Invocation

Śrī Rāmacaritamānasa (The Mānasa lake containing the exploits of Śrī Rāma) Descent Four (Kiṣkindhā-Kāṇḍa) Lovely as a jasmine and a blue lotus, of surpassing strength, repositories of wisdom, endowed with natural grace, excellent bowmen, hymned by the Vedas, and lovers of the cow and the host of Brāhmaṇas, who appeared in the form of mortal men through their own Māyā (deluding potency) as the two noble scions of Raghu’s lineage, the armours of true religion, friendly to all and journeying in quest for Sītā, may they, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa both, grant us Devotion. (1) Blessed are those pious souls who ceaselessly quaff the nectar of Śrī Rāma’s Name, churned out of the ocean of the Vedas, which completely destroys the sins of the Kali age and knows no decay, which shines ever bright in the most beautiful moon-like face of the glorious Śaṁbhu (Lord Śiva), a palatable remedy for the disease of transmigration and the very life of Jānakī. (2)

Why not reside in Kāśī (the modern Varanasi), the abode of Lord Śiva and Goddess Pārvatī, knowing it to be the birthplace of Mukti (final beatitude), the mine of spiritual wisdom and the destroyer of sins? O stupid mind, how is it that you do not worship Him who quaffed the deadly venom (churned out of the ocean of milk at the dawn of creation), the very presence of which was burning all the host of gods? Who else is so merciful as Lord Śaṅkara?