.
सबरी गीध सुसेवकनि सुगति दीन्हि रघुनाथ। नाम उधारे अमित खल बेद बिदित गुन गाथ॥ २४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sabarī gīdha susevakani sugati dīnhi raghunātha। nāma udhāre amita khala beda bidita guna gātha॥ 24 ॥
Meaning:
Shri Raghunatha granted salvation only to good servants such as Shabari and Jatayu; but the Name has delivered countless wicked people. The tale of the Name’s virtues is famous in the Vedas.
राम सुकंठ बिभीषन दोऊ। राखे सरन जान सबु कोऊ॥ नाम गरीब अनेक नेवाजे। लोक बेद बर बिरिद बिराजे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma sukaṃṭha bibhīṣana doū। rākhe sarana jāna sabu koū॥ nāma garība aneka nevāje। loka beda bara birida birāje॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Rama kept Sugriva and Vibhishana both under His protection; everyone knows this. But the Name has shown grace to many poor ones. This beautiful glory of the Name shines greatly in the world and in the Vedas.
राम भालु कपि कटकु बटोरा। सेतु हेतु श्रमु कीन्ह न थोरा॥ नामु लेत भवसिंधु सुखाहीं। करहु बिचारु सुजन मन माहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma bhālu kapi kaṭaku baṭorā। setu hetu śramu kīnha na thorā॥ nāmu leta bhavasindhu sukhāhīṃ। karahu bicāru sujana mana māhīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Rama gathered the army of bears and monkeys and did not spare Himself the labor of building the bridge. But by merely taking the Name, the ocean of worldly existence dries up. O noble souls, reflect on this in your minds.
राम सकुल रन रावनु मारा। सीय सहित निज पुर पगु धारा॥ राजा रामु अवध रजधानी। गावत गुन सुर मुनि बर बानी॥ सेवक सुमिरत नामु सप्रीती। बिनु श्रम प्रबल मोह दलु जीती॥ फिरत सनेहँ मगन सुख अपनें। नाम प्रसाद सोच नहिं सपनें॥ ३-४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma sakula rana rāvaṇu mārā। sīya sahita nija pura pagu dhārā॥ rājā rāmu avadha rajadhānī। gāvata guna sura muni bara bānī॥ sevaka sumirata nāmu saprītī। binu śrama prabala moha dalu jītī॥ phirata sanehaṃ magana sukha apaneṃ। nāma prasāda soca nahiṃ sapaneṃ॥ 3-4 ॥
Meaning:
Rama slew Ravana in battle along with his entire family, and then entered His city with Sita. Rama became king, and Ayodhya became His capital; gods and sages sing His virtues in lovely words. But devotees, through loving remembrance of the Name alone, conquer the mighty army of delusion without effort and dwell in their own bliss. By the grace of the Name, they have no worry even in dreams.
ब्रह्म राम तें नामु बड़ बर दायक बर दानि। रामचरित सत कोटि महँ लिय महेस जियँ जानि॥ २५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
brahma rāma teṃ nāmu baḍa bara dāyaka bara dāni। rāmacarita sata koṭi mahaṃ liya mahesa jiyaṃ jāni॥ 25 ॥
Meaning:
Thus the Name is greater than both the formless Brahman and the embodied Rama. It bestows boons even upon boon-givers. Knowing this in His heart, Shiva has taken and treasured the Name 'Rama' from among the hundred million narrations of Rama's deeds.
नाम प्रसाद संभु अबिनासी। साजु अमंगल मंगल रासी॥ सुक सनकादि सिद्ध मुनि जोगी। नाम प्रसाद ब्रह्मसुख भोगी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāma prasāda saṃbhu abināsī। sāju amaṃgala maṃgala rāsī॥ suka sanakādi siddha muni jogī। nāma prasāda brahmasukha bhogī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
By the grace of the Name, Shiva is imperishable, and though His outward form seems inauspicious, He is a treasury of blessings. Shukadeva and the sages, siddhas, and yogis beginning with Sanaka enjoy the bliss of Brahman only by the grace of the Name.
नारद जानेउ नाम प्रतापू। जग प्रिय हरि हरि हर प्रिय आपू॥ नामु जपत प्रभु कीन्ह प्रसादू। भगत सिरोमनि भे प्रहलादू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nārada jāneu nāma pratāpū। jaga priya hari hari hari priya āpū॥ nāmu japata prabhu kīnha prasādū। bhagata siromaṇi bhe prahlādū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Narada understood the glory of the Name. Hari is dear to the whole world; Hari is dear to Hara; and You Yourself are dear to both Hari and Hara. By chanting the Name, the Lord showed His grace, and Prahlada became the crown jewel of devotees.
ध्रुवँ सगलानि जपेउ हरि नाऊँ। पायउ अचल अनूपम ठाऊँ॥ सुमिरि पवनसुत पावन नामू। अपने बस करि राखे रामू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhruvaṃ sagalāni japeu hari nāūṃ। pāyau acala anūpama ṭhāūṃ॥ sumiri pavanasuta pāvana nāmū। apane basa kari rākhe rāmū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
In shame and sorrow, Dhruva chanted Hari's Name and, through its power, obtained an unshakable and matchless abode. Remembering the sacred Name, Hanuman held Rama under His own control.
अपतु अजामिलु गजु गनिकाऊ। भए मुकुत हरि नाम प्रभाऊ॥ कहौं कहाँ लगि नाम बड़ाई। रामु न सकहिं नाम गुन गाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
apatu ajāmilu gaju ganikāū। bhae mukuta hari nāma prabhāū॥ kahauṃ kahāṃ lagi nāma baḍāī। rāmu na sakahiṃ nāma guna gāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The lowly Ajamil, Gajendra the elephant, and the courtesan were all liberated through the power of Hari's Name. How far can I speak of the greatness of the Name? Even Rama cannot sing the Name's virtues.
नामु राम को कलपतरु कलि कल्यान निवासु। जो सुमिरत भयो भाँग तें तुलसी तुलसीदासु॥ २६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāmu rāma ko kalapataru kali kalyāna nivāsu। jo sumirata bhayo bhāṃga teṃ tulasī tulasīdāsu॥ 26 ॥
Meaning:
In Kali Yuga, Rama's Name is the wish-fulfilling tree and the abode of blessedness. By remembering it, Tulsi Das—base like bhang—became pure like tulsi (holy basil).
चहुँ जुग तीनि काल तिहुँ लोका। भए नाम जपि जीव बिसोका॥ बेद पुरान संत मत एहू। सकल सुकृत फल राम सनेहू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cahūṃ juga tīnī kāla tihūṃ lokā। bhae nāma japi jīva bisokā॥ beda purāna santa mata ehū। sakala sukṛta phala rāma sanehū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Not only in Kali Yuga, but in the four ages, in all three times, and in the three worlds, beings have become free from sorrow by chanting the Name. The Vedas, the Puranas, and the saints all hold this view: the fruit of all merit is love for Rama.
ध्यानु प्रथम जुग मखबिधि दूजें। द्वापर परितोषत प्रभु पूजें॥ कलि केवल मल मूल मलीना। पाप पयोनिधि जन मन मीना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhyānu prathama juga makhabidhi dūjeṃ। dvāpara paritoṣata prabhu pūjeṃ॥ kali kevala mala mūla malīnā। pāpa payonidhi jana mana mīnā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
In the first age, the Lord is pleased by meditation; in the second age, by sacrifice; and in the Dvapara age, by worship. But Kali is nothing but the root of impurity; in it, the human mind is like a fish in the ocean of sin, never wanting to leave it.
नाम कामतरु काल कराला। सुमिरत समन सकल जग जाला॥ राम नाम कलि अभिमत दाता। हित परलोक लोक पितु माता॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāma kāmataru kāla karālā। sumirata samana sakala jaga jālā॥ rāma nāma kali abhimata dātā। hita paraloka loka pitu mātā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
In such a dreadful age as Kali Yuga, the Name alone is the wish-fulfilling tree, destroying all the entanglements of the world as soon as it is remembered. In Kali Yuga, the Name of Rama grants desired fruits; it is the greatest benefactor of the next world and, in this world, like father and mother.
नहिं कलि करम न भगति बिबेकू। राम नाम अवलंबन एकू॥ कालनेमि कलि कपट निधानू। नाम सुमति समरथ हनुमानू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nahiṃ kali karama na bhagati bibekū। rāma nāma avalaṃbana ekū॥ kālanemi kali kapaṭa nidhānū। nāma sumati samaratha hanumānū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
In Kali Yuga there is neither action, nor devotion, nor discernment; the only support is the Name of Rama. Against Kalnemi, the storehouse of deceit in the form of Kali Yuga, the Name is the wise and powerful Hanuman.
राम नाम नरकेसरी कनककसिपु कलिकाल। जापक जन प्रहलाद जिमि पालिहि दलि सुरसाल॥ २७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma nāma narakesarī kanakakasipu kalikāla। jāpaka jana prahlāda jimi pālihi dali surasāla॥ 27 ॥
Meaning:
The Name of Rama is Lord Narasimha; Kali Yuga is Hiranyakashipu; and those who chant are like Prahlada. This Name of Rama will destroy the enemy of the gods, the demon-form of Kali, and protect those who chant it.