Doha 2
Meeting with sage Atri and his hymn of praise to Śrī Rāma
प्रेरित मंत्र ब्रह्मसर धावा। चला भाजि बायस भय पावा॥ धरि निज रूप गयउ पितु पाहीं। राम बिमुख राखा तेहि नाहीं॥१॥
भा निरास उपजी मन त्रासा। जथा चक्र भय रिषि दुर्बासा॥ ब्रह्मधाम सिवपुर सब लोका। फिरा श्रमित ब्याकुल भय सोका॥२॥
काहूँ बैठन कहा न ओही। राखि को सकइ राम कर द्रोही॥ मातु मृत्यु पितु समन समाना। सुधा होइ बिष सुनु हरिजाना॥३॥
मित्र करइ सत रिपु कै करनी। ता कहँ बिबुधनदी बैतरनी॥ सब जगु ताहि अनलहु ते ताता। जो रघुबीर बिमुख सुनु भ्राता॥४॥
नारद देखा बिकल जयंता। लागि दया कोमल चित संता॥ पठवा तुरत राम पहिं ताही। कहेसि पुकारि प्रनत हित पाही॥५॥
आतुर सभय गहेसि पद जाई। त्राहि त्राहि दयाल रघुराई॥ अतुलित बल अतुलित प्रभुताई। मैं मतिमंद जानि नहिं पाई॥६॥
निज कृत कर्म जनित फल पायउँ। अब प्रभु पाहि सरन तकि आयउँ॥ सुनि कृपाल अति आरत बानी। एकनयन करि तजा भवानी॥७॥
Meaning
Charged with a spell, the shaft presided over by Brahmā* sped forth and the crow in terror took to flight. Indra’s son now assumed his own form and approached his father. But the latter refused to give him shelter knowing him to be an adversary of Śrī Rāma. (1) * Our scriptures mention a number of missiles each presided over by a particular deity and varying in its potency according to the god by whom it is presided over and which can be invoked on any earthly weapon by means of spells. For instance we hear of an Agni-Astra (presided over by the fire-god), a Vāyavyāstra (presided over by the wind-god), Pārjanyāstra (presided over by the rain-god), Pāśupatāstra (presided over by Lord Śiva) and Nārāyaṇāstra (presided over by Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa) and so on. The Agni-Astra, when discharged, rains volleys of fire; the Vāyavyāstra lets loose strong winds; the Pārjanyāstra releases clouds with showers and so on. It is unfortunate that the knowledge of this science, which was evidenced till the end of Dvāpara, has become extinct now. Having lost all hope of protection, he felt as alarmed at heart as the sage Durvāsā was afraid of the Lord’s Discus. Weary and stricken with fear and grief, he traversed the abode of Brahmā, the realm of Lord Śiva and all other regions. (2) But no one even asked him to sit down. Who can dare afford shelter to an enemy of Śrī Rāma? Listen, Garuḍa (mount of Śrī Hari), a mother becomes as terrible as death and a father assumes the role of Yama (the god of death), ambrosia turns into venom, (3) and a friend becomes as hostile as hundreds of enemies, the celestial river Gaṅgā becomes like the Vaitaraṇī† for him; nay, the whole world becomes hotter than fire to him who is inimical to Śrī Rāma. (4) † The name of a river in hell, which the dead have to cross before entering the infernal regions. It is represented as a filthy stream full of blood, hair and bones and every other kind of impurity. It can be crossed only with the help of a cow that may have been gifted by the deceased during his life-time. The sage Nārada saw Jayanta (Indra’s son) in distress and was moved with pity, for saints are always tender of heart. The sage sent him immediately to Śrī Rāma and he cried out, “Save me, O Protector of the suppliant!” (5) Bewildered and terrified he went and clasped Śrī Rāma’s feet and said, “Mercy! mercy! O gracious Lord of Raghus! I could not perceive Your incomparable might and matchless glory, dull-witted as I am. (6) “I have reaped the fruit borne by my own actions and have now sought refuge in You. Protect me, my Lord!” When the all-merciful Lord heard his most piteous appeal, He let him go with the loss of one eye, O Pārvatī. (7)
कीन्ह मोह बस द्रोह जद्यपि तेहि कर बध उचित। प्रभु छाड़ेउ करि छोह को कृपाल रघुबीर सम॥२॥
Meaning
Even though in his infatuation Jayanta had antagonized the Lord and, therefore, deserved death, the latter took compassion on him and let him go. Who is there so merciful as Śrī Rāma? (2)
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