Doha 11

Said the sage, “Listen, O Lord, to my prayer: how am I to hymn Your glories? For, immeasurable is Your glory and scant my wit, which is as insignificant as the flash of a fire-fly before the sun. (1) “I constantly glorify Śrī Rāma, with a body dark as a string of blue lotuses, wearing a crown of matted locks on His head and clad in a hermit’s robes, and carrying a bow and arrow in His hands with a quiver fastened at His back, (2) “the fire which consumes the thick forest of delusion, the sun that brings delight to the lotus-like saints, the lion that kills the herd of elephants in the form of demons, the hawk that kills the bird of metempsychosis, may He ever protect us. (3) “I extol Śrī Rāma, whose eyes resemble the red lotus, who is nicely dressed, who is a full moon to Sītā’s Cakora-like eyes, who is a swan disporting in the Mānasa lake of Lord Śiva’s heart and who has a broad chest and long arms, (4) “a Garuḍa to devour the serpent of doubt, the queller of despair induced by heated controversy, the uprooter of transmigration, the delighter of gods, the embodiment of compassion, may He ever protect us. (5) “I make obeisance to Śrī Rāma, the reliever of earth’s burden, who is both with and without attributes, who is partial as well as impartial, who transcends knowledge, speech and the senses and has no compeer, nay, who is all-pure, all-comprehensive, faultless and unlimited. (6) “a veritable garden of wish-yielding trees to His devotees, who keeps away wrath, greed, pride and lust, who is most urbane in manners and the bridge to cross the ocean of mundane existence, may that hero of the solar race ever protect me. (7) “Matchless in power of arm, the epitome of strength, the armour for the protection of righteousness, endowed with a host of delightful virtues, may that Śrī Rāma, whose very Name wipes out the greatest sins of the Kali age, be ever propitious to me. (8) “Even though He is passionless, all-pervading, imperishable and ever dwelling in the hearts of all, O Slayer of Khara, Śrī Rāma, let Him abide in my thoughts as roaming about in the woods with His younger brother Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā. (9) “My lord, those who know You to be both with and without attributes and the witness of all hearts, let them know as they wish to know; as for myself, may Śrī Rāma, the lotus-eyed Lord of Kosala, take up His abode in my heart. (10) “Let not this exalted feeling disappear from my mind even in an unguarded moment that 1 am the servant and Śrī Raghunātha is my master.” Śrī Rāma was delighted at heart to hear the sage’s words, and in His delight He pressed the great sage to His bosom again. (11) “Know Me to be supremely pleased, O sage; 1 am prepared to grant you any boon you may choose to ask.” The sage replied, “I have never asked any boon and know not what is real and what is unreal (what to choose and what to reject). (12) “Therefore, O Delighter of Your devotees, grant me that which pleases You, O Śrī Raghunātha.” (Lord Śrī Rāma said:) “O Sage! May you become a repository of knowledge and all virtues, as well as of intense devotion, dispassion and spiritual wisdom.” (13) “I have received the boon that my Lord has been pleased to grant. Now vouchsafe to me that which is cherished by me. (14)

“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)