Glory of Rama’s Virtues and Deeds
The virtues, compassion, and deeds of Rama are extolled here. Hearing and singing his story is described as holy, auspicious, and liberating.
Bal Kand · Episode 12 / 59
Episode Text
भायँ कुभायँ अनख आलसहूँ। नाम जपत मंगल दिसि दसहूँ॥ सुमिरि सो नाम राम गुन गाथा। करउँ नाइ रघुनाथहि माथा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhāyaṃ kubhāyaṃ anakha ālasahūṃ। nāma japata maṃgala disi dasahūṃ॥ sumiri so nāma rāma guna gāthā। karauṃ nāi raghunāthahi māthā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Whether with good intent or ill intent, in anger or in laziness, simply chanting the Name brings welfare in all ten directions. Remembering that Name of Rama and bowing my head to Raghunatha, I sing the praises of Rama.
मोरि सुधारिहि सो सब भाँती। जासु कृपा नहिं कृपाँ अघाती॥ राम सुस्वामि कुसेवकु मोसो। निज दिसि देखि दयानिधि पोसो॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mori sudhārihi so saba bhāṃtī। jāsu kṛpā nahiṃ kṛpāṃ aghātī॥ rāma susvāmi kusevaku moso। nija disi dekhi dayānidhi poso॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
He will set right all my faults in every way; His grace never tires of giving grace. Rama is such a noble Lord, and I am a servant as bad as can be; still, that ocean of compassion has looked upon me and sustained me.
लोकहुँ बेद सुसाहिब रीती। बिनय सुनत पहिचानत प्रीती॥ गनी गरीब ग्राम नर नागर। पंडित मूढ़ मलीन उजागर॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lokahuṃ beda susāhiba rītī। binaya sunata pahicānata prītī॥ ganī garība grāma nara nāgara। paṇḍita mūṛha malīna ujāgara॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
In both the world and the Vedas, this is the conduct of a good master: hearing humility, he immediately recognizes devotion. Rich and poor, villagers and city folk, scholars and fools, the dull and the radiant—
सुकबि कुकबि निज मति अनुहारी। नृपहि सराहत सब नर नारी॥ साधु सुजान सुसील नृपाला। ईस अंस भव परम कृपाला॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sukabi kukabi nija mati anuhārī। nṛpahi sarāhata saba nara nārī॥ sādhu sujāna susīla nṛpālā। īsa aṃsa bhava parama kṛpālā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Poets and bad poets alike, men and women alike, praise the king according to their own understanding. And the saintly, wise, virtuous king—one who is a portion of God, supremely compassionate—
सुनि सनमानहिं सबहि सुबानी। भनिति भगति नति गति पहिचानी॥ यह प्राकृत महिपाल सुभाऊ। जान सिरोमनि कोसलराऊ॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni sanamānahiṃ sabahi subānī। bhaniti bhagati nati gati pahicānī॥ yaha prākṛta mahipāla subhāū। jāna siromaṇi kosalarāū॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing everyone and recognizing their speech, devotion, humility, and conduct, he honors all with sweet words as is fitting. Such is the nature of worldly kings; but Kosalraja Sri Rama is the crown jewel of the wise.
सठ सेवक की प्रीति रुचि रखिहहिं राम कृपालु। उपल किए जलजान जेहिं सचिव सुमति कपि भालु॥ २८ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṭha sevaka kī prīti ruci rakhihahiṃ rāma kṛpālu। upala kie jalajāna jehiṃ saciva sumati kapi bhālu॥ 28 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Yet merciful Rama will surely value the affection and inclination of this wicked servant of His—He who turned stones into boats and made monkeys and bears into wise ministers.
हौंहु कहावत सबु कहत राम सहत उपहास। साहिब सीतानाथ सो सेवक तुलसीदास॥ २८ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hauṃhu kahāvata sabu kahata rāma sahata upahāsa। sāhiba sītānātha so sevaka tulasīdāsa॥ 28 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Everyone says I am Rama's servant, and I too accept the name, without shame or hesitation; merciful Rama bears the slur that Tulsi Das should be the servant of such a Lord as Sitanatha.
अति बड़ि मोरि ढिठाई खोरी। सुनि अघ नरकहुँ नाक सकोरी॥ समुझि सहम मोहि अपडर अपनें। सो सुधि राम कीन्हि नहिं सपनें॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati baṛi mori ḍhiṭhāī khorī। suni agha narakahuṃ nāka sakorī॥ samujhi saham mohi apaḍara apaneṃ। so sudhi rāma kīnhi nahiṃ sapaneṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
This is my very great insolence and fault; hearing of my sin, even hell has wrinkled its nose (that is, there is no place for me even in hell). Realizing this, I am frightened by my own imagined fear, but Lord Shri Ramchandra did not even notice it in a dream.
सुनि अवलोकि सुचित चख चाही। भगति मोरि मति स्वामि सराही॥ कहत नसाइ होइ हियँ नीकी। रीझत राम जानि जन जी की॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni avaloki sucita chakh chāhī। bhagati mori mati svāmi sarāhī॥ kahat nasāi hoi hiyaṃ nīkī। rījhata rāma jāni jana jī kī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Indeed, my Lord Shri Ramchandra heard this, saw it, and examined it with a discerning eye, and praised my devotion and mind—though in the opposite sense. For while what one says may go wrong (that is, I may keep calling myself the Lord's servant), there must be goodness in the heart. (In the heart, I consider myself unworthy to be His servant and regard myself only as sinful and lowly; that is the right disposition.) Shri Ramchandra too is pleased when He knows the servant's condition of heart.
रहति न प्रभु चित चूक किए की। करत सुरति सय बार हिए की॥ जेहिं अघ बधेउ ब्याध जिमि बाली। फिरि सुकंठ सोइ कीन्हि कुचाली॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rahati na prabhu cita cūka kie kī। karata surati saya bāra hiye kī॥ jehiṃ agha badheu byādha jimi bālī। phiri sukaṃṭha soi kīnhi kūcālī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The Lord does not keep in His mind the mistakes and faults committed by His devotees; instead, He remembers again and again the goodness of their hearts. By the sin because of which He struck Bali like a hunter, Sugriva later committed the same kind of wrongful deed again.
सोइ करतूति बिभीषन केरी। सपनेहुँ सो न राम हियँ हेरी॥ ते भरतहि भेंटत सनमाने। राजसभाँ रघुबीर बखाने॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
soi kartūti bibhīṣana kerī। sapanehuṃ so na rāma hiyaṃ herī॥ te bharatahi bheṃtata sanamāne। rājasabhāṃ raghubīra bakhāne॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
That very conduct was Vibhishana's, but Shri Ramchandra did not even entertain it in His heart, even in a dream. Instead, when meeting Bharata, Shri Raghunath honored him, and in the royal assembly He also praised his virtues.
प्रभु तरु तर कपि डार पर ते किए आपु समान। तुलसी कहूँ न राम से साहिब सीलनिधान॥ २९ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu taru tar kapi ḍāra para te kie āpu samāna। tulasī kahūṃ na rāma se sāhiba sīlanidhāna॥ 29 (a) ॥
Meaning:
The Lord (Shri Ramchandra) was beneath the tree and the monkeys were on its branches—how incomparable the Lord, the supreme and self-existing divine being, and how different the monkeys leaping on the boughs! Yet He made even such monkeys equal to Himself. Tulsi Das says that there is no master anywhere like Shri Ramchandra, the treasure of noble character.
राम निकाईं रावरी है सबही को नीक। जौं यह साँची है सदा तौ नीको तुलसीक॥ २९ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma nikāīṃ rāvarī hai sabahī ko nīka। jauṃ yaha sāṃcī hai sadā tau nīko tulasīk॥ 29 (b) ॥
Meaning:
O Shri Ram, Your graciousness is good for everyone (that is, Your benevolent nature brings welfare to all). If this is true, then Tulsi Das too will always be благessed with good.
एहि बिधि निज गुन दोष कहि सबहि बहुरि सिरु नाइ। बरनउँ रघुबर बिसद जसु सुनि कलि कलुष नसाइ॥ २९ (ग) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi nija guna doṣa kahi sabahi bahuri siru nāi। baranauṃ raghubara bisada jasa suni kali kaluṣa nasāi॥ 29 (c) ॥
Meaning:
Thus, speaking of my own merits and faults and bowing to everyone again, I shall describe the spotless glory of Shri Raghunath, hearing which the sins of Kali Yuga are destroyed.
जागबलिक जो कथा सुहाई। भरद्वाज मुनिबरहि सुनाई॥ कहिहउँ सोइ संबाद बखानी। सुनहुँ सकल सज्जन सुखु मानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāgabalik jo kathā suhāī। bharadvāja munibarahiṃ sunāī॥ kahihauṃ soi saṃbāda bakhānī। sunahuṃ sakala sajjana sukhu mānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The lovely कथा that the sage Yajnavalkya had told to the great sage Bharadvaja—that very dialogue I shall now recount. Let all noble listeners hear it with joy.
संभु कीन्ह यह चरित सुहावा। बहुरि कृपा करि उमहि सुनावा॥ सोइ सिव कागभुसुंडिहि दीन्हा। राम भगत अधिकारी चीन्हा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṃbhu kīnhi yaha carita suhāvā। bahuri kṛpā kari umahiṃ sunāvā॥ soi siva kāgabhusuṃḍihi dīnhā। rāma bhagata adhikārī cīnhā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Shiva first composed this delightful narrative and then, in His grace, recounted it to Uma. The same account Shiva gave to Kakabhushundi, recognizing him as a fit devotee of Rama.
तेहि सन जागबलिक पुनि पावा। तिन्ह पुनि भरद्वाज प्रति गावा॥ ते श्रोता बकता समसीला। सवँदरसी जानहिं हरिलीला॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi sana jāgabalik puni pāvā। tinha puni bharadvāja prati gāvā॥ te śrotā baktā samasīlā। savaṃdarasī jānahiṃ harilīlā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Yajnavalkya received it from Kakabhushundi, and then he sang and related it again to Bharadvaja. Those two—speaker and listener—are equal in character and know the divine play of Shri Hari.
जानहिं तीनि काल निज ग्याना। करतल गत आमलक समाना॥ औरउ जे हरिभगत सुजाना। कहहिं सुनहिं समुझहिं बिधि नाना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jānahiṃ tīni kāla nija gyānā। karatala gata āmalaka samānā॥ aura u je haribhagata sujānā। kahahiṃ sunahiṃ samujhahiṃ bidhi nānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
By their own knowledge they know the events of the three times as clearly as an āmalaka held in the palm of the hand. And other wise devotees of Hari also speak, hear, and understand this narrative in many ways.
मैं पुनि निज गुर सन सुनी कथा सो सूकरखेत। समुझी नहिं तसि बालपन तब अति रहेउँ अचेत॥ ३० (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ puni nija guru sana sunī kathā so sūkarakheta। samujhī nahiṃ tasi bālapana taba ati raheuṃ aceta॥ 30 (a) ॥
Meaning:
I heard that same कथा from my guru at Sūkarakheta; but at that time I was very immature and foolish, so I did not understand it properly.
श्रोता बकता ग्याननिधि कथा राम कै गूढ़। किमि समुझौं मैं जीव जड़ कलि मल ग्रसित बिमूढ़॥ ३० (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śrotā baktā gyānanidhi kathā rāma kai gūḍha। kimi samujhauṃ maiṃ jīva jaḍa kali mala grasita bimūḍha॥ 30 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Both the speaker and the listener of Shri Ram's profound कथा are treasures of wisdom. How could I, a deluded, inert being consumed by the impurities of Kali Yuga, ever understand it?
तदपि कही गुर बारहिं बारा। समुझि परी कछु मति अनुसारा॥ भाषाबद्ध करबि मैं सोई। मोरें मन प्रबोध जेहिं होई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tadapi kahī gura bārahiṃ bārā। samujhi parī kachu mati anusārā॥ bhāṣābaddha karabi maiṃ soī। moreṃ mana prabodha jehiṃ hoī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Even so, when my guru told the story again and again, I understood a little according to my capacity. I shall now compose it in language, so that my mind may be awakened.
जस कछु बुधि बिबेक बल मेरें। तस कहिहउँ हियँ हरि के प्रेरें॥ निज संदेह मोह भ्रम हरनी। करउँ कथा भव सरिता तरनी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jasa kachu budhi bibeka bala mereṃ। tasa kahihauṃ hiyaṃ hari ke prerem॥ nija sandeha moha bhrama haranī। karauṃ kathā bhava saritā taranī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Whatever measure of intelligence and discriminating strength I possess, I shall speak accordingly, moved from the heart by Hari. I compose a कथा that removes my doubts, delusion, and confusion, and serves as a boat for crossing the river of worldly existence.
बुध बिश्राम सकल जन रंजनि। रामकथा कलि कलुष बिभंजनि॥ रामकथा कलि पंनग भरनी। पुनि बिबेक पावक कहुँ अरनी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
budha biśrāma sakala jana rañjani। rāmakathā kali kaluṣa bibhajani॥ rāmakathā kali pannaga bharanī। puni bibeka pāvaka kahuṃ aranī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The Ramkatha gives rest to the learned, delights all people, and destroys the sins of Kali Yuga. For the serpent of Kali, Ramkatha is a peahen; and for kindling the fire of discrimination, it is the arani wood (that is, from this कथा arises knowledge).
रामकथा कलि कामद गाई। सुजन सजीवनि मूरि सुहाई॥ सोइ बसुधातल सुधा तरंगिनि। भय भंजनि भ्रम भेक भुअंगिनि॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmakathā kali kāmada gāī। sujana sajīvanī mūri suhāī॥ soi vasudhātala sudhā taraṃgini। bhaya bhaṃjani bhrama bheka bhuāṃgini॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
This Ramkatha is the wish-fulfilling cow of Kali Yuga and a beautiful herb of life for the good. On earth it is the river of nectar, destroyer of fear, and a serpent that devours the frogs of delusion.
असुर सेन सम नरक निकंदिनि। साधु बिबुध कुल हित गिरिनंदिनि॥ संत समाज पयोधि रमा सी। बिस्व भार भर अचल छमा सी॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asura sena sama naraka nikandinī। sādhu bibudha kula hita girinandini॥ saṃta samāja payodhi ramā sī। bisva bhāra bhara acala chamā sī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
This Ramkatha is like Parvati: it destroys hells like an army of demons and benefits the line of the saintly and divine. It is like Lakshmi for the ocean of saintly society, and like the steadfast earth in bearing the burden of the whole world.
जम गन मुहँ मसि जग जमुना सी। जीवन मुकुति हेतु जनु कासी॥ रामहि प्रिय पावनि तुलसी सी। तुलसिदास हित हियँ हुलसी सी॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jama gana muhaṃ masi jaga jamunā sī। jīvana mukuti hetu janu kāsī॥ rāmahi priya pāvani tulasī sī। tulasidāsa hita hiyaṃ hulasī sī॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
To blacken the faces of Yama's messengers, it is like the Yamuna in this world; and for granting liberation to beings, it is as though it were Kashi itself. It is dear to Shri Ram like sacred tulsi, and for Tulsi Das it is like Hulasi, his mother, lovingly beneficial to the heart.
सिवप्रिय मेकल सैल सुता सी। सकल सिद्धि सुख संपति रासी॥ सदगुन सुरगन अंब अदिति सी। रघुबर भगति प्रेम परमिति सी॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sivapriya meakala saila sutā sī। sakala siddhi sukha saṃpati rāsī॥ sadaguna suragana aṃba aditi sī। raghubara bhagati prema paramiti sī॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
This Ramkatha is dear to Shiva like the Narmada; it is a treasury of all powers, happiness, and prosperity. For nurturing the hosts of virtues, it is like Mother Aditi. It is the very highest limit of devotion and love for Shri Raghunath.
रामकथा मंदाकिनी चित्रकूट चित चारु। तुलसी सुभग सनेह बन सिय रघुबीर बिहारु॥ ३१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmakathā mandākinī citrakūṭa cita cāru। tulasī subhaga saneha bana siya raghubīra bihāru॥ 31 ॥
Meaning:
Tulsi Das says that Ramkatha is the Mandakini River; the beautiful, pure heart is Chitrakut; and loving affection itself is the forest, in which Shri Sita-Rama delight in their sport.
रामचरित चिंतामनि चारू। संत सुमति तिय सुभग सिंगारू॥ जग मंगल गुनग्राम राम के। दानि मुकुति धन धरम धाम के॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmacarita cintāmani cārū। santa sumati tiya subhaga siṅgārū॥ jaga maṅgala gunagrāma rāma ke। dāni mukuti dhana dharama dhāma ke॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The story of Sri Rama is a beautiful wish-fulfilling gem, and the lovely adornment of the wife-like wisdom of the saints. Rama’s collection of virtues brings auspiciousness to the world and grants liberation, wealth, righteousness, and the supreme abode.
सदगुर ग्यान बिराग जोग के। बिबुध बैद भव भीम रोग के॥ जननि जनक सिय राम प्रेम के। बीज सकल ब्रत धरम नेम के॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sadagura jñāna birāga joga ke। bibudha baida bhava bhīma roga ke॥ janani janaka siya rāma prema ke। bīja sakala brata dharama nema ke॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
For knowledge, detachment, and yoga, He is the true guru; and for destroying the terrible disease of worldly existence, He is like the physician of the gods. He is the mother and father who awaken love for Sita and Rama, and He is the seed of all vows, righteousness, and disciplines.
समन पाप संताप सोक के। प्रिय पालक परलोक लोक के॥ सचिव सुभट भूपति बिचार के। कुंभज लोभ उदधि अपार के॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samana pāpa santāpa soka ke। priya pālaka paraloka loka ke॥ saciva subhaṭa bhūpati bicāra ke। kumbhaja lobha udadhi apāra ke॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
He destroys sin, suffering, and sorrow, and lovingly sustains both this world and the next. He is the warrior minister of the king called discernment, and like sage Agastya, He dries up the boundless ocean of greed.
काम कोह कलिमल करिगन के। केहरि सावक जन मन बन के॥ अतिथि पूज्य प्रियतम पुरारि के। कामद घन दारिद दवारि के॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāma koha kalimala karigana ke। kehari sāvaka jana mana bana ke॥ atithi pūjya priyatama purāri ke। kāmada ghana dārida davāri ke॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
He is like a lion cub, dwelling in the forest of the devotee’s mind and destroying lust, anger, and the elephants of sin in the age of Kali. He is the honored and beloved guest of Shiva, and like a wish-fulfilling cloud that extinguishes the wildfire of poverty.
मंत्र महामनि बिषय ब्याल के। मेटत कठिन कुअंक भाल के॥ हरन मोह तम दिनकर कर से। सेवक सालि पाल जलधर से॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mantra mahāmani biṣaya byāla ke। meṭata kaṭhina kuaṅka bhāla ke॥ harana moha tama dinakara kara se। sevaka sāli pāla jaladhara se॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
He is a mantra and a great gem for removing the poison of the serpent of sensual desire. He erases the hard-to-erase evil markings on the forehead (ill fate). He removes the darkness of delusion like the sun’s rays, and like a rain cloud, He nourishes the rice-fields of the devotees.
अभिमत दानि देवतरु बर से। सेवत सुलभ सुखद हरि हर से॥ सुकबि सरद नभ मन उडगन से। रामभगत जन जीवन धन से॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
abhimata dāni devataru bara se। sevata sulabha sukhada hari hara se॥ sukabi sarada nabha mana uḍagana se। rāmabhagata jana jīvana dhana se॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
He is like the best wish-fulfilling tree, granting desired boons, and is as easily accessible and joy-giving as Hari and Hara to those who serve Him. He is like a cluster of stars in the autumn sky of the poet’s mind, and for the devotees of Rama, He is indeed their very life and wealth.
सकल सुकृत फल भूरि भोग से। जग हित निरुपधि साधु लोग से॥ सेवक मन मानस मराल से। पावन गंग तरंग माल से॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakala sukṛta phala bhūri bhoga se। jaga hita nirupadhi sādhu loga se॥ sevaka mana mānasa marāla se। pāvana gaṃga taraṅga māla se॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
The fruits of all good deeds are like abundant enjoyment. In doing selfless good to the world, He is like the holy saints. For the devotee’s mind, He is like a swan on the Manasarovar lake, and in sanctifying, He is like the garlands of Ganga’s waves.
कुपथ कुतरक कुचालि कलि कपट दंभ पाषंड। दहन राम गुन ग्राम जिमि इंधन अनल प्रचंड॥ ३२ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kupatha kutaraka kuchāli kali kapaṭa daṃbha pāṣaṇḍa। dahana rāma guna grāma jimi indhana anala pracaṇḍa॥ 32 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Rama’s host of virtues burns away evil paths, sophistry, crooked conduct, and the hypocrisy, pride, and deceit of Kali Yuga, just as a blazing fire consumes fuel.
रामचरित राकेस कर सरिस सुखद सब काहु। सज्जन कुमुद चकोर चित हित बिसेषि बड़ लाहु॥ ३२ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmacarita rākes kara sarisa sukhada saba kāhu। sajjana kumuda cakor cita hita biseṣi baḍa lāhu॥ 32 (b) ॥
Meaning:
The life of Rama is like the rays of the full moon, bringing joy to everyone. But for the lotus-like saints and the chakora bird-like devotee, it is especially beneficial and a great gain.