Devotion
In the Ramcharitmanas, Goswami Tulsidas shows devotion taking the form of service. Hanumanji crosses the sea, finds Mata Sita and carries her message back to Shri Ram. His love directs his effort. For example, someone caring for an elderly parent may prepare the same meal each morning. The task repeats, yet attention keeps it from becoming mechanical. Similarly, devotion asks us to bring remembrance of Shri Ram into the duties already entrusted to us. Begin with one task and perform it with care.
अरथ न धरम न काम रुचि गति न चहउँ निरबान। जनम जनम रति राम पद यह बरदानु न आन॥२०४॥
“I have no liking for wealth nor for religious merit nor for sensuous enjoyment nor again do I seek the state of perfect and perpetual calm. Birth after birth let me have devotion to Śrī Rāma’s feet: this is the only boon I ask and nothing else.” (204)
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 204गिरा अरथ जल बीचि सम कहिअत भिन्न न भिन्न। बंदउँ सीता राम पद जिन्हहि परम प्रिय खिन्न॥१८॥
I reverence the feet of Sītā and Śrī Rāma, who, though stated to be different, are yet identical just like a word and its meaning or like water and the waves on its surface, and to whom the meek and afflicted are most dear. (18)
Bal Kand, Doha 18बिनती करि मुनि नाइ सिरु कह कर जोरि बहोरि। चरन सरोरुह नाथ जनि कबहुँ तजै मति मोरि॥४॥
Having prayed thus, the sage bowed his head, and folding his hands in salutation spoke again: “My mind, O Lord, may never abandon Your lotus feet.” (4)
Aranya Kand, Doha 4अनुज जानकी सहित प्रभु चाप बान धर राम। मम हिय गगन इंदु इव बसहु सदा निहकाम॥११॥
“Armed with a bow and arrow and accompanied by Your younger brother Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā, O Lord Śrī Rāma, pray, dwell for ever like a moon in the firmament of the sky of my heart, dispassionate that you are.” (11)
Aranya Kand, Doha 11सीता अनुज समेत प्रभु नील जलद तनु स्याम। मम हियँ बसहु निरंतर सगुनरूप श्रीराम॥८॥
“Constantly abide in my heart, O Lord, with Sītā and Your younger brother Lakṣmaṇa, in Your Saguṇa and embodied form, swarthy as a dark cloud, O graceful Śrī Rāma!” (8)
Aranya Kand, Doha 8स्वामि सखा पितु मातु गुर जिन्ह के सब तुम्ह तात। मन मंदिर तिन्ह कें बसहु सीय सहित दोउ भ्रात॥१३०॥
“Nay, those to whom, my dear, You are at once master and companion, father and mother, preceptor and everything else,—it is in the temple of their mind that Sītā and You two brothers should reside. (130)
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 130पूँछेहु मोहि कि रहौं कहँ मैं पूँछत सकुचाउँ। जहँ न होहु तहँ देहु कहि तुम्हहि देखावौं ठाउँ॥१२७॥
“You ask me: ‘Where should I take up my residence?’ But I feel shy to ask You: tell me first the place where You are not; then alone I will show You a suitable place.” (127)
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 127जाहि न चाहिअ कबहुँ कछु तुम्ह सन सहज सनेहु। बसहु निरंतर तासु मन सो राउर निज गेहु॥१३१॥
“He who wants nothing at any moment and bears natural affinity to You,— incessantly dwell, O Rāma, in his heart; for that is Your own home.” (131)
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 131नाथ एक बर मागउँ राम कृपा करि देहु। जन्म जन्म प्रभु पद कमल कबहुँ घटै जनि नेहु॥४९॥
“My lord, I would ask one boon; grant it in Your mercy, O Śrī Rāma. May my love for Your lotus-feet, O Lord, never flag in the course of my future births.” (49)
Uttar Kand, Doha 49परमानंद कृपायतन मन परिपूरन काम। प्रेम भगति अनपायनी देहु हमहि श्रीराम॥३४॥
“You are supreme bliss personified and the abode of mercy and fulfil the heartfelt desires of Your devotees. Pray, grant us the boon of unceasing love and devotion to Your feet, O gracious Śrī Rāma. (34)
Uttar Kand, Doha 34दे भक्ति रमानिवास त्रास हरन सरन सुखदायकं। सुख धाम राम नमामि काम अनेक छबि रघुनायकं॥ सुर बृंद रंजन द्वंद भंजन मनुजतनु अतुलितबलं। ब्रह्मादि संकर सेब्य राम नमामि करुना कोमलं॥
“Grant me devotion to Your feet, O Abode of Ramā, dispeller of fear and solace of the Suppliant. I adore You, O blissful Rāma, the Lord of the Raghus, possessing the beauty of a myriad Cupids. Delight of the hosts of gods, Queller of contrary experiences (like joy and sorrow etc.), appearing in a human form, possessing incomparable strength, worthy of adoration even to Brahmā and Śiva, O Rāma, I bow to You, tender as You are through compassion.
Lanka Kand, Doha 113बरषा रितु रघुपति भगति तुलसी सालि सुदास। राम नाम बर बरन जुग सावन भादव मास॥१९॥
Devotion to Śrī Raghunātha is, as it were, the rainy season and the noble devotees, says Tulasīdāsa, represent the paddy crop; while the two charming syllables of the name ‘Rāma’ stand for the two months of Śrāvaṇa and Bhādrapada (corresponding roughly to July and August). (19)
Bal Kand, Doha 19
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