Salutations to Valmiki, the Vedas, and the Divine Assembly
Salutations are offered to Valmiki, the Vedas, Brahma, the gods, Shiva, Parvati, and other revered powers. This invocation places the Ramkatha within a sacred and divine tradition.
Bal Kand · Episode 9 / 59
Episode Text
बंदउँ मुनि पद कंजु रामायन जेहिं निरमयउ। सखर सुकोमल मंजु दोष रहित दूषन सहित॥ १४ (घ) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ muni pada kanju rāmāyana jehiṃ niramayau। sakhara sukomala manju doṣa rahita dūṣana sahita॥ 14 (d) ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the lotus feet of the sage Valmiki, who composed the Ramayana, which, though containing Khara, is the opposite of harshness and is soft and beautiful, and though containing Dushana, is free from दोष.
बंदउँ चारिउ बेद भव बारिधि बोहित सरिस। जिन्हहि न सपनेहुँ खेद बरनत रघुबर बिसद जसु॥ १४ (ङ) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ cāriu beda bhava bāridhi bohita sarisa। jinhahi na sapanehuṃ kheda baranata raghubara bisada jasa॥ 14 (ङ) ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the four Vedas, which are like a ship for crossing the ocean of worldly existence, and who feel no fatigue even in dreams while describing Lord Raghubar's pure fame.
बंदउँ बिधि पद रेनु भव सागर जेहिं कीन्ह जहँ। संत सुधा ससि धेनु प्रगटे खल बिष बारुनी॥ १४ (च) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bandauṃ bidhi pada renu bhava sāgara jehiṃ kīnha jahaṃ। saṃta sudhā sasi dhenu pragaṭe khala biṣa bārunī॥ 14 (च) ॥
Meaning:
I bow to the dust of Brahma's feet, by whom the ocean of worldly existence was created, from which on one side emerged saint-like nectar, the moon, and Kamadhenu, and on the other side arose poison and wine in the form of wicked beings.
बिबुध बिप्र बुध ग्रह चरन बंदि कहउँ कर जोरि। होइ प्रसन्न पुरवहु सकल मंजु मनोरथ मोरि॥ १४ (छ) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bibudha bipra budha graha carana bandi kahauṃ kara jori। hoi prasanna puravahu sakala manju manoratha mori॥ 14 (छ) ॥
Meaning:
Having bowed to the feet of the gods, Brahmins, scholars, and the planets, I say with folded hands: be pleased and fulfill all my beautiful wishes.
पुनि बंदउँ सारद सुरसरिता। जुगल पुनीत मनोहर चरिता॥ मज्जन पान पाप हर एका। कहत सुनत एक हर अबिबेका॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni bandauṃ sārada surasaritā। jugala punīta manohara caritā॥ majjana pāna pāpa hara ekā। kahata sunata eka hara abibekā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Again I bow to Saraswati and the heavenly river. Both are pure and charming in their nature. One removes sins by bathing in and drinking her waters, while the other destroys ignorance through speaking and hearing of virtues and fame.
गुर पितु मातु महेस भवानी। प्रनवउँ दीनबंधु दिन दानी॥ सेवक स्वामि सखा सिय पी के। हित निरुपधि सब बिधि तुलसी के॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gura pitu mātu mahesa bhavānī। pranavauṃ dīnabandhu dina dānī॥ sevaka swāmi sakhā siya pī ke। hita nirupadhi saba bidhi tulasī ke॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
I bow to Mahesh and Bhavani, who are my guru, father, and mother; who are the friend of the lowly and ever-giving; who are servant, master, and friend of Sita's Lord Shri Ramchandra; and who in every way work for the true and unselfish good of me, Tulsidas.
कलि बिलोकि जग हित हर गिरिजा। साबर मंत्र जाल जिन्ह सिरिजा॥ अनमिल आखर अरथ न जापू। प्रगट प्रभाउ महेस प्रतापू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kali biloki jaga hita hara girijā। sābara mantra jāla jinha sirijā॥ anamila ākhara aratha na jāpū। pragaṭa prabhāu mahesa pratāpū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the age of Kali and for the welfare of the world, Shiva and Girija composed the collections of Shabar mantras. Their letters do not match in an ordinary way, they seem to have no clear meaning and are not used in normal recitation, yet their power is manifest through the glory of Mahesh.
सो उमेस मोहि पर अनुकूला। करिहिं कथा मुद मंगल मूला॥ सुमिरि सिवा सिव पाइ पसाऊ। बरनउँ रामचरित चित चाऊ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so umesa mohi para anukūlā। karihiṃ kathā muda maṅgala mūlā॥ sumiri sivā siva pāi pasāū। baranauṃ rāmacarita cita cāū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Lord Shiva, husband of Uma, will be gracious to me and make this story the source of joy and auspiciousness. Thus, remembering both Parvati and Shiva and receiving their grace, I narrate the story of Ram with a heart full of longing.
भनिति मोरि सिव कृपाँ बिभाती। ससि समाज मिलि मनहुँ सुराती॥ जे एहि कथहि सनेह समेता। कहिहहिं सुनिहहिं समुझि सचेता॥ होइहहिं राम चरन अनुरागी। कलि मल रहित सुमंगल भागी॥ ५-६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaniti mori siva kṛpāṃ bibhātī। sasi samāja mili manahuṃ surātī॥ je ehi kathahi saneha sametā। kahihahiṃ sunihahiṃ samujhi sacetā॥ hoihahiṃ rāma carana anurāgī। kali mala rahita sumaṃgala bhāgī॥ 5-6 ॥
Meaning:
By Shiva's grace, my composition will be adorned like a night decorated with the moon and its company of stars. Those who, with love and understanding, speak and hear this story carefully will become free from the impurities of Kali and will become blessed with auspiciousness, turning devotees of Lord Ram's feet.
सपनेहुँ साचेहुँ मोहि पर जौं हर गौरि पसाउ। तौ फुर होउ जो कहेउँ सब भाषा भनिति प्रभाउ॥ १५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sapanehuṃ sācehuṃ mohi para jauṃ hara gauri pasāu। tau phura hou jo kaheuṃ saba bhāṣā bhaniti prabhāu॥ 15 ॥
Meaning:
If Lord Shiva and Parvati are truly gracious toward me, even in dreams, then may all that I have said about the power of this language and composition prove true.