Invocation

Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa (The Mānasa lake containing the exploits of Śrī Rāma) Descent Two (Ayodhyā-Kāṇḍa) May He in whose lap shines forth Pārvatī, the daughter of the mountain-king, who carries the celestial stream Gaṅgā on His head, on whose brow rests the crescent moon, whose throat holds deadly poison and whose breast is graced by serpent-king, and who is adorned by the ashes on His body, may that Chief of gods, the Lord of all, the Destroyer of the universe, the omnipresent Śiva, the moon-like Śaṅkara, ever protect me. (1) May the splendour of Śrī Rāma’s lotus-like face, which neither grew brighter at the prospect of His being installed on the throne of Ayodhyā, nor was dimmed by the trauma of exile to the woods, ever bring sweet felicity to me. (2) I adore Śrī Rāma, the Lord of Raghu’s race, whose limbs are as swarthy and soft as a blue lotus, who has Sītā enthroned on His left side and who holds in His hands an unerring arrow and a graceful bow. (3)

Cleansing the mirror of my mind with the pollen-dust from the lotus feet of the Revered Guru, I sing Śrī Rāma’s pure and virtuous glory that bestows the four rewards of human life.