Tulsidas’s Humility and the Glory of Devotional Poetry
Tulsidas speaks with deep humility, admitting his own limitations and dependence on divine grace. He also extols poetry imbued with devotion to Rama as purifying and uplifting.
Bal Kand · Episode 7 / 59
Episode Text
खल परिहास होइ हित मोरा। काक कहहिं कलकंठ कठोरा॥ हंसहि बक दादुर चातकही। हँसहिं मलिन खल बिमल बतकही॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khala parihāsa hoi hita morā। kāka kahahiṃ kalakaṃṭha kaṭhorā॥ haṃsahi baka dādura cātakahī। haṃsahiṃ malina khala bimala batakahī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Yet even the mockery of the wicked will only be for my good. Crows call the sweet-voiced cuckoo harsh. Just as herons, frogs, and chataks are laughed at, so the impure wicked laugh at pure, faultless speech.
कबित रसिक न राम पद नेहू। तिन्ह कहँ सुखद हास रस एहू॥ भाषा भनिति भोरि मति मोरी। हँसिबे जोग हँसें नहिं खोरी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kabita rasika na rāma pada nehū। tinha kahaṃ sukhadā hāsa rasa ehū॥ bhāṣā bhaniti bhori mati morī। haṃsibe joga haṃseṃ nahiṃ khorī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
For those who are neither lovers of poetry nor devoted to the feet of Ramachandra, this poem will still provide pleasant comic delight. First, it is written in the language of the people, and second, my mind is simple; thus it is fit to be laughed at, and there is no fault in laughing at it.
प्रभु पद प्रीति न सामुझि नीकी। तिन्हहि कथा सुनि लागिहि फीकी॥ हरि हर पद रति मति न कुतरकी। तिन्ह कहुँ मधुर कथा रघुबर की॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu pada prīti na sāmujhi nīkī। tinhahi kathā suni lāgihi phīkī॥ hari hara pada rati mati na kutarakī। tinha kahuṃ madhura kathā raghubara kī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Those who have neither love for the Lord’s feet nor true understanding will find this story dull to hear. But for those whose hearts are devoted to the feet of Hari (Lord Vishnu) and Hara (Lord Shiva), and whose intellect does not indulge in sophistry [that is, who do not imagine any difference or superiority between Hari and Hara], the sweet story of Raghubara will be pleasing.
राम भगति भूषित जियँ जानी। सुनिहहिं सुजन सराहि सुबानी॥ कबि न होउँ नहिं बचन प्रबीनू। सकल कला सब बिद्या हीनू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma bhagati bhūṣita jiyaṃ jānī। sunihahiṃ sujana sarāhi subānī॥ kabi na houṃ nahiṃ bacana prabīnū। sakala kalā saba biddyā hīnū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The noble will hear this story, knowing in their hearts that it is adorned with devotion to Sri Ram, and will praise it in beautiful words. I am neither a poet nor skilled in composition; I am devoid of all arts and all learning.
आखर अरथ अलंकृति नाना। छंद प्रबंध अनेक बिधाना॥ भाव भेद रस भेद अपारा। कबित दोष गुन बिबिध प्रकारा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ākhara aratha alaṃkṛti nānā। chaṃda prabaṃdha aneka bidhānā॥ bhāva bheda rasa bheda apārā। kabita doṣa guna bibidha prakārā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
There are many kinds of letters, meanings, and ornaments of poetry; many forms of metrical composition; limitless distinctions of moods and rasas; and various sorts of virtues and faults in poetry.
भनिति मोरि सब गुन रहित बिस्व बिदित गुन एक। सो बिचारि सुनिहहिं सुमति जिन्ह कें बिमल बिबेक॥ ९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaniti mori saba guna rahita bisva bidita guna eka। so bicāri sunihahiṃ sumati jinha keṃ bimala bibeka॥ 9 ॥
Meaning:
My composition is devoid of all merits; it has only one quality, well known throughout the world. Reflecting on that, those of good understanding, whose discernment is pure, will listen to it.
एहि महँ रघुपति नाम उदारा। अति पावन पुरान श्रुति सारा॥ मंगल भवन अमंगल हारी। उमा सहित जेहि जपत पुरारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi mahaṃ raghupati nāma udārā। ati pāvana purāna śruti sārā॥ maṃgala bhavana amaṃgala hārī। umā sahita jehi japata purārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
It contains the noble name of Lord Raghunath, supremely pure and the essence of the Vedas and Puranas. It is the abode of auspiciousness and the remover of all inauspiciousness; Lord Purari (Shiva), together with Uma, constantly chants it.
भनिति बिचित्र सुकबि कृत जोऊ। राम नाम बिनु सोह न सोऊ॥ बिधुबदनी सब भाँति सँवारी। सोह न बसन बिना बर नारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaniti bicitra sukabi kṛta joū। rāma nāma binu soha na soū॥ bidhubadanī saba bhāṃti saṃvārī। soha na basana binā bara nārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
A wondrous composition by a good poet does not shine without the name of Rama. Like a beautiful woman with a moon-like face, adorned in every way, yet without clothes she does not look beautiful.
सब गुन रहित कुकबि कृत बानी। राम नाम जस अंकित जानी॥ सादर कहहिं सुनहिं बुध ताही। मधुकर सरिस संत गुनग्राही॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba guna rahita kukabi kṛta bānī। rāma nāma jasa aṃkita jānī॥ sādara kahahiṃ sunahiṃ budha tāhī। madhukara sarisa saṃta gunagrāhī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
By contrast, even a poem composed by a bad poet—devoid of all qualities—is known as marked with Rama's name and fame; the wise recite and hear it with reverence, for the saints are like bees, gathering only the nectar of virtues.
जदपि कबित रस एकउ नाहीं। राम प्रताप प्रगट एहि माहीं॥ सोइ भरोस मोरें मन आवा। केहिं न सुसंग बड़प्पनु पावा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jadapi kabita rasa ekau nāhīṃ। rāma pratāpa pragaṭa ehi māhīṃ॥ soi bharosa moreṃ mana āvā। kehiṃ na susaṃga baṛappaṇu pāvā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Although there is not even one poetic flavor in this composition of mine, yet the glory of Rama is manifest in it. This alone gives me confidence in my mind: by good company, who has not attained greatness?
धूमउ तजइ सहज करुआई। अगरु प्रसंग सुगंध बसाई॥ भनिति भदेस बस्तु भलि बरनी। राम कथा जग मंगल करनी॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhūmau tajai sahaja karuāī। agaru prasaṃga sugaṃdha basāī॥ bhaniti bhadesa bastu bhali baranī। rāma kathā jaga maṃgala karanī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Even smoke, by association with frankincense, gives up its natural bitterness and becomes fragrant. My composition is indeed rough, yet in it is described the excellent subject of the Ram-katha, which brings welfare to the world; thus it too should be regarded as good.
मंगल करनि कलिमलहरनि तुलसी कथा रघुनाथ की। गति कूर कबिता सरित की ज्यों सरित पावन पाथ की॥ प्रभुसुजस संगति भनिति भलिहोइहि सुजन मन भावनी। भव अंग भूति मसान की सुमिरत सुहावनि पावनी॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maṃgala karani kalimalaharani tulasī kathā raghunātha kī। gati kūra kabitā sarita kī jyoṃ sarita pāvana pātha kī॥ prabhusujasa saṃgati bhaniti bhalihoihi sujana mana bhāvanī। bhava aṃga bhūti masāna kī sumirata suhāvani pāvanī॥
Meaning:
Tulsi says that the story of Lord Raghunath is auspicious and destroys the sins of Kali Yuga. The course of my poor poem is crooked, like the course of a river with holy water. By association with the Lord's glorious fame, this poem will become beautiful and pleasing to the minds of the virtuous. Even the ashes of a cremation ground become delightful and purifying when associated with Lord Shiva's body, and are pleasing to remember.
प्रिय लागिहि अति सबहि मम भनिति राम जस संग। दारु बिचारु कि करइ कोउ बंदिअ मलय प्रसंग॥ १० (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
priya lāgihi ati sabahi mama bhaniti rāma jasa saṃga। dāru bicāru ki karai kou baṃdia malaya prasaṃga॥ 10 (a) ॥
Meaning:
With the association of Rama's glory, my poem will be extremely dear to everyone, just as a mere piece of wood, by association with the Malaya mountain, becomes worthy of worship as sandalwood. Who then would think of its being only wood?
स्यामसुरभि पय बिसद अति गुनद करहिं सब पान। गिरा ग्राम्य सिय राम जस गावहिं सुनहिं सुजान॥ १० (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śyāmasurabhi paya bisada ati gunada karahiṃ saba pāna। girā grāmya siya rāma jasa gāvahiṃ sunahiṃ sujāna॥ 10 (b) ॥
Meaning:
The black cow's milk, though the cow is dark, is exceedingly pure and nourishing. On that account everyone drinks it. Likewise, though in a rustic tongue, the fame of Sita and Rama is sung and heard eagerly by the wise.
मनि मानिक मुकुता छबि जैसी। अहि गिरि गज सिर सोह न तैसी॥ नृप किरीट तरुनी तनु पाई। लहहिं सकल सोभा अधिकाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mani mānika mukutā chabi jaisī। ahi giri gaja sira soha na taisī॥ nṛpa kirīṭa tarunī tanu pāī। lahahiṃ sakala sobhā adhikāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
As beauty belongs to gems, rubies, and pearls, so it does not appear in a snake, a mountain, or an elephant's head. When they come to a king's crown or to a young woman's body, they all gain greater splendor.
तैसेहिं सुकबि कबित बुध कहहीं। उपजहिं अनत अनत छबि लहहीं॥ भगति हेतु बिधि भवन बिहाई। सुमिरत सारद आवति धाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taisehiṃ sukabi kabita budha kahahīṃ। upajahiṃ anata anata chabi lahahīṃ॥ bhagati hetu bidhi bhavana bihāī। sumirata sārada āvati dhāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Likewise, the wise say that a good poet's poem also is born and shines elsewhere. Because of devotion, Saraswati, leaving her celestial abode, hastens down when the poet is remembered.
राम चरित सर बिनु अन्हवाएँ। सो श्रम जाइ न कोटि उपाएँ॥ कबि कोबिद अस हृदयँ बिचारी। गावहिं हरि जस कलि मल हारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma carita sara binu anhavāeṃ। so śrama jāi na koṭi upāeṃ॥ kabi kobida asa hṛdayaṃ bicārī। gāvahiṃ hari jasa kali mala hārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Without bathing in the lake of Rama's deeds, that fatigue from Saraswati's rushing down cannot be removed even by hundreds of millions of remedies. Thus poets and scholars, reflecting in their hearts, sing only the fame of Hari, who removes the impurities of Kali Yuga.
कीन्हें प्राकृत जन गुन गाना। सिर धुनि गिरा लगत पछिताना॥ हृदय सिंधु मति सीप समाना। स्वाति सारदा कहहिं सुजाना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kīnheṃ prākṛta jana guna gānā। sira dhuni girā lagata pachitānā॥ hṛdaya saṃdhu mati sīpa samānā। svāti sāradā kahahiṃ sujānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
By praising ordinary people, Saraswati begins to shake her head in remorse. The wise say that the heart is an ocean, the mind a shell, and Saraswati like the Swati star.
जुगुति बेधि पुनि पोहिअहिं रामचरित बर ताग। पहिरहिं सज्जन बिमल उर सोभा अति अनुराग॥ ११ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
juguti bedhi puni pohiahiṃ rāmacarita bara tāga। pahirahiṃ sajjana bimala ura sobhā ati anurāga॥ 11 ॥
Meaning:
Piercing those pearl-like poems with skill, and then stringing them on the beautiful thread of Ramcharit, the virtuous wear them in their stainless hearts, adorned with deep devotion.
जे जनमे कलिकाल कराला। करतब बायस बेष मराला॥ चलत कुपंथ बेद मग छाँड़े। कपट कलेवर कलि मल भाँड़े॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
je janame kalikāla karālā। karataba bāyasa beṣa marālā॥ calata kupaṃtha beda maga chāṃṛe। kapaṭa kalevara kali mala bhāṃṛe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Those born in the dreadful Kali Yuga, whose deeds are like those of a crow though their dress is that of a swan, who walk the crooked path and abandon the path of the Vedas, are masks of deceit and vessels of the sins of Kali.
बंचक भगत कहाइ राम के। किंकर कंचन कोह काम के॥ तिन्ह महँ प्रथम रेख जग मोरी। धींग धरमध्वज धंधक धोरी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
baṃcaka bhagata kahāi rāma ke। kiṃkara kaṃcana koha kāma ke॥ tinha mahaṃ prathama rekha jaga morī। dhīṃga dharamadhvaja dhaṃdhaka dhorī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who, calling themselves devotees of Rama, are slaves to greed, anger, and lust; and those who swagger about, hypocrites waving the flag of religion, and burden-bearers of deceitful schemes—among such people in the world, I count myself first.
जौं अपने अवगुन सब कहऊँ। बाढ़इ कथा पार नहिं लहऊँ॥ ताते मैं अति अलप बखाने। थोरे महुँ जानिहहिं सयाने॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaṃū apane avaguna saba kahauṃ। bāṛhai kathā pāra nahiṃ lahauṃ॥ tāte maiṃ ati alapa bakhāne। thore mahaṃ jānihahiṃ sayāne॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
If I were to tell of all my own faults, the story would grow long and I would never reach the end. So I have described only a few. The wise will understand even from a little.
समुझि बिबिधि बिधि बिनती मोरी। कोउ न कथा सुनि देइहि खोरी॥ एतेहु पर करिहहिं जे असंका। मोहि ते अधिक ते जड़ मति रंका॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samujhi bibidhi bidhi binatī morī। kou na kathā suni deihi khorī॥ etehu para karihahiṃ je asaṃkā। mohi te adhika te jaṛa mati raṃkā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Understanding my many kinds of supplication, no one will find fault with this story after hearing it. Even so, if someone doubts it, then they are more foolish and poorer in judgment than I am.
कबि न होउँ नहिं चतुर कहावउँ। मति अनुरूप राम गुन गावउँ॥ कहँ रघुपति के चरित अपारा। कहँ मति मोरि निरत संसारा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kabi na houṃ nahiṃ catura kahāvauṃ। mati anurūpa rāma guna gāvauṃ॥ kahaṃ raghupati ke carita apārā। kahaṃ mati mori nirata saṃsārā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
I am neither a poet nor one who claims to be clever; I sing the virtues of Rama according to my own understanding. Where are the boundless deeds of Raghupati, and where is my mind, attached to the world!
जेहिं मारुत गिरि मेरु उड़ाहीं। कहहु तूल केहि लेखे माहीं॥ समुझत अमित राम प्रभुताई। करत कथा मन अति कदराई॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jehiṃ māruta giri meru uḍāhīṃ। kahahu tūla kehi lekhe māhīṃ॥ samujhata amita rāma prabhutāī। karata kathā mana ati kadarāī॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
As for a lump of wood, what significance is there before the wind that can lift Meru and the mountains into the air? Realizing Rama's limitless majesty, my mind shrinks from composing this story.
सारद सेस महेस बिधि आगम निगम पुरान। नेति नेति कहि जासु गुन करहिं निरंतर गान॥ १२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sārada sesa mahesa bidhi āgama nigama purāna। neti neti kahi jāsu guna karahiṃ nirantara gāna॥ 12 ॥
Meaning:
Saraswati, Shesha, Shiva, Brahma, the Agamas, the Vedas, and the Puranas—all of them chant His virtues continually, saying, 'not this, not this.'
सब जानत प्रभु प्रभुता सोई। तदपि कहें बिनु रहा न कोई॥ तहाँ बेद अस कारन राखा। भजन प्रभाउ भाँति बहु भाषा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba jānata prabhu prabhutā soī। tadapi kaheṃ binu rahā na koī॥ tahā̃ beda asa kārana rākhā। bhajana prabhāu bhāṃti bahu bhāṣā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Although everyone knows the majesty of Lord Shri Ramchandra as something beyond description, still none could remain silent about it. For this reason the Vedas have given this explanation: the power of devotion is described in many ways. In other words, no one can fully describe भगवान's glory; yet one should praise भगवान as much as one is able. For the devotional power of singing भगवान's praise is wondrous, and the scriptures describe it in many ways. Even a little devotion to भगवान can carry a person easily across the ocean of worldly existence.
एक अनीह अरूप अनामा। अज सच्चिदानंद पर धामा॥ ब्यापक बिस्वरूप भगवाना। तेहिं धरि देह चरित कृत नाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka anīha arūpa anāmā। aja saccidānanda para dhāmā॥ byāpaka bisvarūpa bhagavānā। tehiṃ dhari deha carita kṛta nānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
That one Supreme Lord, who has no desire, no form, and no name; who is unborn, pure consciousness and bliss, and the supreme abode; and who is all-pervading and of universal form, has taken a divine body and performed many kinds of deeds and pastimes.
सो केवल भगतन हित लागी। परम कृपाल प्रनत अनुरागी॥ जेहि जन पर ममता अति छोहू। जेहिं करुना करि कीन्ह न कोहू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so kevala bhagatana hita lāgī। parama kṛpāla pranata anurāgī॥ jehi jana para mamatā ati chohū। jehiṃ karunā kari kīnha na kohū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
That pastime is solely for the welfare of the devotees, for the Lord is supremely compassionate and deeply loving toward those who take refuge in Him. He has great affection and mercy for His devotees; once He has shown mercy to someone, He never turns to anger against that person again.
गई बहोर गरीब नेवाजू। सरल सबल साहिब रघुराजू॥ बुध बरनहिं हरि जस अस जानी। करहिं पुनीत सुफल निज बानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gaī bahora garība nevājū। sarala sabala sāhiba raghurājū॥ budha baranahiṃ hari jasa asa jānī। karahiṃ punīta suphala nija bānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Lord Shri Raghunath is the One who restores what has been lost, the protector of the poor, simple in nature, all-powerful, and the Lord of all. Knowing this, wise people sing the praise of Shri Hari and make their speech pure and fruitful, bringing lofty results such as liberation and rare devotion to भगवान.
तेहिं बल मैं रघुपति गुन गाथा। कहिहउँ नाइ राम पद माथा॥ मुनिन्ह प्रथम हरि कीरति गाई। तेहिं मग चलत सुगम मोहि भाई॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehiṃ bala maiṃ raghupati guna gāthā। kahihaūṃ nāi rāma pada māthā॥ muninha prathama hari kīrati gāī। tehiṃ maga calata sugama mohi bhāī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
By that power alone—understanding this not as a true description of His greatness, but as devotion that brings great fruit, and relying on God’s grace—I shall, bowing my head at the feet of Lord Ram, narrate the story of Shri Raghunath’s virtues. It is with this thought that the sages, such as Valmiki and Vyasa, first sang the glory of Hari. O brother, walking that same path will be easy for me.
अति अपार जे सरित बर जौं नृप सेतु कराहिं। चढ़ि पिपीलिकउ परम लघु बिनु श्रम पारहि जाहिं॥ १३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati apāra je sarita bara jauṃ nṛpa setu karāhiṃ। caṛhi pipīlikau parama laghu binu śrama pārhi jāhiṃ॥ 13 ॥
Meaning:
When a king has a bridge built over very large and difficult rivers, even the tiniest ants can cross them without effort. In the same way, by relying on the descriptions of the sages, I too shall be able to narrate Shri Ramcharit with ease.