Doha 35
दरस परस मज्जन अरु पाना। हरइ पाप कह बेद पुराना॥ नदी पुनीत अमित महिमा अति। कहि न सकइ सारदा बिमल मति॥१॥
राम धामदा पुरी सुहावनि। लोक समस्त बिदित अति पावनि॥ चारि खानि जग जीव अपारा। अवध तजें तनु नहिं संसारा॥२॥
सब बिधि पुरी मनोहर जानी। सकल सिद्धिप्रद मंगल खानी॥ बिमल कथा कर कीन्ह अरंभा। सुनत नसाहिं काम मद दंभा॥३॥
रामचरितमानस एहि नामा। सुनत श्रवन पाइअ बिश्रामा॥ मन करि बिषय अनल बन जरई। होइ सुखी जौं एहिं सर परई॥४॥
रामचरितमानस मुनि भावन। बिरचेउ संभु सुहावन पावन॥ त्रिबिध दोष दुख दारिद दावन। कलि कुचालि कुलि कलुष नसावन॥५॥
रचि महेस निज मानस राखा। पाइ सुसमउ सिवा सन भाषा॥ तातें रामचरितमानस बर। धरेउ नाम हियँ हेरि हरषि हर॥६॥
कहउँ कथा सोइ सुखद सुहाई। सादर सुनहु सुजन मन लाई॥७॥
Meaning
The very sight and touch of the Sarayū, a dip into its waters or a draught from it, cleanses one’s sins—so declare the Vedas and Purāṇas. Even Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, with Her pure intellect cannot describe the infinite glory of this most sacred river. (1) The beautiful town of Ayodhyā grants an abode in Śrī Rāma’s own celestial region (Paramadhāma); it is celebrated through all the worlds and is the holiest of the holy. There are countless living beings in this world belonging to the four species (viz., viviparous, oviparous, sweat–born and those shooting from the earth); whoever of these shed their mortal coil in Ayodhyā are never born again. (2) Knowing the town to be charming in every way, a bestower of all forms of success and a storehouse of blessings, I commenced writing this sacred lore there. The impulses of lust, arrogance and hypocrisy positively disappear from the mind of those who hear it. (3) One derives solace by hearing its very name, ‘Rāmacaritamānasa’ (the Mānasa lake of Śrī Rāma’s exploits). The elephant of our mind, which is being scorched by the wild fire of sensuous enjoyments, is sure to get relief should it drop into this lake. (4) The holy and beautiful ‘Rāmacaritamānasa’ is the delight of sages; it was conceived by Lord Śiva. It puts down the three kinds of error, sorrow and indigence* and uproots all evil practices and impurities of the Kali age. (5) * The three kinds of error are those relating to thought, word and deed; birth, death and old age constitute the three kinds of sorrow and the three kinds of indigence referred to here are: (1) poverty of body (2) poverty of mind and (3) poverty of means. Having conceived it, the great Lord Mahādeva treasured it in His mind till a favourable opportunity presented itself, and He communicated it to His consort, Pārvatī. Therefore, after due consideration Lord Śiva joyously gave it the excellent title of ‘Rāmacaritamānasa’.† (6) † The word ‘Mānasa’ also denotes the mind and Lord Śiva gave this story the title of ‘Rāmacaritamānasa’, firstly because it contains a life-account of Śrī Rāma and secondly because He treasured it in His mind before communicating it to Pārvatī. I relate the same delightful and charming story; hear it reverently and attentively, O noble souls. (7)
जस मानस जेहि बिधि भयउ जग प्रचार जेहि हेतु। अब सोइ कहउँ प्रसंग सब सुमिरि उमा बृषकेतु॥३५॥
Meaning
Invoking Umā and Lord Śiva, I now proceed to give a full account as to what this ‘Rāmacaritamānasa’ is like, how it came to be and what led to its popularity in the world. (35)
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