The Glory of the Ramayana, Tulsidas's Prayer, and the Fruits of Recitation
The sanctifying glory of the Ramayana is proclaimed, followed by Tulsidas's humble prayer. The section concludes by describing the blessings gained through hearing and reciting the text.
Uttar Kand · Episode 21 / 21
Episode Text
कहेउँ नाथ हरि चरित अनूपा। ब्यास समास स्वमति अनुरूपा॥ श्रुति सिद्धांत इहइ उरगारी। राम भजिअ सब काज बिसारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaheuṃ nātha hari carita anūpā। byāsa samāsa svamati anurūpā॥ śruti siddhāṃta ihai uragārī। rāma bhajia saba kāja bisārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, I have told the incomparable deeds of Hari, sometimes in detail and sometimes briefly, according to my own understanding. O Garuda, enemy of serpents, this is the teaching of the Vedas: abandon all tasks and worship Rama.
प्रभु रघुपति तजि सेइअ काही। मोहि से सठ पर ममता जाही॥ तुम्ह बिग्यानरूप नहिं मोहा। नाथ कीन्हि मो पर अति छोहा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu raghupati taji seia kāhī। mohi se saṭha para mamatā jāhī॥ tumha bigyānarūpa nahiṃ mohā। nātha kīnhi bidhi mo para ati chohā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Why should one leave Raghupati and serve anyone else, when He has affection even for a fool like me? O Lord, You are the embodiment of wisdom; You are free from delusion. You have shown me great compassion.
पूँछिहु राम कथा अति पावनि। सुक सनकादि संभु मन भावनि॥ सत संगति दुर्लभ संसारा। निमिष दंड भरि एकउ बारा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pūṃchihu rāma kathā ati pāvani। suka sanakādi sambhu mana bhāvani॥ sata saṃgati durlabha saṃsārā। nimiṣa daṇḍa bhari ekau bārā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
You asked me about the supremely purifying story of Rama, dear to the minds of Shuka, Sanaka and Shiva. In this world, even a moment's association with the good is rare.
देखु गरुड़ निज हृदयँ बिचारी। मैं रघुबीर भजन अधिकारी॥ सकुनाधम सब भाँति अपावन। प्रभु मोहि कीन्ह बिदित जग पावन॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhu garuḍa nija hṛdayaṃ bicārī। maiṃ raghubīra bhajana adhikārī॥ sakunādhama saba bhāṃti apāvana। prabhu mohi kīnha bidita jaga pāvana॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Garuda, consider in your own heart and see: am I fit for devotion to Rama? I am the lowest among birds and impure in every way. Yet even so, the Lord has made me renowned throughout the world as one who purifies it.
आजु धन्य मैं धन्य अति जद्यपि सब बिधि हीन। निज जन जानि राम मोहि संत समागम दीन॥ १२३ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āju dhanya maiṃ dhanya ati jadyapi saba bidhi hīna। nija jana jāni rāma mohi saṃta samāgama dīna॥ 123 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Though I am deficient in every way, today I am blessed, greatly blessed, because Rama, knowing me to be His own servant, has granted me the company of the saints.
नाथ जथामति भाषेउँ राखेउँ नहिं कछु गोइ। चरित सिंधु रघुनायक थाह कि पावइ कोइ॥ १२३ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nātha jathāmati bhāṣeuṃ rākheuṃ nahiṃ kachu goi। carita siṃdhu raghunāyaka thāha ki pāvai koi॥ 123 (b) ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, I have spoken according to my understanding and concealed nothing. Yet the deeds of Raghunath are like an ocean; who can ever fathom their depth?
सुमिरि राम के गुन गन नाना। पुनि पुनि हरष भुसुंडि सुजाना॥ महिमा निगम नेति करि गाई। अतुलित बल प्रताप प्रभुताई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sumiri rāma ke guna gana nānā। puni puni haraṣa bhusuṃḍi sujānā॥ mahimā nigama neti kari gāī। atulita bala pratāpa prabhutāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
As he remembered Rama's many virtues again and again, the wise Bhushundi was repeatedly filled with joy. The Vedas sung His glory with the words 'neti, neti'—'not this, not this'; His strength, splendor, and lordship are beyond compare.
सिव अज पूज्य चरन रघुराई। मो पर कृपा परम मृदुलाई॥ अस सुभाउ कहुँ सुनउँ न देखउँ। केहि खगेस रघुपति सम लेखउँ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
siva aja pūjya carana raghurāī। mo para kṛpā parama mṛdulāī॥ asa subhāu kahuṃ sunauṃ na dekhaūṃ। kehi khagesa raghupati sama lekhauṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The feet of Raghurai are worshipped by Shiva and Brahma; their compassion toward me is their supreme gentleness. I have neither heard of nor seen such a nature anywhere. O lord of birds, whom should I compare to Raghupati?
साधक सिद्ध बिमुक्त उदासी। कबि कोबिद कृतग्य संन्यासी॥ जोगी सूर सुतापस ग्यानी। धर्म निरत पंडित बिग्यानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sādhaka siddha bimukta udāsī। kabi kobida kṛtagya saṃnyāsī॥ jogī sūra sutāpasa gyānī। dharma nirat paṃḍita bigyānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seekers, perfected beings, liberated souls, detached ascetics, poets, scholars, the grateful, renunciates, yogis, heroes, great ascetics, the wise, the righteous, the learned, and the truly knowledgeable...
तरहिं न बिनु सेए मम स्वामी। राम नमामि नमामि नमामी॥ सरन गएँ मो से अघ रासी। होहिं सुद्ध नमामि अबिनासी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tarahiṃ na binu see mam svāmī। rāma namāmi namāmi namāmī॥ sarana gaeṃ mo se agha rāsī। hohiṃ śuddha namāmi abināsī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
None can cross over without serving my Lord. I bow again and again to Rama. Taking refuge in Him, even a mass of sins like me becomes purified; I bow to that imperishable Rama.
जासु नाम भव भेषज हरन घोर त्रय सूल। सो कृपाल मोहि तो पर सदा रहउ अनुकूल॥ १२४ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāsu nāma bhava bheṣaja harana ghora traya sūla। so kṛpāla mohi to para sadā rahau anukūla॥ 124 (a) ॥
Meaning:
May that compassionate Lord, whose name is the medicine for the disease of worldly existence and who removes the terrible threefold suffering, remain ever gracious to me.
सुनि भुसुंडि के बचन सुभ देखि राम पद नेह। बोलेउ प्रेम सहित गिरा गरुड़ बिगत संदेह॥ १२४ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni bhusuṃḍi ke bacana subha dekhi rāma pada neha। boleu prema sahita girā garuḍa bigata saṃdeha॥ 124 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Having heard the auspicious words of Bhushundi and seeing his deep love for the feet of Rama, Garuda, now free of doubt, spoke with devotion.
मैं कृतकृत्य भयउँ तव बानी। सुनि रघुबीर भगति रस सानी॥ राम चरन नूतन रति भई। माया जनित बिपति सब गई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ kṛtakṛtya bhayauṃ tava bānī। suni raghubīra bhagati rasa sānī॥ rāma carana nūtana rati bhaī। māyā janita bipati saba gaī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing your words, saturated with the nectar of devotion to Raghubīra, I became fulfilled. A new love arose in my heart for Rama's feet, and all afflictions born of illusion departed.
मोह जलधि बोहित तुम्ह भए। मो कहँ नाथ बिबिध सुख दए॥ मो पहिं होइ न प्रति उपकारा। बंदउँ तव पद बारहिं बारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
moha jaladhi bohita tumha bhae। mo kahaṃ nātha bibidha sukha dae॥ mo pahiṃ hoi na prati upakārā। bandauṃ tava pada bārahiṃ bārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
For me, drowning in the ocean of delusion, you became a boat. O Lord, you gave me many kinds of joy. I can make no return for this kindness. I can only bow again and again at your feet.
पूरन काम राम अनुरागी। तुम्ह सम तात न कोउ बड़भागी॥ संत बिटप सरिता गिरि धरनी। पर हित हेतु सबन्ह कै करनी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pūrana kāma rāma anurāgī। tumha sama tāta na kou baḍabhāgī॥ santa biṭapa saritā giri dharanī। para hita hetu sabanha kai karanī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
You are desireless and full, devoted to Rama. O father, no one is as fortunate as you. Saints, trees, rivers, mountains, and the earth all act solely for the good of others.
संत हृदय नवनीत समाना। कहा कबिन्ह परि कहै न जाना॥ निज परिताप द्रवइ नवनीता। पर दुख द्रवहिं संत सुपुनीता॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
santa hṛdaya navanīta samānā। kahā kabinha pari kahai na jānā॥ nija paritāpa dravai navanītā। para dukha dravahiṃ santa supunītā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The heart of the saints is like butter, so the poets have said; yet they did not know the deeper truth. Butter melts under heat, but the pure saints melt at the suffering of others.
जीवन जन्म सुफल मम भयऊ। तव प्रसाद संसय सब गयऊ॥ जानेहु सदा मोहि निज किंकर। पुनि पुनि उमा कहइ बिहंगबर॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jīvana janma suphala mama bhayauṃ। tava prasāda saṃsaya saba gayauṃ॥ jānehu sadā mohi nija kiṃkara। puni puni umā kahai bihaṅgabara॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
My life and birth have become fruitful. By your grace, all doubts have vanished. Always regard me as your servant. [Shiva says—] O Uma, Garuda, the best of birds, keeps saying this again and again.
तासु चरन सिरु नाइ करि प्रेम सहित मतिधीर। गयउ गरुड़ बैकुंठ तब हृदयँ राखि रघुबीर॥ १२५ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāsu carana siru nāi kari prema sahita matidhīra। gayau garuḍa baikuṇṭha taba hṛdayaṃ rāki raghubīra॥ 125 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Bowings his head at their feet with love and keeping Raghubīra in his heart, the wise Garuda then departed for Vaikuntha.
गिरिजा संत समागम सम न लाभ कछु आन। बिनु हरि कृपा न होइ सो गावहिं बेद पुरान॥ १२५ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
girijā santa samāgama sama na lābha kachu āna। binu hari kṛpā na hoi so gāvahiṃ beda purāna॥ 125 (b) ॥
Meaning:
O Girija, there is no gain equal to the company of saints. But that cannot happen without Hari's grace, as the Vedas and Puranas declare.
कहेउँ परम पुनीत इतिहासा। सुनत श्रवन छूटहिं भव पासा॥ प्रनत कल्पतरु करुना पुंजा। उपजइ प्रीति राम पद कंजा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaheuṃ parama punīta itihāsā। sunata śravana chūṭahiṃ bhava pāsā॥ pranata kalpataru karuṇā puñjā। upajai prīti rāma pada kañjā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I have told this supremely sacred history; merely by hearing it, the bonds of worldly existence are loosened, and love for Rama's lotus feet arises in the hearts of the surrendered, who are like a wish-fulfilling tree and a treasury of compassion.
मन क्रम बचन जनित अघ जाई। सुनहिं जे कथा श्रवन मन लाई॥ तीर्थाटन साधन समुदाई। जोग बिराग ग्यान निपुनाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mana krama bachana janita agha jāī। sunahiṃ je kathā śravana mana lāī॥ tīrthāṭana sādhana samudāī। joga birāga gyāna nipunāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who listen to this story with attentive ears and mind have all sins born of thought, word, and deed destroyed. Pilgrimage, the whole range of disciplines, yoga, renunciation, and mastery of knowledge—
नाना कर्म धर्म ब्रत दाना। संजम दम जप तप मख नाना॥ भूत दया द्विज गुर सेवकाई। बिद्या बिनय बिबेक बड़ाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nānā karma dharma brata dānā। saṃjama dama japa tapa makha nānā॥ bhūta dayā dvija gura sevakāī। bidyā binaya bibeka baḍāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Many kinds of action, duty, vows, and gifts; many forms of self-restraint, control of the senses, recitation, austerity, and sacrifice; compassion for beings, service to Brahmins and the guru; learning, humility, and wisdom—
जहँ लगि साधन बेद बखानी। सब कर फल हरि भगति भवानी॥ सो रघुनाथ भगति श्रुति गाई। राम कृपाँ काहूँ एक पाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahĩ lagi sādhana beda bakhānī। saba kara phala hari bhagati bhavānī॥ so raghunātha bhagati śruti gāī। rāma kṛpāṃ kāhūṃ eka pāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
As far as the Vedas describe spiritual practices, O Bhavani, the fruit of all of them is devotion to Hari. Yet that devotion to Raghunatha, sung of in the scriptures, has been attained by only a rare one through Rama's grace.
मुनि दुर्लभ हरि भगति नर पावहिं बिनहिं प्रयास। जे यह कथा निरंतर सुनहिं मानि बिस्वास॥ १२६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muni durlabha hari bhagati nara pāvahiṃ binahiṃ prayāsa। je yaha kathā nirantara sunahiṃ māni bisvāsa॥ 126 ॥
Meaning:
But those who listen to this story continually with faith attain the devotion to Hari that is hard even for sages to obtain, and they do so without effort.
सोइ सर्बग्य गुनी सोइ ग्याता। सोइ महि मंडित पंडित दाता॥ धर्म परायन सोइ कुल त्राता। राम चरन जा कर मन राता॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
soi sarbagya gunī soi gyātā। soi mahi maṇḍita paṇḍita dātā॥ dharma parāyana soi kula trātā। rāma carana jā kara mana rātā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
One whose mind is attached to Rama's feet is truly all-knowing, virtuous, and wise. He is the ornament of the world, a scholar, and a giver. He is devoted to duty and is the protector of his lineage.
नीति निपुन सोइ परम सयाना। श्रुति सिद्धांत नीक तेहिं जाना॥ सोइ कबि कोबिद सोइ रनधीरा। जो छल छाड़ि भजइ रघुबीरा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nīti nipuna soi parama sayānā। śruti siddhānta nīka tehiṃ jānā॥ soi kabi kobida soi ranadhīrā। jo chala chāḍi bhajai raghubīrā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
One who abandons deceit and worships Raghubīra is truly skilled in policy and supremely wise. Such a one alone has rightly understood the essence of the Vedas. He is the poet, the scholar, and the brave warrior.
धन्य देस सो जहँ सुरसरी। धन्य नारि पतिब्रत अनुसरी॥ धन्य सो भूपु नीति जो करई। धन्य सो द्विज निज धर्म न टरई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhanya desa so jahĩ surasarī। dhanya nāri patibrata anusarī॥ dhanya so bhūpu nīti jo karai। dhanya so dvija nija dharma na ṭarai॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Blessed is the land where the Surasarī (Ganga) flows. Blessed is the woman who follows the vow of chastity and fidelity. Blessed is the king who acts with justice, and blessed is the Brahmin who does not depart from his own duty.
सो धन धन्य प्रथम गति जाकी। धन्य पुन्य रत मति सोइ पाकी॥ धन्य घरी सोइ जब सतसंगा। धन्य जन्म द्विज भगति अभंगा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so dhana dhanya prathama gati jākī। dhanya punya rata mati soi pākī॥ dhanya gharī soi jaba satasaṅgā। dhanya janma dvija bhagati abhaṅgā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Blessed is that wealth whose first use is charity. Blessed and mature is the mind that is devoted to righteousness. Blessed is the hour when there is holy company, and blessed is the birth in which devotion to the twice-born is unwavering.
सो कुल धन्य उमा सुनु जगत पूज्य सुपुनीत। श्रीरघुबीर परायन जेहिं नर उपज बिनीत॥ १२७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so kula dhanya umā sunu jagata pūjya supunīta। śrīraghubīra parāyana jehiṃ nara upaja vinīta॥ 127 ॥
Meaning:
Listen, O Uma: that lineage is blessed, worshipful throughout the world, and supremely pure in which a humble man devoted to Raghubīra is born.
मति अनुरूप कथा मैं भाषी। जद्यपि प्रथम गुप्त करि राखी॥ तव मन प्रीति देखि अधिकाई। तब मैं रघुपति कथा सुनाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mati anurūpa kathā maiṃ bhāṣī। jadyapi prathama gupta kari rākhī॥ tava mana prīti dekhi adhikāī। taba maiṃ raghupati kathā sunāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I have spoken this story according to my understanding, although I had kept it hidden at first. Seeing the great devotion in your heart, I then narrated the story of Raghupati.
यह न कहिअ सठही हठसीलहि। जो मन लाइ न सुन हरि लीलहि॥ कहिअ न लोभिहि क्रोधिहि कामिहि। जो न भजइ सचराचर स्वामिहि॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yaha na kahia saṭhahiṃ haṭhaśīlahiṃ। jo mana lāi na suna hari līlahiṃ॥ kahia na lobhihĩ krodhihĩ kāmihĩ। jo na bhajai sacarācara svāmihĩ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
This story should not be told to those who are deceitful and stubborn in nature, or to those who do not listen attentively to the divine plays of Hari. It should not be told to the greedy, the angry, or the lustful, who do not worship the Lord of all moving and unmoving beings.
द्विज द्रोहिहि न सुनाइअ कबहूँ। सुरपति सरिस होइ नृप जबहूँ॥ राम कथा के तेइ अधिकारी। जिन्ह कें सत संगति अति प्यारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dvija drohihi na sunāia kabahūṃ। surapati sarisa hoi nṛpa jabahūṃ॥ rāma kathā ke tei adhikārī। jinha keṃ sata saṅgati ati pyārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The story should never be told to one who is hostile to Brahmins, even if he be as exalted as the king of the gods or a human king. The true recipients of Rama's story are those to whom the company of saints is most dear.
गुर पद प्रीति नीति रत जेई। द्विज सेवक अधिकारी तेई॥ ता कहँ यह बिसेष सुखदाई। जाहि प्रानप्रिय श्रीरघुराई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gura pada prīti nīti rata jeī। dvija sevaka adhikārī teī॥ tā kahaṃ yaha biśeṣa sukhadāī। jāhi prānapriya śrīraghurāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Those who love the feet of the guru, who are devoted to righteousness, and who serve Brahmins are the rightful listeners. For them this story is especially bliss-giving—those for whom Shri Raghurai is dearer than life.
राम चरन रति जो चह अथवा पद निर्बान। भाव सहित सो यह कथा करउ श्रवन पुट पान॥ १२८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma carana rati jo caha athavā pada nirbāna। bhāva sahita so yaha kathā karau śravana puṭa pāna॥ 128 ॥
Meaning:
Whoever desires love for Rama's feet, or the state of liberation, should drink this story as nectar with devotion, taking it in through the hollow of the ears.
राम कथा गिरिजा मैं बरनी। कलि मल समनि मनोमल हरनी॥ संसृति रोग सजीवन मूरी। राम कथा गावहिं श्रुति सूरी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma kathā girijā maiṃ baranī। kali mala samani manomala haranī॥ saṃsṛti roga sajīvana mūrī। rāma kathā gāvahiṃ śruti sūrī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Girija, I have described the story of Rama, which destroys the sins of Kali Yuga and removes the dirt of the mind. This Ramakatha is a life-giving herb for the disease of worldly existence; so the Vedas and the wise say.
एहि महँ रुचिर सप्त सोपाना। रघुपति भगति केर पंथाना॥ अति हरि कृपा जाहि पर होई। पाउँ देइ एहिं मारग सोई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi mahaṃ rucira sapta sopānā। raghupati bhagati kera panthānā॥ ati hari kṛpā jāhi para hoī। pāuṃ dei ehiṃ māraga soī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
In it are seven beautiful steps, the path to devotion to Raghupati. Whoever receives Hari's great grace sets foot on this road.
मन कामना सिद्धि नर पावा। जे यह कथा कपट तजि गावा॥ कहहिं सुनहिं अनुमोदन करहीं। ते गोपद इव भवनिधि तरहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mana kāmanā siddhi nara pāvā। je yaha kathā kapaṭa taji gāvā॥ kahahiṃ sunahiṃ anumodana karahīṃ। te gopada iva bhavanidhi tarahīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
A person attains the fulfillment of desire by singing this story without deceit. Those who tell, hear, and approve of it cross the ocean of the world as easily as a cow's hoofprint.
सुनि सब कथा हृदय अति भाई। गिरिजा बोली गिरा सुहाई॥ नाथ कृपाँ मम गत संदेहा। राम चरन उपजेउ नव नेहा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni saba kathā hṛdaya ati bhāī। girijā bolī girā suhāī॥ nātha kṛpāṃ mama gata saṃdehā। rāma carana upajeu nava nehā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
[Yajnavalkya says:] Hearing the entire story, it became greatly dear to Girija's heart, and she spoke in sweet speech: "By your grace, O Lord, my doubt has departed, and new love for Rama's feet has arisen."
मैं कृतकृत्य भइउँ अब तव प्रसाद बिस्वेस। उपजी राम भगति दृढ़ बीते सकल कलेस॥ १२९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ kṛtakṛtya bhaiuṃ aba tava prasāda bisvese। upajī rāma bhagati dṛḍha bīte sakala kalesa॥ 129 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord of the universe, by your grace I have now become fulfilled. Steadfast devotion to Rama has arisen in me, and all my sorrows have passed away.
यह सुभ संभु उमा संबादा। सुख संपादन समन बिषादा॥ भव भंजन गंजन संदेहा। जन रंजन सज्जन प्रिय एहा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yaha subha saṃbhu umā sambādā। sukha saṃpādana samana biṣādā॥ bhava bhaṃjana gaṃjana saṃdehā। jana raṃjana sajjana priya ehā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
This blessed dialogue of Shiva and Uma brings happiness and removes sorrow. It ends worldly existence, destroys doubt, delights people, and is dear to the good.
राम उपासक जे जग माहीं। एहि सम प्रिय तिन्ह कें कछु नाहीं॥ रघुपति कृपाँ जथामति गावा। मैं यह पावन चरित सुहावा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma upāsaka je jaga māhīṃ। ehi sama priya tinha keṃ kachu nāhīṃ॥ raghupati kṛpāṃ jathāmati gāvā। maiṃ yaha pāvana carita suhāvā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Among all the worshipers of Rama in the world, nothing is as dear to them as this. By Raghupati's grace, I have sung this beautiful and purifying story according to my understanding.
एहिं कलिकाल न साधन दूजा। जोग जग्य जप तप ब्रत पूजा॥ रामहि सुमिरिअ गाइअ रामहि। संतत सुनिअ राम गुन ग्रामहि॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehiṃ kalikāla na sādhana dūjā। joga jagya japa tapa brata pūjā॥ rāmihi sumiria gāia rāmihi। santata suni’a rāma guna grāmahi॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
In this age of Kali there is no other practice: yoga, sacrifice, japa, austerity, vows, and worship. Remember Rama, sing of Rama, and always hear Rama's host of virtues.
जासु पतित पावन बड़ बाना। गावहिं कबि श्रुति संत पुराना॥ ताहि भजहि मन तजि कुटिलाई। राम भजें गति केहिं नहिं पाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāsu patita pāvana baṛa bānā। gāvahiṃ kabi śruti saṃta purānā॥ tāhi bhajahi mana taji kuṭilāī। rāma bhajeṃ gati kehiṃ nahiṃ pāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The poets, the Vedas, the saints, and the Puranas sing of Him whose great fame is to purify the fallen. O mind, abandon crookedness and worship Him alone. By worshiping Rama, who has not attained the highest state?
पाई न केहिं गति पतित पावन राम भजि सुनु सठ मना। गनिका अजामिल ब्याध गीध गजादि खल तारे घना॥ आभीर जमन किरात खस स्वपचादि अति अघरूप जे। कहि नाम बारक तेपि पावन होहिं राम नमामि ते॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pāī na kehiṃ gati patita pāvana rāma bhaji sunu saṭha manā। ganikā ajāmila byādha gīdha gajādi khala tāre ghanā॥ ābhīra jamana kirāta khasa svapacādi ati agharūpa je। kahi nāma bāraka tepi pāvana hohiṃ rāma namāmi te॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O foolish mind, listen: by worshiping Rama, the purifier of the fallen, who has not attained the highest state? He delivered countless sinners such as the courtesan, Ajamil, the hunter, the vulture, and the elephant. The Abhiras, Yavanas, Kiratas, Khasas, outcastes, and others of utterly sinful nature are also purified simply by taking His name even once. I bow to Rama.
रघुबंस भूषन चरित यह नर कहहिं सुनहिं जे गावहीं। कलि मल मनोमल धोइ बिनु श्रम राम धाम सिधावहीं॥ सत पंच चौपाईं मनोहर जानि जो नर उर धरै। दारुन अबिद्या पंच जनित बिकार श्री रघुबर हरै॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
raghubaṃsa bhūṣana carita yaha nara kahahiṃ sunahiṃ je gāvahīṃ। kali mala manomala dhoi binu śrama rāma dhāma sidhāvahīṃ॥ sata paṃca caupāīṃ manohara jāni jo nara ura dharai। dāruna abidyā paṃca janita bikāra śrī raghubara harai॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who tell, hear, and sing this account of Rama, the ornament of the Raghu line, wash away the sins of Kali and the stains of the mind, and go to Rama's abode without effort. Moreover, whoever lovingly holds even five or seven beautiful couplets in the heart has the distortions born of the five kinds of ignorance removed by Lord Raghubara. In other words, if even a few couplets of the Ramayana are understood and treasured in the heart, Sri Ramachandra removes all sorrows born of ignorance.
सुंदर सुजान कृपा निधान अनाथ पर कर प्रीति जो। सो एक राम अकाम हित निर्बानप्रद सम आन को॥ जाकी कृपा लवलेस ते मतिमंद तुलसीदासहूँ। पायो परम बिश्रामु राम समान प्रभु नाहीं कहूँ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sundara sujāna kṛpā nidhāna anātha para kara prīti jo। so eka rāma akāma hita nirbānaprada sama āna ko॥ jākī kṛpā lava lesa te matimanda tulasīdāsahūṃ। pāyo parama bisrāmu rāma samāna prabhu nāhīṃ kahūṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The beautiful, wise, treasure of mercy, and loving to the helpless—such a one is Rama alone. Who else is like Him, a selfless benefactor and giver of liberation? By the slightest trace of His grace, even dull-witted Tulsidas attained supreme rest; there is no lord anywhere equal to Rama.
मो सम दीन न दीन हित तुम्ह समान रघुबीर। अस बिचारि रघुबंस मनि हरहु बिषम भव भीर॥ १३० (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mo sama dīna na dīna hita tumha samāna raghubīra। asa bicāri raghubaṃsa mani harahu biṣama bhava bhīra॥ 130 (a) ॥
Meaning:
O Raghubir, there is no one as lowly as I, nor anyone as kind to the lowly as You. Thinking thus, O jewel of the Raghu line, remove the terrible flood of worldly suffering.
कामिहि नारि पिआरि जिमि लोभिहि प्रिय जिमि दाम। तिमि रघुनाथ निरंतर प्रिय लागहु मोहि राम॥ १३० (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāmihi nāri piāri jimi lobhihi priya jimi dāma। timi raghunātha niraṃtara priya lāgahu mohi rāma॥ 130 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Just as a lustful man loves women and a greedy man loves money, so, O Raghunatha, may You ever remain dear to me, O Rama.
यत्पूर्वं प्रभुणा कृतं सुकविना श्रीशम्भुना दुर्गमं। श्रीमद्रामपदाब्जभक्तिमनिशं प्राप्त्ये तु रामायणम्॥ मत्वा तद्रघुनाथनामनिरतं स्वान्तस्तमःशान्तये। भाषाबद्धमिदं चकार तुलसीदासस्तथा मानसम्॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yatpūrvaṃ prabhunā kṛtaṃ sukavinā śrīśambhunā durgamaṃ। śrīmadrāmapadābjabhaktimaniśaṃ prāptye tu rāmāyaṇam॥ matvā tadraghunāthanāmanirataṃ svāntastamaḥśāntaye। bhāṣābaddhamidaṃ cakāra tulasīdāsastathā mānasam॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The difficult Ramayana, composed earlier by the excellent poet Lord Shambhu, was meant for the constant attainment of devotion to the lotus feet of Shri Rama. Considering it devoted to the name of Raghunatha, Tulsi Das rendered it into the vernacular as this Manas, to dispel the darkness of his own heart.
पुण्यं पापहरं सदा शिवकरं विज्ञानभक्तिप्रदं। मायामोहमलापहं सुविमलं प्रेमाम्बुपूर शुभम्॥ श्रीमद्रामचरित्रमानसमिदं भक््त्यावगाहन्ति ये। ते संसारपतड्रघोरकिरणैर्दहान्ति नो मानवाः॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puṇyaṃ pāpaharaṃ sadā śivakaraṃ vijñānabhaktipradaṃ। māyāmohamalāpahaṃ suvimalaṃ premāmbupūra śubham॥ śrīmadrāmacaritramānasamidaṃ bhaktyāvagāhanti ye। te saṃsārapataḍraghorakiraṇair dahānti no mānavāḥ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
This Ramcharitmanas is meritorious, removes sin, always brings auspiciousness, and grants knowledge and devotion. It destroys the stains of illusion and delusion, is supremely pure, and is filled with the sacred water of love. Those who plunge into this Manasa with devotion are not burned by the terrible rays of the world-sun.