Then came Mâtali, having obtained Râma's permission, and bowed his head at his feet. The gods, too, selfish as ever, came and made this seemingly pious prayer: “Friend of the destitute, gracious Raghurâi, a god yourself, You have shown mercy to the gods. This sensual wretch, who delighted to harass the whole world, has perished by his own wickedness in his sinful course. You are the supreme spirit, one and everlasting, ever unchangeable and unaffected by circumstances, without parts or qualities, uncreated, sinless, all-perfect, invincible, unerring, full of power and compassion; incarnate as the fish, the tortoise, the boar, the lion-man, and the dwarf; as Parasu-râm also and now as Râma; whenever, O Lord, the gods have been in trouble, You have taken birth in one form or another to put an end to it; but this impure wretch, the persistent plague of heaven, given up to sensuality, greed, pride and passion, this monster of monsters, has been promoted to your sphere and thereat we marvel greatly. We gods are high masters, but in our selfishness we have forgotten the worship of our lord, and thus we are ever involved in the flood of worldly passions; but now, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we come to You for refuge.”
With clasped hands the gods and saints stood all round about him, thus making supplication; and—his whole body quivering with excess of devotion—Brahma at last broke out into this hymn of praise.
With clasped hands the gods and saints stood all round about him, thus making supplication; and—his whole body quivering with excess of devotion—Brahma at last broke out into this hymn of praise.
“Glory to the immortal Râma, the blissful Hari, the prince of Raghu's line, with his bow and arrows; the lionlike lord to rend in pieces the elephant of earthly existence; the ocean of perfection, the all-wise, the all-pervading; in whose body is concentrated the incomparable beauty of a myriad Loves; whose virtues are sung by bards, saints and sages. Hero of spotless renown, who in Thy wrath didst seize Râvan, as Garur might seize some monstrous serpent; delight of mankind; destroyer of grief and fear; ever unmoved by passion; lord of supreme intelligence; beneficent incarnation of illimitable perfection; loosener of earth's burdens; very wisdom; everlasting, all-pervading, ever one, without beginning; I rapturously adore Thee, O Râma, fountain of mercy. Glory of the line of Raghu, slaying Dûshan and making a king of the ever faithful Vibhishan; storehouse of virtue and wisdom; incomprehensible and from everlasting; I constantly adore Thee, O Râma, the passionless, the supreme. Mighty of arm, strong in renown, exterminator of the hordes of the sinful; procréation
Then, in auspiciousness; friend and protector even of the undeserving suppliant; I worship the perfection of beauty, the spouse of Lakshmi. Deliverer from the burden of mortality, eternal, beyond cause and effect, soul-created destroyer of hideous sin; wielder of the arrows and bow and lovely quiver; lotus-eyed paragon of kings; temple of bliss, Lakshmi’s beautiful consort; subduer of pride, lust, lying and selfishness; irreproachable, imperishable; all forms alike and yet no determinate form; like the light of the sun—thus the Vedas have declared—it is no mere quibble of speech—which is separate from it and yet not separate. How fortunate, my lord, are all these monkeys who reverently gaze upon Thy face. A curse, Hari, on the life we gods enjoy; without devotion to You we have all gone astray in the world. Now, as thou art compassionate to the suppliant, have compassion upon Me; a lion to destroy the elephant-like inconstancy of my purpose; may I practise the reverse of my former way and live happy, esteeming that a happiness which was before a pain. Mercy, destroyer of the wicked, beautiful jewel, whose lotus feet are cherished by Sambhu and Uma. O king of kings, grant me this boon, the blessing of a constant devotion to Thy lotus feet.”
Then, in auspiciousness; friend and protector even of the undeserving suppliant; I worship the perfection of beauty, the spouse of Lakshmi. Deliverer from the burden of mortality, eternal, beyond cause and effect, soul-created destroyer of hideous sin; wielder of the arrows and bow and lovely quiver; lotus-eyed paragon of kings; temple of bliss, Lakshmi’s beautiful consort; subduer of pride, lust, lying and selfishness; irreproachable, imperishable; all forms alike and yet no determinate form; like the light of the sun—thus the Vedas have declared—it is no mere quibble of speech—which is separate from it and yet not separate. How fortunate, my lord, are all these monkeys who reverently gaze upon Thy face. A curse, Hari, on the life we gods enjoy; without devotion to You we have all gone astray in the world. Now, as thou art compassionate to the suppliant, have compassion upon Me; a lion to destroy the elephant-like inconstancy of my purpose; may I practise the reverse of my former way and live happy, esteeming that a happiness which was before a pain. Mercy, destroyer of the wicked, beautiful jewel, whose lotus feet are cherished by Sambhu and Uma. O king of kings, grant me this boon, the blessing of a constant devotion to Thy lotus feet.”
Dohâ 108.
As Brahma made this prayer, his whole body quivered with excess of devotion, and his eyes, beholding the ocean of beauty, refused to be satisfied.
Chaupâi.
Then too came Dasarath and, when he beheld his son, his eyes were flooded with tears. The Lord and his brother made obeisance before him, and their father gave them his blessing. “It is all due, sire, to your religious merit that the invincible demon king has been conquered.” On hearing his son’s words, his affection increased still more; his eyes streamed and every hair on his body stood erect. Seeing his father thus overcome by love, Raghupati, after first taking thought, bestowed upon him absolute wisdom. He did not receive the boon of deliverance from existence, Uma, for this reason, that Dasarath had grasped the mystery of faith. Worshippers of the incarnate are not rewarded with annihilation, but Rama gives them devotion to himself. Having again and again prostrated himself before the Lord, Dasarath proceeded with joy to his abode in heaven.
Dohâ 109.
The Lord, the king of Kosala, rejoiced together with his brother and Janaki. At the charming sight the king of the gods, in his delight, chanted this hymn of praise.
Chhand Tomar 37.
As Brahma made this prayer, his whole body quivered with excess of devotion, and his eyes, beholding the ocean of beauty, refused to be satisfied.
Chaupâi.
Then too came Dasarath and, when he beheld his son, his eyes were flooded with tears. The Lord and his brother made obeisance before him, and their father gave them his blessing. “It is all due, sire, to your religious merit that the invincible demon king has been conquered.” On hearing his son’s words, his affection increased still more; his eyes streamed and every hair on his body stood erect. Seeing his father thus overcome by love, Raghupati, after first taking thought, bestowed upon him absolute wisdom. He did not receive the boon of deliverance from existence, Uma, for this reason, that Dasarath had grasped the mystery of faith. Worshippers of the incarnate are not rewarded with annihilation, but Rama gives them devotion to himself. Having again and again prostrated himself before the Lord, Dasarath proceeded with joy to his abode in heaven.
Dohâ 109.
The Lord, the king of Kosala, rejoiced together with his brother and Janaki. At the charming sight the king of the gods, in his delight, chanted this hymn of praise.
Chhand Tomar 37.
“Glory to Rama, the home of beauty, the merciful, the refuge of the suppliant; equipped with quiver and bow and arrows, triumphing in His mighty strength of arm. Glory to the foe of Dushan, the foe of Khara, the destroyer of the demon host; when my lord slew this last monster, all the gods were happy again. Glory to the remover of earth’s burdens, whose greatness is indeed vast and unbounded. Glory to Ravan’s merciful foe, the discomforter of the demons. Outrageous was the pride of the king of Lanka, who had reduced to subjection gods and gandharvas; who relentlessly pursued saints and sages, men, birds and serpents; a malignant and implacable monster; but who now—the wretch—has obtained his reward. Hearken now, protector of the suppliant, with the large lotus eyes; my pride was inordinate, there was no one to equal me. Now after seeing thy lotus feet, the arrogance that caused me so much misery has passed away. Let others adore the unembodied Supreme, the primary existence, whom the Vedas hymn; but my desire is the king of Kosala, the divine Rama, visible and material. Together with Sita and Lakshman, make my heart Thy abode. O spouse of Lakshmi, recognize me as Thy servant, and grant me faith.
Chhand 38.
Grant me faith, O spouse of Lakshmi, soother of terror, consoler of the suppliant. Thee I adore, O blissful Rama, prince of the house of Raghu, beautiful as a myriad Loves. Delight of the hosts of heaven, queller of strife; in form as a man of incomparable strength; object of the adoration of Brahma, Sankara and all the gods; I worship Thee, O Rama, the gracious, the benign.
Chhand 38.
Grant me faith, O spouse of Lakshmi, soother of terror, consoler of the suppliant. Thee I adore, O blissful Rama, prince of the house of Raghu, beautiful as a myriad Loves. Delight of the hosts of heaven, queller of strife; in form as a man of incomparable strength; object of the adoration of Brahma, Sankara and all the gods; I worship Thee, O Rama, the gracious, the benign.
Dohâ 110.
“Now in Thy mercy, O most merciful, look upon me and direct me what to do.” On hearing this tender appeal, the Protector of the poor made answer:
Chaupâi.
“Hearken, king of the gods; my bears and monkeys, who lie on the ground slain by the demons, have lost their life on my account: restore them
“Now in Thy mercy, O most merciful, look upon me and direct me what to do.” On hearing this tender appeal, the Protector of the poor made answer:
Chaupâi.
“Hearken, king of the gods; my bears and monkeys, who lie on the ground slain by the demons, have lost their life on my account: restore them