Prakarana 6

Verse 101 (श्लोक)

रामं कामारिसेव्यं भवभयहरणं कालमत्तेभसिंहं योगीन्द्रं ज्ञानगम्यं गुणनिधिमजितं निर्गुणं निर्विकारम्। मायातीतं सुरेशं खलवधनिरतं ब्रह्मवृन्दैकदेवं वन्दे कन्दावदातं सरसिजनयनं देवमुर्वीशरूपम्।।1।। शंखेन्द्वाभमतीवसुन्दरतनुं शार्दूलचर्माम्बरं कालव्यालकरालभूषणधरं गंगाशशांकप्रियम्। काशीशं कलिकल्मषौघशमनं कल्याणकल्पद्रुमं नौमीड्यं गिरिजापतिं गुणनिधिं कन्दर्पहं शङ्करम्।।2।। यो ददाति सतां शम्भुः कैवल्यमपि दुर्लभम्। खलानां दण्डकृद्योऽसौ शङ्करः शं तनोतु मे।।3।।

rāmaṃ kāmāri-sevyaṃ bhava-bhaya-haraṇaṃ kāla-mattebha-siṃhaṃ yogīndraṃ jñāna-gamyaṃ guṇa-nidhim ajitaṃ nirguṇaṃ nirvikāram | māyātītaṃ sureśaṃ khala-vadha-nirataṃ brahma-vṛndaika-devaṃ vande kandāvadātaṃ sarasija-nayanaṃ devam urvīśa-rūpam ||1|| śaṅkhendvābhaṃ atīva-sundara-tanuṃ śārdūla-carmāmbaram kāla-vyāla-karāla-bhūṣaṇa-dharaṃ gaṅgā-śaśāṅka-priyam | kāśīśaṃ kali-kalmaṣaugha-śamanaṃ kalyāṇa-kalpa-drumam naumīḍyaṃ girijā-patiṃ guṇa-nidhiṃ kandarpa-haṃ śaṅkaram ||2|| yo dadāti satāṃ śambhuḥ kaivalyam api durlabham | khalānāṃ daṇḍa-kṛd yo'sau śaṅkaraḥ śaṃ tanotu me ||3||

I bow to Rama—worshipped even by the foe of Kama (Shiva); dispeller of the dread of worldly becoming; a lion to the rut-maddened elephant of Death; Lord of yogis, attained through knowledge; a treasury of virtues, unconquered; beyond the gunas and unchanging; transcending maya; sovereign of the gods; intent on the destruction of the wicked; the one Deity adored by the host of Brahma’s devotees—pure as the pith of the plantain, lotus-eyed, appearing on earth as the rightful king. I salute Shankara—radiant like conch and moon, exceedingly fair and lovely in form; clad in tiger-skin; adorned with dreadful ornaments of serpents; beloved of Ganga and the moon; Lord of Kashi; remover of the heap of Kali’s sins; a wish-fulfilling tree of auspiciousness; worthy of praise; spouse of Girija; ocean of virtues; destroyer of desire. May that Shankara—who grants even the rarest liberation to the holy, and chastises the wicked—bestow peace upon me.

Verse 102 (दोहा/सोरठा)

लव निमेष परमानु जुग बरष कलप सर चंड। भजसि न मन तेहि राम को कालु जासु कोदंड।। सिंधु बचन सुनि राम सचिव बोलि प्रभु अस कहेउ। अब बिलंबु केहि काम करहु सेतु उतरै कटकु।। सुनहु भानुकुल केतु जामवंत कर जोरि कह। नाथ नाम तव सेतु नर चढ़ि भव सागर तरिहिं।।

lava nimeṣa paramāṇu juga baraṣa kalapa sara caṃḍa | bhajasi na mana tehi rāma ko kālu jāsu kodaṃḍa || siṃdhu bacana suni rāma saciva boli prabhu asa kaheu | aba bilaṃbu kehi kāma karahu setu utarai kaṭaku || sunahu bhānukula ketu jāṃbavaṃta kara jori kaha | nātha nāma tava setu nara caṛhi bhava sāgara tarihiṃ ||

Instants, blinks, atoms of time—ages, years, and cycles—are all fierce as arrows; yet your mind does not adore that Rama whose very bow subdues Time. Hearing the Ocean’s words, the Lord summoned his ministers and said, “Why delay now? Build the bridge; let the host cross over.” Then Jambavan, with folded hands, spoke: “O banner of the Solar line! Your Name itself is a bridge—by mounting it, beings shall cross the ocean of existence.”

Verse 103 (चौपाई)

यह लघु जलधि तरत कति बारा। अस सुनि पुनि कह पवनकुमारा।। प्रभु प्रताप बड़वानल भारी। सोषेउ प्रथम पयोनिधि बारी। तब रिपु नारी रुदन जल धारा। भरेउ बहोरि भयउ तेहिं खारा।। सुनि अति उकुति पवनसुत केरी। हरषे कपि रघुपति तन हेरी।। जामवंत बोले दोउ भाई। नल नीलहि सब कथा सुनाई।। राम प्रताप सुमिरि मन माहीं। करहु सेतु प्रयास कछु नाहीं।। बोलि लिए कपि निकर बहोरी। सकल सुनहु बिनती कछु मोरी।। राम चरन पंकज उर धरहू। कौतुक एक भालु कपि करहू।। धावहु मर्कट बिकट बरूथा। आनहु बिटप गिरिन्ह के जूथा।। सुनि कपि भालु चले करि हूहा। जय रघुबीर प्रताप समूहा।।

yaha laghu jaladhi tarata kati bārā | asa suni puni kaha pavan-kumārā || prabhu pratāpa baḍavānala bhārī | soṣeu prathama payonidhi bārī || taba ripu nārī rudana jala dhārā | bhareu bahori bhayau tehiṃ khārā || suni ati ukuti pavan-suta kerī | haraṣe kapi raghupati tana herī || jāṃbavaṃta bole dou bhāī | nala nīlahi saba kathā sunāī || rāma pratāpa sumiri mana māhīṃ | karahu setu prayāsa kachu nāhīṃ || boli liye kapi nikara bahorī | sakala sunahu binatī kachu morī || rāma carana paṅkaja ura dharahū | kautuka eka bhālu kapi karahū || dhāvahu markaṭ bikaṭa barūthā | ānahu biṭapa girinh ke jūthā || suni kapi bhālu cale kari hūhā | jaya raghubīra pratāpa samūhā ||

“How many times have we crossed this little sea?”—so spoke again the Son of the Wind. “The Lord’s might is a mighty submarine fire: once it drank up the ocean’s waters. Then the enemy’s women wept streams of tears; the waters filled again, and thus it became salt.” Hearing Hanuman’s piercing words, the monkeys rejoiced, gazing upon Rama’s form. Jambavan spoke to the two brothers and told Nala and Nila the whole account. “Hold Rama’s power within your hearts: build the bridge—no effort will be hard.” Then he gathered the monkey host again: “All of you listen to a small request of mine. Keep Rama’s lotus-feet enshrined in your hearts; and let bears and monkeys perform a wondrous deed. Run, O monkeys, in fierce battalions; bring trees and heaps of mountains.” Hearing this, bears and monkeys rushed with a shout—“Victory to Raghuvir, a very mass of might!”

Verse 104 (दोहा/सोरठा)

अति उतंग गिरि पादप लीलहिं लेहिं उठाइ। आनि देहिं नल नीलहि रचहिं ते सेतु बनाइ।।1।।

ati utaṅga giri pādapa līlahiṃ lehiṃ uṭhāi | āni dehiṃ nala nīlahi raca-hiṃ te setu banāi ||1||

Lofty mountains and trees they lift as mere play; bringing them, they hand them to Nala and Nila, who set them in order and build the bridge.

Verse 105 (चौपाई)

सैल बिसाल आनि कपि देहीं। कंदुक इव नल नील ते लेहीं।। देखि सेतु अति सुंदर रचना। बिहसि कृपानिधि बोले बचना।। परम रम्य उत्तम यह धरनी। महिमा अमित जाइ नहिं बरनी।। करिहउँ इहाँ संभु थापना। मोरे हृदयँ परम कलपना।। सुनि कपीस बहु दूत पठाए। मुनिबर सकल बोलि लै आए।। लिंग थापि बिधिवत करि पूजा। सिव समान प्रिय मोहि न दूजा।। सिव द्रोही मम भगत कहावा। सो नर सपनेहुँ मोहि न पावा।। संकर बिमुख भगति चह मोरी। सो नारकी मूढ़ मति थोरी।।

saila bisāla āni kapi dehīṃ | kaṃduka iva nala nīla te lehīṃ || dekhi setu ati suṃdara racanā | bihasi kṛpā-nidhi bole bacanā || parama ramya uttama yaha dharanī | mahimā amita jāi nahiṃ baranī || karihaūṃ ihāṃ saṃbhu thāpanā | more hṛdayaṃ parama kalapanā || suni kapīsa bahu dūta paṭhāe | munibara sakala boli lai āe || liṃga thāpi bidhi-vata kari pūjā | siva samāna priya mohi na dūjā || siva drohī mama bhagata kahāvā | so nara sapanehūṃ mohi na pāvā || saṃkara bimukha bhagati caha morī | so nārakī mūṛha mati thorī ||

Bringing vast rocks, the monkeys deliver them; Nala and Nila take them up as easily as a ball. Seeing the bridge’s most beautiful design, the ocean of compassion smiled and spoke: “This land is supremely fair and excellent; its boundless glory cannot be told. Here I shall establish Shambhu—this is the highest resolve of my heart.” Hearing this, the lord of the monkeys sent many messengers; all the great sages were summoned. A linga was established, and worship was performed according to rule. “None is dearer to me than Shiva. Whoever calls himself my devotee yet bears hostility to Shiva—such a man shall never attain me, even in dream. He who turns away from Shankara and yet desires devotion to me—he is bound for hell, of dull and petty understanding.”

Verse 106 (दोहा/सोरठा)

संकर प्रिय मम द्रोही सिव द्रोही मम दास। ते नर करहि कलप भरि धोर नरक महुँ बास।।2।।

Śaṅkara priya mama drohī, Śiva-drohī mama dāsa. Te nara karahiṁ kalapa bhari ghora naraka mahuṁ bāsa. ||2||

He who is hostile to me is dear to Shankara; and he who is hostile to Shiva is hostile to me—for Shiva is my servant. Such men must dwell for a whole aeon in dreadful hell.

Verse 107 (चौपाई)

जे रामेस्वर दरसनु करिहहिं। ते तनु तजि मम लोक सिधरिहहिं।। जो गंगाजलु आनि चढ़ाइहि। सो साजुज्य मुक्ति नर पाइहि।। होइ अकाम जो छल तजि सेइहि। भगति मोरि तेहि संकर देइहि।। मम कृत सेतु जो दरसनु करिही। सो बिनु श्रम भवसागर तरिही।। राम बचन सब के जिय भाए। मुनिबर निज निज आश्रम आए।। गिरिजा रघुपति कै यह रीती। संतत करहिं प्रनत पर प्रीती।। बाँधा सेतु नील नल नागर। राम कृपाँ जसु भयउ उजागर।। बूड़हिं आनहि बोरहिं जेई। भए उपल बोहित सम तेई।। महिमा यह न जलधि कइ बरनी। पाहन गुन न कपिन्ह कइ करनी।।

Je Rāmeśvara darasanu karihahiṁ, te tanu taji mama loka sidharahiṁ. Jo Gaṅgā-jalu āni caṛhāihi, so sāyujya mukti nara pāihi. Hoi akāma jo chala taji seihi, bhagati mori tehi Śaṅkara deihi. Mama kṛta setu jo darasanu karihī, so binu śrama bhava-sāgara tarihī. Rāma bacana saba ke jiya bhāe, muni-bara nija nija āśrama āe. Girijā Raghupati kai yaha rītī, santa-ta karahiṁ pranata para prītī. Bāṁdhā setu Nīla Nala nāgara, Rāma kṛpā̃ jasu bhayau ujāgara. Būṛhahiṁ ānahi bōrahahiṁ jeī, bhae upala bōhita sama teī. Mahimā yaha na jaladhi kai baranī, pāhana guna na kapinha kai karanī.

They who behold Rameshwar, on quitting the body shall attain my own abode. He who brings and offers Ganga-water shall obtain the liberation of union. Whoever, free from desire and abandoning deceit, worships there—Shankar grants him devotion to me. And whoever beholds the bridge built by me crosses the ocean of existence without toil. Rama’s words pleased every heart; the great sages returned each to his hermitage. O Girija, such is Raghupati’s way: he ever cherishes love for the humble who bow. Nila and Nala, skilled in craft, built the bridge; by Rama’s grace their fame shone forth. Stones that would sink and drown others became like boats. Yet this is not the ocean’s greatness, nor the stones’ virtue, nor the monkeys’ feat.

Verse 108 (दोहा/सोरठा)

श्री रघुबीर प्रताप ते सिंधु तरे पाषान। ते मतिमंद जे राम तजि भजहिं जाइ प्रभु आन।।3।।

Śrī Raghubīra pratāpa te sindhu tare pāṣāna. Te mati-manda je Rāma taji bhajahiṁ jāi prabhu āna. ||3||

By the majesty of the glorious hero Raghubir, even stones crossed the sea; truly dull are they who abandon Rama and go to bow before some other lord.

Verse 109 (चौपाई)

बाँधि सेतु अति सुदृढ़ बनावा। देखि कृपानिधि के मन भावा।। चली सेन कछु बरनि न जाई। गर्जहिं मर्कट भट समुदाई।। सेतुबंध ढिग चढ़ि रघुराई। चितव कृपाल सिंधु बहुताई।। देखन कहुँ प्रभु करुना कंदा। प्रगट भए सब जलचर बृंदा।। मकर नक्र नाना झष ब्याला। सत जोजन तन परम बिसाला।। अइसेउ एक तिन्हहि जे खाहीं। एकन्ह कें डर तेपि डेराहीं।। प्रभुहि बिलोकहिं टरहिं न टारे। मन हरषित सब भए सुखारे।। तिन्ह की ओट न देखिअ बारी। मगन भए हरि रूप निहारी।। चला कटकु प्रभु आयसु पाई। को कहि सक कपि दल बिपुलाई।।

Bāṁdhi setu ati sudṛḍha banāvā, dekhi kṛpānidhi ke mana bhāvā. Calī sena kachu barani na jāī, garjahiṁ markaṭ bhaṭ samudāī. Setu-bandha ḍhiga caṛhi Raghurāī, citava kṛpāla sindhu bahutāī. Dekhana kahuṁ prabhu karunā kandā, pragaṭa bhae saba jalacara bṛndā. Makara nakra nānā jhaṣa byālā, sata jojana tana parama bisālā. Aisēu eka tinhahi je khāhīṁ, ekanha keṁ ḍara tepi ḍerāhīṁ. Prabhahi bilokahiṁ ṭarahiṁ na ṭāre, mana haraṣita saba bhae sukhāre. Tinh kī oṭa na dekhi-a bārī, magana bhae Hari rūpa nihārī. Calā kaṭaku prabhu āyasu pāī, ko kahi saka kapi dala bipulāī.

Having bound the bridge, they made it exceedingly firm; the treasure of compassion beheld it and was pleased at heart. The army moved—no words can describe it—while the monkey warriors roared in a mass. Raghurai climbed near the bridge-work and, the gracious Lord, gazed upon the boundless sea. To behold the Lord, the mine of pity, all the hosts of sea-creatures appeared—makaras, crocodiles, many fishes and monstrous serpents, their bodies enormous, a hundred yojanas long. Some were such as would devour the rest; yet even they were afraid of others. They kept looking upon the Lord and would not turn away; their hearts rejoiced and they were comforted. Not seeking cover in the waters, they were absorbed in beholding Hari’s form. At the Lord’s command the host advanced—who can tell the vastness of the monkey-battalions?

Verse 110 (दोहा/सोरठा)

सेतुबंध भइ भीर अति कपि नभ पंथ उड़ाहिं। अपर जलचरन्हि ऊपर चढ़ि चढ़ि पारहि जाहिं।।4।।

Setu-bandha bhai bhīra ati, kapi nabha pantha uṛāhiṁ. Apara jalacaranhi ūpara caṛhi caṛhi pārhi jāhiṁ. ||4||

There was a mighty press upon the bridge: some monkeys took the sky-path and flew across, while others, climbing again and again upon the sea-creatures, reached the farther shore.

Verse 111 (चौपाई)

अस कौतुक बिलोकि द्वौ भाई। बिहँसि चले कृपाल रघुराई।। सेन सहित उतरे रघुबीरा। कहि न जाइ कपि जूथप भीरा।। सिंधु पार प्रभु डेरा कीन्हा। सकल कपिन्ह कहुँ आयसु दीन्हा।। खाहु जाइ फल मूल सुहाए। सुनत भालु कपि जहँ तहँ धाए।। सब तरु फरे राम हित लागी। रितु अरु कुरितु काल गति त्यागी।। खाहिं मधुर फल बटप हलावहिं। लंका सन्मुख सिखर चलावहिं।। जहँ कहुँ फिरत निसाचर पावहिं। घेरि सकल बहु नाच नचावहिं।। दसनन्हि काटि नासिका काना। कहि प्रभु सुजसु देहिं तब जाना।। जिन्ह कर नासा कान निपाता। तिन्ह रावनहि कही सब बाता।। सुनत श्रवन बारिधि बंधाना। दस मुख बोलि उठा अकुलाना।।

asi kautuka biloki dvau bhāī | bihaṁsi cale kṛpāla raghurāī || sena sahita utare raghu-bīrā | kahi na jāi kapi jūthapa bhīrā || siṁdhu pāra prabhu ḍerā kīnhā | sakala kapinha kahuṁ āyasu dīnhā || khāhu jāi phala mūla suhāe | sunata bhālu kapi jahaṁ tahaṁ dhāe || saba taru phare rāma hita lāgī | ritu aru kuritu kāla gati tyāgī || khāhiṁ madhura phala baṭapa halāvahiṁ | laṅkā sanmukha sikhara calāvahiṁ || jahaṁ kahuṁ phirata nisācara pāvahiṁ | gheri sakala bahu nāca nacāvahiṁ || dasananhi kāṭi nāsikā kānā | kahi prabhu sujasu dehiṁ taba jānā || jinha kara nāsā kāna nipātā | tinha rāvanahi kahī saba bātā || sunata śravaṇa bāridhi-bandhānā | dasa-mukha boli uṭhā akulānā ||

Seeing such a wonder, the two brothers—Rama, the compassionate Lord, and Lakshmana—smiled and moved on. With the whole army the heroes of Raghu’s line descended; the throng of monkey-chieftains was beyond telling. Across the sea the Lord pitched His camp and issued commands to all the monkeys: “Go and eat pleasing fruits and roots.” Hearing this, bears and monkeys ran in every direction. All the trees fruited for Rama’s sake; season and unseason, the common course of time itself, were set aside. They ate sweet fruits, shook the banyans, and hurled crags toward the front of Lanka. Wherever they found roaming rākṣasas, they surrounded them and made them dance in many ways; with their teeth they cut off noses and ears—then, praising the Lord’s fair renown, they let them go. Those whose noses and ears were severed went and told Ravana everything. When the report of the ocean being bound reached his ears, the ten-faced one sprang up, utterly disturbed.

Verse 112 (दोहा/सोरठा)

बांध्यो बननिधि नीरनिधि जलधि सिंधु बारीस। सत्य तोयनिधि कंपति उदधि पयोधि नदीस।।5।।

bāṁdhyo bananidhi nīranidhi jaladhi siṁdhu bārīsa | satya toyanidhi kaṁpati udadhi payodhi nadīsa ||5||

The ocean—vast as a forest, treasury of waters, the sea, Sindhu, lord of the streams—was bound. Before Truth itself the store of waters trembles: the ocean, the milk-bearing deep, the lord of rivers. (5)