Bhaye Pragat Kripala
Ramcharitmanas · Bal Kand · Goswami Tulsidas
Bhaye Pragat Kripala celebrates the appearance of Shri Ram before Mata Kaushalya in His divine, four-armed form. It appears in the Bal Kand of Goswami Tulsidas’s Shri Ramcharitmanas, in the four chhands preceding Doha 192. Within this passage, Mata Kaushalya offers her praise with folded hands, while Goswami Tulsidas narrates her wonder and the Lord’s response. Her prayer moves from reverence for the infinite Lord to the tender wish to love Him as her child.
Full lyrics
भए प्रगट कृपाला दीनदयाला कौसल्या हितकारी। हरषित महतारी मुनि मन हारी अद्भुत रूप बिचारी॥ लोचन अभिरामा तनु घनस्यामा निज आयुध भुज चारी। भूषन बनमाला नयन बिसाला सोभासिंधु खरारी॥१॥
Bhaye pragat kripala deen dayala Kausalya hitkariHarshit mahtari muni man hari adbhut roop bichariLochan abhirama tanu ghanshyama nij aayudh bhuj chariBhushan banmala nayan bisala sobha sindhu kharari
कह दुइ कर जोरी अस्तुति तोरी केहि बिधि करौं अनंता। माया गुन ग्यानातीत अमाना बेद पुरान भनंता॥ करुना सुख सागर सब गुन आगर जेहि गावहिं श्रुति संता। सो मम हित लागी जन अनुरागी भयउ प्रगट श्रीकंता॥२॥
Kah dui kar jori astuti tori kehi bidhi karaun anantaMaya gun gyanateet amana bed puran bhanantaKaruna sukh sagar sab gun aagar jehi gavahin shruti santaSo mam hit lagi jan anuragi bhayau pragat Shrikanta
ब्रह्मांड निकाया निर्मित माया रोम रोम प्रति बेद कहै। मम उर सो बासी यह उपहासी सुनत धीर मति थिर न रहै॥ उपजा जब ग्याना प्रभु मुसुकाना चरित बहुत बिधि कीन्ह चहै। कहि कथा सुहाई मातु बुझाई जेहि प्रकार सुत प्रेम लहै॥३॥
Brahmand nikaya nirmit maya rom rom prati bed kahaiMam ur so basi yah uphasi sunat dheer mati thir na rahaiUpja jab gyana prabhu musukana charit bahut bidhi keenh chahaiKahi katha suhai matu bujhai jehi prakar sut prem lahai
माता पुनि बोली सो मति डोली तजहु तात यह रूपा। कीजै सिसुलीला अति प्रियसीला यह सुख परम अनूपा॥ सुनि बचन सुजाना रोदन ठाना होइ बालक सुरभूपा। यह चरित जे गावहिं हरिपद पावहिं ते न परहिं भवकूपा॥४॥
Mata puni boli so mati doli tajahu taat yah roopaKeejai sisuleela ati priyaseela yah sukh param anoopaSuni bachan sujana rodan thana hoi balak surbhoopaYah charit je gavahin haripad pavahin te na parahin bhavkoopa
बिप्र धेनु सुर संत हित लीन्ह मनुज अवतार। निज इच्छा निर्मित तनु माया गुन गो पार॥१९२॥
Bipra dhenu sur sant hit leenh manuj avatarNij ichchha nirmit tanu maya gun go paar
Meaning of each verse
भए प्रगट कृपाला दीनदयाला कौसल्या हितकारी। हरषित महतारी मुनि मन हारी अद्भुत रूप बिचारी॥ लोचन अभिरामा तनु घनस्यामा निज आयुध भुज चारी। भूषन बनमाला नयन बिसाला सोभासिंधु खरारी॥१॥
The gracious Lord, who is compassionate to the lowly and the benefactor of Kausalyā, appeared. The thought of His marvellous form, which steals the heart of sages, filled the mother with joy. His body was dark as a cloud, the delight of all eyes; in His four arms He bore His characteristic emblems (a conch-shell, a discus, a club and a lotus). Adorned with jewels and a garland of sylvan flowers and endowed with large eyes, the Slayer of the demon Khara was an ocean of beauty. (1)
दीनोंपर दया करनेवाले, कौसल्याजीके हितकारी कृपालु प्रभु प्रकट हुए। मुनियोंके मनको हरनेवाले उनके अद्भुत रूपका विचार करके माता हर्षसे भर गयी। नेत्रोंको आनन्द देनेवाला मेघके समान श्यामशरीर था; चारों भुजाओंमें अपने ( खास ) आयुध [ धारण किये हुए ] थे; [ दिव्य ] आभूषण और वनमाला पहने थे; बड़े-बड़े नेत्र थे। इस प्रकार शोभाके समुद्र तथा खर राक्षसको मारनेवाले भगवान् प्रकट हुए॥ १ ॥
Doha 192 →कह दुइ कर जोरी अस्तुति तोरी केहि बिधि करौं अनंता। माया गुन ग्यानातीत अमाना बेद पुरान भनंता॥ करुना सुख सागर सब गुन आगर जेहि गावहिं श्रुति संता। सो मम हित लागी जन अनुरागी भयउ प्रगट श्रीकंता॥२॥
Folding her hands the mother said, “O infinite Lord, how would I adore You! The Vedas as well as the Purāṇas declare You as transcending Māyā, beyond attributes, above knowledge and beyond all measure. He who is glorified by the Vedas and holy men as an ocean of mercy and bliss and the repository of all virtues, the same Lord of Lakṣmī, the lover of His devotees, has revealed Himself for my good. (2)
दोनों हाथ जोड़कर माता कहने लगी—हे अनन्त! मैं किस प्रकार तुम्हारी स्तुति करूँ। वेद और पुराण तुमको माया, गुण और ज्ञानसे परे और परिमाणरहित बतलाते हैं। श्रुतियाँ और संतजन दया और सुखका समुद्र, सब गुणोंका धाम कहकर जिनका गान करते हैं, वही भक्तोंपर प्रेम करनेवाले लक्ष्मीपति भगवान् मेरे कल्याणके लिये प्रकट हुए हैं॥ २ ॥
Doha 192 →ब्रह्मांड निकाया निर्मित माया रोम रोम प्रति बेद कहै। मम उर सो बासी यह उपहासी सुनत धीर मति थिर न रहै॥ उपजा जब ग्याना प्रभु मुसुकाना चरित बहुत बिधि कीन्ह चहै। कहि कथा सुहाई मातु बुझाई जेहि प्रकार सुत प्रेम लहै॥३॥
“The Vedas proclaim that every pore of Your body contains multitudes of universes brought forth by Māyā. That such a Lord stayed in my womb—this amusing story staggers the mind of even men of wisdom.” When the revelation came upon the mother, the Lord smiled; He would perform many a sportive act (Līlā). Therefore, He exhorted her by telling her the charming account of her previous birth so that she might love Him as her own child. (3)
वेद कहते हैं कि तुम्हारे प्रत्येक रोममें मायाके रचे हुए अनेकों ब्रह्माण्डोंके समूह [ भरे ] हैं। वे तुम मेरे गर्भमें रहे—इस हँसीकी बातके सुननेपर धीर ( विवेकी ) पुरुषोंकी बुद्धि भी स्थिर नहीं रहती ( विचलित हो जाती है )। जब माताको ज्ञान उत्पन्न हुआ, तब प्रभु मुसकराये। वे बहुत प्रकारके चरित्र करना चाहते हैं। अतः उन्होंने [ पूर्वजन्मकी ] सुन्दर कथा कहकर माताको समझाया, जिससे उन्हें पुत्रका ( वात्सल्य ) प्रेम प्राप्त हो ( भगवान्के प्रति पुत्रभाव हो जाय )॥ ३ ॥
Doha 192 →माता पुनि बोली सो मति डोली तजहु तात यह रूपा। कीजै सिसुलीला अति प्रियसीला यह सुख परम अनूपा॥ सुनि बचन सुजाना रोदन ठाना होइ बालक सुरभूपा। यह चरित जे गावहिं हरिपद पावहिं ते न परहिं भवकूपा॥४॥
The mother’s mind was transformed; she spoke again, “Give up this transcendent form and betake to child’s sports, which are so dear to a mother’s heart; the joy that comes from such sports is unique and unparalled in every way.” Hearing these words (of the mother), the all-wise Lord of immortals became an infant babe and began to cry. Those who sing this lay, says Tulasīdāsa, attain to the abode of Śrī Hari and never fall into the snares of mundane existence. (4)
माताकी वह बुद्धि बदल गयी, तब वह फिर बोली—हे तात! यह रूप छोड़कर अत्यन्त प्रिय बाललीला करो, [ मेरे लिये ] यह सुख परम अनुपम होगा। [ माताका ] यह वचन सुनकर देवताओंके स्वामी सुजान भगवान्ने बालक [ रूप ] होकर रोना शुरू कर दिया। [ तुलसीदासजी कहते हैं— ] जो इस चरित्रका गान करते हैं, वे श्रीहरिका पद पाते हैं और [ फिर ] संसाररूपी कूपमें नहीं गिरते॥ ४ ॥
Doha 192 →बिप्र धेनु सुर संत हित लीन्ह मनुज अवतार। निज इच्छा निर्मित तनु माया गुन गो पार॥१९२॥
For the sake of Brāhmaṇas, cows, gods and saints, the Lord, who transcends Māyā and is beyond the three modes of Prakṛti (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) as well as beyond the reach of the senses, took birth as a human being assuming a form which is a product of His own will. (192)
ब्राह्मण, गौ, देवता और संतोंके लिये भगवान्ने मनुष्यका अवतार लिया। वे [ अज्ञानमयी, मलिना ] माया और उसके गुण ( सत्, रज, तम ) और [ बाहरी तथा भीतरी ] इन्द्रियोंसे परे हैं। उनका [ दिव्य ] शरीर अपनी इच्छासे ही बना है [ किसी कर्मबन्धनसे परवश होकर त्रिगुणात्मक भौतिक पदार्थोंके द्वारा नहीं ]॥ १९२ ॥
Doha 192 →The scene
Shri Ram appears before Mata Kaushalya with a body dark as a rain cloud, large eyes, divine ornaments and a garland of forest flowers. His four arms bear His divine emblems. Filled with joy, Mata Kaushalya folds her hands and praises the infinite Lord whom the Vedas and Saints glorify. She marvels that He whose every pore contains multitudes of universes has dwelt in her womb. Shri Ram smiles and recounts the story of her previous birth so that she may love Him as her son. Mata Kaushalya then asks Him to give up this form and delight her with childhood play. Honouring her wish, He becomes an infant and begins to cry.
What it teaches
The Lord who sustains countless universes accepts a mother’s love. This passage teaches us how His greatness and His tenderness belong together. Mata Kaushalya recognises that Shri Ram is beyond Maya, its qualities and all measure. Yet He appears for her welfare and listens to her wish.
The word *jan anuragi* describes the Lord’s love for His devotees. His appearance expresses that love. The concluding doha explains that His divine body arises from His own will. His human appearance does not place Him under the limitations that bind ordinary beings.
For example, a parent who knows far more than a small child still sits beside the child and joins a simple game. The parent’s understanding remains, while affection shapes the exchange. Similarly, Shri Ram accepts infant play so that Mata Kaushalya may experience the joy of loving Him as her son.
Goswami Tulsidas directs the singer towards Shri Hari’s abode and freedom from worldly bondage. Recite with this purpose: understand the Lord’s compassion, remember His willing nearness, and offer Him your attention with affection.
How to recite it
Devotees sing or recite Bhaye Pragat Kripala in remembrance of Shri Ram’s birth, especially on Ram Navami. It can also form part of a regular devotional reading. Begin by understanding the meaning, then recite at a pace that allows attention to each line. Remember Mata Kaushalya’s folded hands, her wonder and her request for the Lord’s childhood play. Let the melody support remembrance, and keep the mind on Shri Ram’s compassion and His love for His devotees.
Questions people ask
What does Bhaye Pragat Kripala mean?
Bhaye Pragat Kripala means that the gracious Lord has appeared. The opening line describes Shri Ram as compassionate to the lowly and the benefactor of Mata Kaushalya. The hymn unfolds her joyful response to His divine appearance.
Who wrote Bhaye Pragat Kripala, and who offers the praise?
Goswami Tulsidas composed this passage in Shri Ramcharitmanas. Mata Kaushalya offers the praise within the episode. Goswami Tulsidas also narrates Shri Ram’s appearance, His response to her prayer and the devotional fruit of singing this account.
Where does Bhaye Pragat Kripala appear in Shri Ramcharitmanas?
It appears in the Bal Kand of Shri Ramcharitmanas, in the four chhands immediately before Doha 192. The following doha explains that Shri Ram takes human form by His own will for the welfare of Brahmins, cows, gods and Saints.
What are the devotional benefits of reciting Bhaye Pragat Kripala?
The hymn turns the devotee’s attention towards Shri Ram’s compassion and His love for His devotees. Goswami Tulsidas praises singing this account as a means of attaining Shri Hari’s abode and freedom from worldly bondage. Receive this as an invitation to loving remembrance, rather than a promise of specific worldly rewards.
When should Bhaye Pragat Kripala be recited?
Devotees especially sing it on Ram Navami, when celebrating Shri Ram’s birth. It may also be recited during regular worship or devotional reading. Choose a time when you can attend to the meaning and remember Shri Ram with affection.
Also written as: Bhaye Pragat Kripala · Bhaye Prakat Kripala · Bhay Pragat Kripala · Bhaye Pragat Kripala Deen Dayala · Bhaye Pragat Kripala Kaushalya Hitkari · भए प्रगट कृपाला · भये प्रगट कृपाला · भए प्रकट कृपाला
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