The citizens of Avadh were ever flooded with that joy, to attain which the blessed Siva assumes his unsightly garb. They who have once realized even in a dream the least atom of that joy, think nothing, O Garur, if they are good and sensible, of the joys of heaven.
Chaupdi.
After this I stayed some little time at Avadh, a spectator of his delightful boyish play. Then, by Râma's blessing having obtained the boon of faith, I kissed my lord's feet and returned to my hermitage. Since then no delusion has ever affected me, after I had joined Râma. I have now told you the whole of this strange story of how I was bewitched by Hari's delusive power. From my own experience I warn you, Garur, that without prayer to Hari your troubles will not yield. Hearken, king of the birds; without Râma's grace, there is no understanding his power; without understanding there is no confidence; without confidence there is no affection; without affection there is no consistency in faith; it slips away, Garur, like oil on water.
Sorathâ 5.
How can there be knowledge without a teacher? How can there be knowledge without self-control, or (as the Vedas and Purânas declare) how can man attain to happiness without devotion to Hari? Without innate content, Sire, none can find peace: a boat will not float without water, though you strain every nerve, enough to kill yourself.
Chaupdi.
After this I stayed some little time at Avadh, a spectator of his delightful boyish play. Then, by Râma's blessing having obtained the boon of faith, I kissed my lord's feet and returned to my hermitage. Since then no delusion has ever affected me, after I had joined Râma. I have now told you the whole of this strange story of how I was bewitched by Hari's delusive power. From my own experience I warn you, Garur, that without prayer to Hari your troubles will not yield. Hearken, king of the birds; without Râma's grace, there is no understanding his power; without understanding there is no confidence; without confidence there is no affection; without affection there is no consistency in faith; it slips away, Garur, like oil on water.
Sorathâ 5.
How can there be knowledge without a teacher? How can there be knowledge without self-control, or (as the Vedas and Purânas declare) how can man attain to happiness without devotion to Hari? Without innate content, Sire, none can find peace: a boat will not float without water, though you strain every nerve, enough to kill yourself.
Chaupdi.
Without content there is no cessation of desire; so long as desire continues, it is vain to dream of ease. Can desire be subdued without prayer to Râma; can a tree ever take root without soil? Can equanimity be attained without knowledge, or can you have space without the ether? Without faith there is no religion, as there can be no scent without earth. Can fame spread without penance, any more than there can be moisture in the world without water? Can virtue be acquired without attendance on the wise, any more than vision can exist, Sir, without light? Can the mind be at rest when ill at ease, any more than the sense of touch is possible without air? Without confidence there is no exercise of supernatural powers, and without prayer to Hari there is no conquest over the terrors of existence.
Without content there is no cessation of desire; so long as desire continues, it is vain to dream of ease. Can desire be subdued without prayer to Râma; can a tree ever take root without soil? Can equanimity be attained without knowledge, or can you have space without the ether? Without faith there is no religion, as there can be no scent without earth. Can fame spread without penance, any more than there can be moisture in the world without water? Can virtue be acquired without attendance on the wise, any more than vision can exist, Sir, without light? Can the mind be at rest when ill at ease, any more than the sense of touch is possible without air? Without confidence there is no exercise of supernatural powers, and without prayer to Hari there is no conquest over the terrors of existence.