Salutation to Sita-Rama, Their Abode, and Retinue
Reverence is offered to Sita and Rama, their divine abode, and their devoted attendants. This remembrance draws the listener close to the Lord’s grace and eternal realm.
Bal Kand · Episode 10 / 59
Episode Text
बंदउँ अवध पुरी अति पावनि। सरजू सरि कलि कलुष नसावनि॥ प्रनवउँ पुर नर नारि बहोरी। ममता जिन्ह पर प्रभुहि न थोरी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ avadha purī ati pāvani। sarjū sari kali kaluṣa nasāvani॥ pranavauṃ pura nara nāri bahorī। mamatā jinha para prabhuhi na thorī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the supremely pure city of Ayodhya and to the Sarayu River, which destroys the sins of Kali Yuga. Again I offer प्रणाम to the men and women of Ayodhya, upon whom Lord Rama’s affection is not little—that is, it is abundant.
सिय निंदक अघ ओघ नसाए। लोक बिसोक बनाइ बसाए॥ बंदउँ कौसल्या दिसि प्राची। कीरति जासु सकल जग माची॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
siya nindaka agha ogha nasāe। loka bisoka banāi basāe॥ bandauṃ kausalyā disi prācī। kīrati jāsu sakala jaga mācī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
He destroyed the accumulated mass of sins of those who slandered Sita and established them, free from sorrow, in his own realm. I bow to Kausalya as the east, whose fame has spread throughout the whole world.
प्रगटेउ जहँ रघुपति ससि चारू। बिस्व सुखद खल कमल तुसारू॥ दसरथ राउ सहित सब रानी। सुकृत सुमंगल मूरति मानी॥ करउँ प्रनाम करम मन बानी। करहु कृपा सुत सेवक जानी॥ जिन्हहि बिरचि बड़ भयउ बिधाता। महिमा अवधि राम पितु माता॥ ३-४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pragaṭeu jahaṃ raghupati sasi cārū। bisva sukhada khala kamala tusārū॥ dasaratha rāu sahita saba rānī। sukṛta sumaṅgala mūrati mānī॥ karauṃ pranāma karama mana bānī। karahu kṛpā suta sevaka jānī॥ jinhahi biraci baḍa bhayau bidhātā। mahimā avadhi rāma pitu mātā॥ 3-4 ॥
Meaning:
From there, as from the east, appeared the beautiful moon-like Rama, who gives joy to the world and is like frost to the lotus-like wicked. I bow, in thought, speech, and deed, to King Dasharatha along with all the queens, whom I regard as the embodiment of merit and auspiciousness. May they show mercy to me, knowing me as their child’s servant; by creating whom even Brahma gained greatness, and who are the limit of glory as Rama’s father and mother.
बंदउँ अवध भुआल सत्य प्रेम जेहि राम पद। बिछुरत दीनदयाल प्रिय तनु तृन इव परिहरेउ॥ १६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ avadha bhuāla satya prema jehi rāma pada। bichurata dīnadayāla priya tanu tṛna iva parihareu॥ 16 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the king of Ayodhya, Dasharatha, whose love for Rama’s feet was true, and who, when separated from the merciful Lord, gave up his beloved body as if it were a mere blade of grass.
प्रनवउँ परिजन सहित बिदेहू। जाहि राम पद गूढ़ सनेहू॥ जोग भोग महँ राखेउ गोई। राम बिलोकत प्रगटेउ सोई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pranavauṃ parijana sahita bidehū। jāhi rāma pada gūḍha sanehū॥ joga bhoga mahaṃ rākheu goī। rāma bilokata pragaṭeu soī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to King Janak, along with his family, whose deep love for Rama’s feet he had kept hidden amid yoga and worldly enjoyment, but which became manifest the moment he saw Rama.
प्रनवउँ प्रथम भरत के चरना। जासु नेम ब्रत जाइ न बरना॥ राम चरन पंकज मन जासू। लुबुध मधुप इव तजइ न पासू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pranavauṃ prathama bharata ke caranā। jāsu nema brata jāi na barnā॥ rāma carana paṃkaja mana jāsū। lubudha madhupa iva taji na pāsū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
First among the brothers, I bow to Bharata’s feet, whose vows and observances cannot be described. His mind, like a bee, remains drawn to Rama’s lotus feet and never leaves them.
बंदउँ लछिमन पद जलजाता। सीतल सुभग भगत सुख दाता॥ रघुपति कीरति बिमल पताका। दंड समान भयउ जस जाका॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ lachimana pada jalajātā। sītala subhaga bhagata sukha dātā॥ raghupati kīrati bimala patākā। daṃḍa samāna bhayau jasa jākā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to Lakshman’s lotus feet, which are cool, beautiful, and bestow bliss upon devotees. In the spotless banner of Raghupati’s fame, his glory became like the banner’s staff.
सेष सहस्रसीस जग कारन। जो अवतरेउ भूमि भय टारन॥ सदा सो सानुकूल रह मो पर। कृपासिंधु सौमित्रि गुनाकर॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ṣeṣa sahasrasīsa jaga kārana। jo avatareu bhūmi bhaya ṭāran॥ sadā so sānukūla raha mo para। kṛpāsindhu saumitri gunākara॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
May Shesha, the thousand-hooded one, the cause of the world and the bearer of the earth, who descended to remove the earth’s burden, always remain favorable to me—Lakshman, ocean of compassion and mine of virtues.
रिपुसूदन पद कमल नमामी। सूर सुसील भरत अनुगामी॥ महाबीर बिनवउँ हनुमाना। राम जासु जस आप बखाना॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ripusūdana pada kamala namāmī। sūra susīla bharata anugāmī॥ mahābīra binavauṃ hanumānā। rāma jāsu jasa āpa bakhānā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the lotus feet of Shatrughna, who is brave, gentle, and devoted in service to Bharata. I beseech the great hero Hanuman, whose glory Rama Himself has described with His own sacred mouth.
प्रनवउँ पवनकुमार खल बन पावक ग्यान धन। जासु हृदय आगार बसहिं राम सर चाप धर॥ १७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pranavauṃ pavanakumāra khala bana pāvaka gyāna dhana। jāsu hṛdaya āgāra vasahiṃ rāma sara cāpa dhara॥ 17 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to Hanuman, son of the wind, who is like fire for burning the forest of wickedness and a treasure of knowledge. In the mansion of his heart dwell Rama, who holds bow and arrow.
कपिपति रीछ निसाचर राजा। अंगदादि जे कीस समाजा॥ बंदउँ सब के चरन सुहाए। अधम सरीर राम जिन्ह पाए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kapipati rīcha nisācara rājā। aṅgadādi je kīsa samājā॥ bandauṃ saba ke carana suhāe। adhama sarīra rāma jinha pāe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the lovely feet of all of them—the king of the monkeys, the king of the bears, the king of the demons, and the monkey host headed by Angada—who attained Rama even in humble bodies.
रघुपति चरन उपासक जेते। खग मृग सुर नर असुर समेते॥ बंदउँ पद सरोज सब केरे। जे बिनु काम राम के चेरे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
raghupati carana upāsaka jete। khaga mṛga sura nara asura samete॥ bandauṃ pada saroja saba kere। je binu kāma rāma ke cere॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the lotus feet of all who worship Raghupati’s feet—birds, beasts, gods, men, and demons alike—those who are Rama’s servants without desire.
सुक सनकादि भगत मुनि नारद। जे मुनिबर बिग्यान बिसारद॥ प्रनवउँ सबहि धरनि धरि सीसा। करहु कृपा जन जानि मुनीसा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suka sanakādi bhagata muni nārada। je munibara bigyāna bisārada॥ pranavauṃ sabahi dharani dhari sīsā। karahu kṛpā jana jāni munīsā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
I bow, with my head on the ground, to all the devotees and great sages who are masters of spiritual knowledge—Shukadeva, Sanaka and the other sages, and Narada. O wise ones, knowing me as your own, please show me mercy.
जनकसुता जग जननि जानकी। अतिसय प्रिय करुनानिधान की॥ ताके जुग पद कमल मनावउँ। जासु कृपाँ निरमल मति पावउँ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
janakasutā jaga janani jānakī। atisaya priya karunānidhāna kī॥ tāke juga pada kamala manāvauṃ। jāsu kṛpāṃ nirmala mati pāvauṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
I honor the pair of lotus feet of Janki, daughter of King Janak, mother of the world, and beloved of the ocean of compassion, Rama, by whose grace I may attain pure understanding.
पुनि मन बचन कर्म रघुनायक। चरन कमल बंदउँ सब लायक॥ राजिवनयन धरें धनु सायक। भगत बिपति भंजन सुखदायक॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni mana bacana karma raghunāyaka। carana kamala bandauṃ saba lāyaka॥ rājivanayana dhareṃ dhanu sāyaka। bhagata bipati bhaṃjana sukhadāyaka॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Again, with mind, speech, and deed, I bow to the all-capable lotus feet of Lord Raghunath, lotus-eyed and bearing bow and arrows, destroyer of devotees’ troubles and giver of bliss.
गिरा अरथ जल बीचि सम कहिअत भिन्न न भिन्न। बंदउँ सीता राम पद जिन्हहि परम प्रिय खिन्न॥ १८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
girā aratha jala bīci sama kahiata bhinna na bhinna। bandauṃ sītā rāma pada jinhahi parama priya khinna॥ 18 ॥
Meaning:
Speech and its meaning are said to be separate, like water and a wave on water, yet in truth they are not separate. I bow to the feet of Sita and Rama, who are especially dear to the afflicted and distressed.