Yajnavalkya-Bharadvaja Dialogue and the Greatness of Prayag
On the holy ground of Prayag, a dialogue begins between Bharadvaja and Yajnavalkya. Their exchange and the greatness of the sacred place prepare the way for Rama’s story.
Bal Kand · Episode 15 / 59
Episode Text
भरद्वाज मुनि बसहिं प्रयागा। तिन्हहि राम पद अति अनुरागा॥ तापस सम दम दया निधाना। परमारथ पथ परम सुजाना॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharadvāja muni basahiṃ prayāgā। tinhahi rāma pada ati anurāgā॥ tāpasa sama dama dayā nidhānā। paramāratha patha parama sujānā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Sage Bharadwaj resides at Prayag, and he has immense devotion to Lord Rama’s feet. He is an ascetic, self-controlled, a treasure of compassion, and greatly skilled in the path of supreme good.
माघ मकरगत रबि जब होई। तीरथपतिहिं आव सब कोई॥ देव दनुज किंनर नर श्रेनीं। सादर मज्जहिं सकल त्रिबेनीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
māgha makaragata rabi jaba hoi। tīrathapatihiṃ āva saba koī॥ deva danuja kiṃnara nara śreṇīṃ। sādara majjhahiṃ sakala tribenīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
When, in the month of Magh, the sun enters Capricorn, everyone comes to the king of holy places, Prayag. Gods, demons, Kinnaras, and groups of human beings all bathe reverently in the Triveni.
पूजहिं माधव पद जलजाता। परसि अखय बटु हरषहिं गाता॥ भरद्वाज आश्रम अति पावन। परम रम्य मुनिबर मन भावन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pūjhahiṃ mādhava pada jalajātā। parasi akhaya baṭu haraṣahiṃ gātā॥ bharadvāja āśrama ati pāvana। parama ramya munibara mana bhāvana॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They worship the lotus feet of Madhava, and on touching the Akshay Vat their bodies thrill with joy. Bharadwaj’s hermitage is most sacred, exceedingly beautiful, and pleasing to the minds of the sages.
तहाँ होइ मुनि रिषय समाजा। जाहिं जे मज्जन तीरथराजा॥ मज्जहिं प्रात समेत उछाहा। कहहिं परसपर हरि गुन गाहा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tahāṃ hoi muni riṣaya samājā। jāhiṃ je majjana tīratharājā॥ majjhahiṃ prāta sameta uchāhā। kahahiṃ paraspara hari guna gāhā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
There, the assembly of sages gathers, for those who go to bathe at the king of holy places meet at Bharadwaj’s hermitage. In the morning they bathe with joy and then speak among themselves of the glories of Hari.
ब्रह्म निरूपन धरम बिधि बरनहिं तत्त्व बिभाग। कहहिं भगति भगवंत कै संजुत ग्यान बिराग॥ ४४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
brahma nirūpana dharama bidhi baranahiṃ tattva bibhāga। kahahiṃ bhagati bhagavaṃta kai saṃjuta gyāna birāga॥ 44 ॥
Meaning:
They expound Brahman, the rules of dharma, and the divisions of the principles, and they also speak of devotion to God, joined with knowledge and dispassion.
एहि प्रकार भरि माघ नहाहीं। पुनि सब निज निज आश्रम जाहीं॥ प्रति संबत अति होइ अनंदा। मकर मज्जि गवनहिं मुनिबृंदा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi prakāra bhari māgha nahāhīṃ। puni saba nija nija āśrama jāhīṃ॥ prati saṃbat ati hoi anaṃdā। makara majji gavanahiṃ munibṛndā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
In this way they bathe throughout the month of Magh, and then all return to their own hermitages. Each year there is great delight there, and after bathing in Capricorn the hosts of sages depart.
एक बार भरि मकर नहाए। सब मुनीस आश्रमन्ह सिधाए॥ जागबलिक मुनि परम बिबेकी। भरद्वाज राखे पद टेकी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka bāra bhari makara nahāe। saba munīsa āśramanha sidhāe॥ jāgabalika muni parama bibekī। bharadvāja rākhae pada ṭekī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Once, after bathing throughout the month of Capricorn, all the great sages returned to their hermitages. Bharadwaj held back the supremely discerning sage Yajnavalkya, clasping his feet.
सादर चरन सरोज पखारे। अति पुनीत आसन बैठारे॥ करि पूजा मुनि सुजसु बखानी। बोले अति पुनीत मृदु बानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sādara carana saroja pakhāre। ati punīta āsana baiṭhāre॥ kari pūjā muni sujasu bakhānī। bole ati punīta mṛdu bānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
With reverence he washed his lotus feet and seated him on a most pure seat. After worshipping him and praising the sage’s good fame, he spoke in a voice that was exceedingly pure and gentle.
नाथ एक संसउ बड़ मोरें। करगत बेदतत्त्व सबु तोरें॥ कहत सो मोहि लागत भय लाजा। जौं न कहउँ बड़ होइ अकाजा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nātha eka saṃsau baḍa morẽ। karagata bedatattva sabu toreṃ॥ kahata so mohi lāgata bhaya lājā। jauṃ na kahauṃ baḍa hoi akājā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, I have one great doubt in my mind; the essence of the Vedas is in your grasp, that is, as one who knows the Vedas’ meaning, you can remove my doubt. But to speak of that doubt fills me with fear and shame—fear lest you think I am testing you, and shame that so much of life has passed and I still have not gained knowledge. And if I do not speak, there is great loss, for I remain ignorant.
संत कहहिं असि नीति प्रभु श्रुति पुरान मुनि गाव। होइ न बिमल बिबेक उर गुर सन किएँ दुराव॥ ४५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
santa kahahiṃ asi nīti prabhu śruti purāna muni gāva। hoi na bimala bibeka ura guru sana kieṃ durāva॥ 45 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, the saints speak thus, and the Vedas, the Puranas, and the sages also say the same: if one hides things from one’s guru, the heart does not become pure in discernment.
अस बिचारि प्रगटउँ निज मोहू। हरहु नाथ करि जन पर छोहू॥ राम नाम कर अमित प्रभावा। संत पुरान उपनिषद गावा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa bicāri pragaṭauṃ nija mohū। harahu nātha kari jana para chohū॥ rāma nāma kara amita prabhāvā। saṃta purāna upaniṣada gāvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Thinking thus, I am revealing my own delusion. O Lord, please show mercy to your servant and destroy this ignorance. The boundless power of Rama's name has been sung by the saints, the Puranas, and the Upanishads.
संतत जपत संभु अबिनासी। सिव भगवान ग्यान गुन रासी॥ आकर चारि जीव जग अहहीं। कासीं मरत परम पद लहहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
santata japata saṃbhu abināsī। siva bhagavāna gyāna guna rāsī॥ ākara cāri jīva jaga ahahīṃ। kāsīṃ marata parama pada lahahīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The imperishable Lord Shambhu, who is the embodiment of auspiciousness and the treasury of wisdom and virtues, constantly chants Rama's name. There are four kinds of beings in the world; by dying in Kashi, all attain the supreme state.
सोपि राम महिमा मुनिराया। सिव उपदेसु करत करि दाया॥ रामु कवन प्रभु पूछउँ तोही। कहिअ बुझाइ कृपानिधि मोही॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sopi rāma mahimā munirāyā। siva upadesu karata kari dāyā॥ rāmu kavana prabhu pūchauṃ tohī। kahiya bujhāi kṛpānidhi mohī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O sage king, that too is the glory of Rama's name, for Lord Shiva, out of compassion, gives the instruction of Rama's name [to the being dying in Kashi], and by that he attains the supreme state. O Lord, I ask you: who is that Rama? O treasure of mercy, please explain it to me.
एक राम अवधेस कुमारा। तिन्ह कर चरित बिदित संसारा॥ नारि बिरहँ दुखु लहेउ अपारा। भयउ रोषु रन रावनु मारा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka rāma avadhesa kumārā। tinha kara carita vidita saṃsārā॥ nāri birahaṃ dukhu laheu apārā। bhayaū roṣu rana rāvaṇu mārā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
One Rama is the prince of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya; His deeds are known throughout the world. He endured immense sorrow in separation from His wife, and when anger arose, He slew Ravana in battle.
प्रभु सोइ राम कि अपर कोउ जाहि जपत त्रिपुरारि। सत्यधाम सर्बग्य तुम्ह कहहु बिबेकु बिचारि॥ ४६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu soi rāma ki apara kou jāhi japata tripurāri। satyadhāma sarbagya tumha kahahu bibeku bicāri॥ 46 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, is that Rama the same one, or is there some other Rama whom Shiva chants? You are the abode of truth and all-knowing; speak after considering it wisely.
जैसें मिटै मोर भ्रम भारी। कहहु सो कथा नाथ बिस्तारी॥ जागबलिक बोले मुसुकाई। तुम्हहि बिदित रघुपति प्रभुताई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaisẽ miṭai mora bhrama bhārī। kahahu so kathā nātha bistārī॥ jāgabalika bole musukāī। tumhahi bidita raghupati prabhutāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, please tell me that story in full, by which this heavy delusion of mine may be removed. Then Yajnavalkya smiled and said, "You know the sovereignty of Raghupati."
रामभगत तुम्ह मन क्रम बानी। चतुराई तुम्हारि मैं जानी॥ चाहहु सुनै राम गुन गूढ़ा। कीन्हिहु प्रस्न मनहुँ अति मूढ़ा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma bhagata tumha mana krama bānī। caturāī tumhāri maiṃ jānī॥ cāhahu sunai rāma guna gūḍhā। kīnhiḥu prasna manahuṃ ati mūḍhā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
You are a devotee of Shri Rama in mind, deed, and speech. I have understood your cleverness. You wish to hear Rama's profound qualities; therefore you have asked such a question as though you were quite simple-minded.
तात सुनहु सादर मनु लाई। कहउँ राम कै कथा सुहाई॥ महामोहु महिषेसु बिसाला। रामकथा कालिका कराला॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāta sunahu sādara manu lāī। kahauṃ rāma kai kathā suhāī॥ mahāmohu mahiṣesu bisālā। rāmakathā kālikā karālā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O dear one, listen attentively and with respect; I shall tell the beautiful story of Shri Rama. Great delusion is like the giant demon Mahishasura, and Rama's story is the fierce goddess Kali who destroys it.
रामकथा ससि किरन समाना। संत चकोर करहिं जेहि पाना॥ ऐसेइ संसय कीन्ह भवानी। महादेव तब कहा बखानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmakathā sasi kirana samānā। saṃta cakor karahiṃ jehi pānā॥ aisei saṃsaya kīnha bhavānī। mahādeva taba kahā bakhānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Rama's story is like the rays of the moon, which the chakor birds in the form of saints continually drink in. Such a doubt was once raised by Parvati, and then Mahadeva explained it in full.
कहउँ सो मति अनुहारि अब उमा संभु संबाद। भयउ समय जेहि हेतु जेहि सुनु मुनि मिटिहि बिषाद॥ ४७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahauṃ so mati anuhāri aba umā sambhu saṃbāda। bhayaū samaya jehi hetu jehi sunu muni miṭihi biṣāda॥ 47 ॥
Meaning:
Now I shall relate, according to my understanding, that dialogue between Uma and Shiva. O sage, listen to the time and the reason for it; your grief will be removed.
एक बार त्रेता जुग माहीं। संभु गए कुंभज रिषि पाहीं॥ संग सती जगजननि भवानी। पूजे रिषि अखिलेस्वर जानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka bāra tretā juga māhīṃ। saṃbhu gae kumbhaja rishi pāhīṃ॥ sanga satī jagajanani bhavānī। pūje rishi akhilesvara jānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Once in the Treta Yuga, Shiva went to the sage Kumbhaja. With him was Sati, Bhavani, the Mother of the universe. Seeing them as the Lord of all, the sage worshipped them.
रामकथा मुनिबर्ज बखानी। सुनी महेस परम सुखु मानी॥ रिषि पूछी हरिभगति सुहाई। कही संभु अधिकारी पाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmakathā munibarja bakhānī। sunī mahesa param sukhu mānī॥ rishi pūchī haribhagati suhāī। kahī sambhu adhikārī pāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The great sage Agastya narrated the story of Rama in detail, and Mahesha heard it with the greatest delight. Then the sage asked Shiva about the beautiful devotion to Hari, and Shiva, finding him worthy, explained that devotion with its hidden meaning.
कहत सुनत रघुपति गुन गाथा। कछु दिन तहाँ रहे गिरिनाथा॥ मुनि सन बिदा मागि त्रिपुरारी। चले भवन सँग दच्छकुमारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahata sunata raghupati guna gāthā। kachu dina tahāṃ rahe girināthā॥ muni sana bidā māgi tripurārī। cale bhavana sanga dacchakumārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
While speaking and hearing the praises of Raghupati, Shiva stayed there for some days. Then, taking leave of the sage, Tripurari left for home together with Dakshakumari Sati.
तेहि अवसर भंजन महिभारा। हरि रघुबंस लीन्ह अवतारा॥ पिता बचन तजि राजु उदासी। दंडक बन बिचरत अबिनासी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi avasara bhañjana mahibhārā। hari raghubaṃsa līnha avatārā॥ pitā bacana taji rāju udāsī। daṇḍaka bana bicharata abināsī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
At that very time, in order to relieve the burden of the earth, Shri Hari took birth in the Raghu line. The imperishable Lord had then renounced the kingdom at His father's command and was wandering through the Dandaka forest in the attire of an ascetic.
हृदयँ बिचारत जात हर केहि बिधि दरसनु होइ। गुप्त रूप अवतरेउ प्रभु गएँ जान सबु कोइ॥ ४८ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hṛdayaṃ bicārata jāta hara kehi bidhi darasanu hoi। gupta rūpa avatareu prabhu gaẽ jāna sabu koi॥ 48 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Shiva kept pondering in his heart: by what means can I have the Lord's darshan? The Lord has descended in secret form; if I go there, everyone will come to know.
संकर उर अति छोभु सती न जानहिं मरमु सोइ। तुलसी दरसन लोभु मन डरु लोचन लालची॥ ४८ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṃkara ura ati chobhu satī na jānahiṃ maramu soi। tulasī darasana lobhu mana ḍaru locana lālacī॥ 48 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Great agitation arose in Lord Shankar's heart over this matter, but Sati did not know this secret. Tulsidas says that there was fear in Shiva's mind [of the secret being exposed], yet his eyes were greedy for the darshan.
रावन मरन मनुज कर जाचा। प्रभु बिधि बचनु कीन्ह चह साचा॥ जौं नहिं जाउँ रहइ पछितावा। करत बिचारु न बनत बनावा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāvaṇa marana manuja kara jācā। prabhu bidhi bacanu kīnha caha sācā॥ jaṃu nahīṃ jāṃu rahai pachitāvā। karata bicāru na banata banāvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Ravana had asked Brahma that he should die at the hands of a human being. The Lord wished to make Brahma's words come true. If I do not go, there will be deep regret. Shiva kept thinking in this way, but no plan seemed possible.
एहि बिधि भए सोचबस ईसा। तेही समय जाइ दससीसा॥ लीन्ह नीच मारीचहि संगा। भयउ तुरत सोइ कपट कुरंगा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi bhae socabasa īsā। tehī samaya jāi dasasīsā॥ līnha nīca mārīcahi saṃgā। bhayaū turata soi kapaṭa kurangā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
In this way, Mahadeva fell under the weight of concern. At that very time, the wicked Ravana went and took Maricha with him, and Maricha at once became the deceitful golden deer.
करि छलु मूढ़ हरी बैदेही। प्रभु प्रभाउ तस बिदित न तेही॥ मृग बधि बंधु सहित हरि आए। आश्रमु देखि नयन जल छाए॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kari chalu mūḍha harī baidehī। prabhu prabhāu tasa bidita na tehī॥ mṛga badhi bandhu sahita hari āe। āśramu dekhi nayana jala chāe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The fool Ravana, by deceit, carried off Sita. He knew nothing of Shri Ramachandra's true power. After killing the deer, Shri Hari returned with His brother Lakshmana, and seeing the hermitage empty, His eyes filled with tears.
बिरह बिकल नर इव रघुराई। खोजत बिपिन फिरत दोउ भाई॥ कबहूँ जोग बियोग न जाकें। देखा प्रगट बिरह दुखु ताकें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
biraha bikala nara iva raghurāī। hojata bipina firata doū bhāī॥ kabahūṃ joga biyoga na jākeṃ। dekhā pragaṭa biraha dukhu tākeṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Raghurai is anguished by separation like an ordinary human being, and both brothers wander in the forest searching for Sita. In one who has never known union or separation, the sorrow of separation has now become plainly visible.
अति बिचित्र रघुपति चरित जानहिं परम सुजान। जे मतिमंद बिमोह बस हृदयँ धरहिं कछु आन॥ ४९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati bicitra raghupati carita jānahiṃ parama sujāna। je matimaṃda bimoha basa hṛdayaṃ dharuhiṃ kachu āna॥ 49 ॥
Meaning:
The deeds of Shri Raghupati are most wondrous, and only the truly wise understand them. Those of dull intellect, under the influence of delusion, imagine something quite different in their hearts.