Prakarana 8

Verse 148 (चौपाई)

बोलेउ काकभसुंड बहोरी। नभग नाथ पर प्रीति न थोरी।। सब बिधि नाथ पूज्य तुम्ह मेरे। कृपापात्र रघुनायक केरे।। तुम्हहि न संसय मोह न माया। मो पर नाथ कीन्ह तुम्ह दाया।। पठइ मोह मिस खगपति तोही। रघुपति दीन्हि बड़ाई मोही।। तुम्ह निज मोह कही खग साईं। सो नहिं कछु आचरज गोसाईं।। नारद भव बिरंचि सनकादी। जे मुनिनायक आतमबादी।। मोह न अंध कीन्ह केहि केही। को जग काम नचाव न जेही।। तृस्नाँ केहि न कीन्ह बौराहा। केहि कर हृदय क्रोध नहिं दाहा।।

boleu kākabhasuṇḍa bahorī | nabhaga nātha para prīti na thorī || saba bidhi nātha pūjya tumha mere | kṛpā-pātra raghunāyaka kere || tumhahi na saṃsaya moha na māyā | mo para nātha kīnha tumha dāyā || paṭhai moha misa khagapati tohī | raghupati dīnhi baṛāī mohī || tumha nija moha kahī khaga-sāīṃ | so nahiṃ kachu ācaraja gosāīṃ || nārada bhava birañci sanakādī | je muni-nāyaka ātamabādī || moha na aṃdha kīnha kehi kehī | ko jaga kāma nacāva na jehī || tṛsnā̃ kehi na kīnha baurāhā | kehi kara hṛdaya krodha nahiṃ dāhā ||

Kakabhushundi spoke again: “O Lord of the sky-birds, your love is no small thing. In every way, O master, you are worthy of my worship—one specially favoured by Raghu’s Lord. In you there is no doubt, no delusion, no Maya; on me, O master, you have shown compassion. Raghupati sent you (here) under the pretext of delusion, and thereby granted honour to me. That you should speak of your own delusion, O king of birds—there is nothing astonishing in it, O revered sir. Narada, Shiva, Brahma, Sanaka and the rest—those leaders of sages who proclaim the Self— whom has delusion not blinded? Who in the world has not been made to dance by Desire? Whom has craving not driven mad? In whose heart has anger not burned?”

Verse 149 (दोहा/सोरठा)

ग्यानी तापस सूर कबि कोबिद गुन आगार। केहि कै लौभ बिडंबना कीन्हि न एहिं संसार।।70(क)।। श्री मद बक्र न कीन्ह केहि प्रभुता बधिर न काहि। मृगलोचनि के नैन सर को अस लाग न जाहि।।70(ख)।।

gyānī tāpasa sūra kabi kobida guna āgāra | kehi kai laubha biḍambanā kīnhi na ehiṃ saṃsāra || 70(ka) || śrī mada bakra na kīnha kehi prabhutā badhira na kāhi | mṛgalocani ke naina sara ko asa lāga na jāhi || 70(kha) ||

“The wise, the austere, the heroic, the poet, the learned—nay, even one who is a very treasury of virtues: whom has greed not mocked in this world? Whom has the pride of prosperity not warped? Whom has power not made deaf? And on whom do the arrow-glances of the doe-eyed enchantress fail to strike?”

Verse 150 (चौपाई)

गुन कृत सन्यपात नहिं केही। कोउ न मान मद तजेउ निबेही।। जोबन ज्वर केहि नहिं बलकावा। ममता केहि कर जस न नसावा।। मच्छर काहि कलंक न लावा। काहि न सोक समीर डोलावा।। चिंता साँपिनि को नहिं खाया। को जग जाहि न ब्यापी माया।। कीट मनोरथ दारु सरीरा। जेहि न लाग घुन को अस धीरा।। सुत बित लोक ईषना तीनी। केहि के मति इन्ह कृत न मलीनी।। यह सब माया कर परिवारा। प्रबल अमिति को बरनै पारा।। सिव चतुरानन जाहि डेराहीं। अपर जीव केहि लेखे माहीं।।

guna kṛta sannyapāta nahiṃ kehī | kou na māna mada tajeu nibehī || jobana jvara kehi nahiṃ balakāvā | mamatā kehi kara jasa na nasāvā || macchara kāhi kalaṅka na lāvā | kāhi na soka samīra ḍolāvā || ciṃtā sā̃pini ko nahiṃ khāyā | ko jaga jāhi na byāpī māyā || kīṭa manoratha dāru sarīrā | jehi na lāga ghuna ko asa dhīrā || suta bita loka īṣanā tīnī | kehi ke mati inha kṛta na malīnī || yaha saba māyā kara parivārā | prabala amiti ko baranai pārā || siva caturānana jāhi ḍerāhīṃ | apara jīva kehi lekhe māhīṃ ||

“Whom has not the outbreak born of virtues (turned to self-display) seized? Who has steadfastly abandoned the intoxication of honour? Whom has the fever of youth not driven wild? Whose glory has possessiveness not ruined? Who is untouched by envy’s stain? Whom has the wind of grief not shaken? Whom has the serpent of anxiety not devoured? Who in the world is not pervaded by Maya? This body is like wood; petty desires are the worms—who is so firm that the woodworm does not gnaw? Three longings—son, wealth, and worldly fame—whose mind have these not sullied? All these are Maya’s retinue—mighty and immeasurable; who can describe its extent? When even Shiva and four-faced Brahma are alarmed by it, what lesser creature can be counted as beyond it?”

Verse 151 (दोहा/सोरठा)

ब्यापि रहेउ संसार महुँ माया कटक प्रचंड।। सेनापति कामादि भट दंभ कपट पाषंड।।71(क)।। सो दासी रघुबीर कै समुझें मिथ्या सोपि। छूट न राम कृपा बिनु नाथ कहउँ पद रोपि।।71(ख)।।

byāpi raheu saṃsāra mahũ māyā kaṭaka pracaṇḍa || senāpati kāmādi bhaṭ daṃbha kapaṭa pāṣaṇḍa || 71(ka) || so dāsī raghubīra kai samujheṃ mithyā sopi | chūṭa na rāma kṛpā binu nātha kahaũ pada ropi || 71(kha) ||

“Across the world is spread Māyā’s fierce army; its commander is Desire, and its soldiers are hypocrisy, deceit, and sham dharma. Yet that Māyā is but the handmaid of Raghu’s Hero—know her to be false, and sleep no more in delusion. Without Rāma’s grace, O master, none is released—this I declare, setting my foot firmly.”

Verse 152 (चौपाई)

जो माया सब जगहि नचावा। जासु चरित लखि काहुँ न पावा।। सोइ प्रभु भ्रू बिलास खगराजा। नाच नटी इव सहित समाजा।। सोइ सच्चिदानंद घन रामा। अज बिग्यान रूपो बल धामा।। ब्यापक ब्याप्य अखंड अनंता। अखिल अमोघसक्ति भगवंता।। अगुन अदभ्र गिरा गोतीता। सबदरसी अनवद्य अजीता।। निर्मम निराकार निरमोहा। नित्य निरंजन सुख संदोहा।। प्रकृति पार प्रभु सब उर बासी। ब्रह्म निरीह बिरज अबिनासी।। इहाँ मोह कर कारन नाहीं। रबि सन्मुख तम कबहुँ कि जाहीं।।

jo māyā saba jagahi nacāvā | jāsu carita lakhi kāhũ na pāvā || soi prabhu bhrū bilāsa khaga-rājā | nāca naṭī iva sahita samājā || soi saccidānanda ghana rāmā | aja bigyāna rūpo bala dhāmā || byāpaka byāpya akhaṇḍa anaṃtā | akhila amogha-sakti bhagavaṃtā || aguna adabhra girā gotītā | sabadarasī anavadya ajītā || nirmama nirākāra niramohā | nitya nirañjana sukha saṃdohā || prakṛti pāra prabhu saba ura bāsī | brahma nirīha biraja abināsī || ihā̃ moha kara kārana nāhīṃ | rabi sanmukha tama kabahũ ki jāhīṃ ||

“That very Māyā which makes the whole world dance—whose workings none can fully fathom— that same power, O king of birds, dances like an actress with all her troupe, at the mere play of the Lord’s eyebrow. That Lord is Rāma: the solid fullness of Sat–Cit–Ānanda—unborn, pure Knowledge embodied, the very abode of Śakti. All-pervading and yet indwelling, undivided and infinite—the Blessed One of unfailing might. Beyond the guṇas, beyond speech and mind; all-seeing, stainless, unconquerable. Without ‘mine-ness’, formless, free from delusion; eternally pure, a treasury of bliss. Beyond Prakṛti, dwelling in every heart—Brahman, desireless, passionless, imperishable. Here there is no cause for bewilderment: can darkness ever remain before the sun?”

Verse 153 (दोहा/सोरठा)

भगत हेतु भगवान प्रभु राम धरेउ तनु भूप। किए चरित पावन परम प्राकृत नर अनुरूप।।72(क)।।

bhagata hetu bhagavāna prabhu rāma dhareu tanu bhūpa | kiye carita pāvana parama prākṛta nara anurūpa ||72(ka)||

For the devotee’s sake the Blessed Lord, Śrī Rāma, assumed a human body as a king; and He performed deeds supremely purifying—wholly natural, and befitting a man.

Verse 154 (चौपाई)

जथा अनेक बेष धरि नृत्य करइ नट कोइ। सोइ सोइ भाव देखावइ आपुन होइ न सोइ।।72(ख)।।

jathā aneka beṣa dhari nṛtya karai naṭa koi | soi soi bhāva dekhāvai āpuna hoi na soi ||72(kha)||

As an actor dons many costumes and performs his dance—displaying every sentiment—yet never becomes what he enacts, so it is.

Verse 155 (दोहा/सोरठा)

असि रघुपति लीला उरगारी। दनुज बिमोहनि जन सुखकारी।। जे मति मलिन बिषयबस कामी। प्रभु मोह धरहिं इमि स्वामी।। नयन दोष जा कहँ जब होई। पीत बरन ससि कहुँ कह सोई।। जब जेहि दिसि भ्रम होइ खगेसा। सो कह पच्छिम उयउ दिनेसा।। नौकारूढ़ चलत जग देखा। अचल मोह बस आपुहि लेखा।। बालक भ्रमहिं न भ्रमहिं गृहादीं। कहहिं परस्पर मिथ्याबादी।। हरि बिषइक अस मोह बिहंगा। सपनेहुँ नहिं अग्यान प्रसंगा।। मायाबस मतिमंद अभागी। हृदयँ जमनिका बहुबिधि लागी।। ते सठ हठ बस संसय करहीं। निज अग्यान राम पर धरहीं।।

asi raghupati līlā uragārī | danuja bimohani jana sukhakārī || je mati malina biṣaya-basa kāmī | prabhu moha dharahim imi svāmī || nayana doṣa jā kahaṁ jaba hoī | pīta barana sasi kahuṁ kaha soī || jaba jehi disi bhrama hoi khagesā | so kaha pacchima uyau dinesā || naukārūṛha calata jaga dekhā | acala moha basa āpuhī lekhā || bālaka bhramahim na bhramahim gṛha-ādīṁ | kahahim paraspara mithyābādīṁ || hari biṣaika asa moha bihaṅgā | sapanehuṁ nahiṁ ajñāna prasaṅgā || māyābasa matimanda abhāgī | hṛdayaṁ jamanikā bahubidhi lāgī || te saṭha haṭha basa saṁsaya karahīṁ | nija ajñāna rāma para dharahīṁ ||

Such is Raghupati’s līlā, O foe of serpents: it bewilders the demonic, yet brings solace to the Lord’s own. Those whose minds are stained—enslaved to sense-objects and desire—imagine the Master Himself to be deluded. When there is a flaw in one’s eyes, one calls even the moon “yellow.” And when a bird is disoriented, it declares the sun to have risen in the west. A man seated in a boat sees the shore as moving; in delusion he deems himself still. Children err, not the elders of the house—yet they accuse one another of falsehood. So too, O bird, such delusion is only “about Hari”; in Him there is not, even in dream, any occasion for ignorance. But the unfortunate, dull-witted, under Māyā’s sway, have many veils drawn across the heart. Those fools, through obstinacy, raise doubts and lay their own ignorance upon Rāma.

Verse 156 (चौपाई)

काम क्रोध मद लोभ रत गृहासक्त दुखरूप। ते किमि जानहिं रघुपतिहि मूढ़ परे तम कूप।।73(क)।।

kāma krodha mada lobha rata gṛhāsakta dukharūpa | te kimi jānahim raghupatihi mūṛha pare tama kūpa ||73(ka)||

Absorbed in lust, anger, pride, and greed—ensnared in household attachment, the very form of sorrow—how can such deluded men know Raghupati, fallen into the dark well?

Verse 157 (दोहा/सोरठा)

निर्गुन रूप सुलभ अति सगुन जान नहिं कोइ। सुगम अगम नाना चरित सुनि मुनि मन भ्रम होइ।।73(ख)।।

nirguna rūpa sulabha ati saguna jāna nahiṁ koi | sugama agama nānā carita suni muni mana bhrama hoi ||73(kha)||

The Nirguṇa Reality is supremely easy of access—yet none truly comprehends the Saguṇa. Hearing His countless deeds, even sages’ minds grow perplexed: at once “near at hand,” and “beyond reach.”

Verse 158 (चौपाई)

राम कृपा आपनि जड़ताई। कहउँ खगेस सुनहु मन लाई।। जब जब राम मनुज तनु धरहीं। भक्त हेतु लीला बहु करहीं।। तब तब अवधपुरी मैं ज़ाऊँ। बालचरित बिलोकि हरषाऊँ।। जन्म महोत्सव देखउँ जाई। बरष पाँच तहँ रहउँ लोभाई।। इष्टदेव मम बालक रामा। सोभा बपुष कोटि सत कामा।। निज प्रभु बदन निहारि निहारी। लोचन सुफल करउँ उरगारी।। लघु बायस बपु धरि हरि संगा। देखउँ बालचरित बहुरंगा।।

rāma kṛpā āpani jaṛatāī | kahuṁ khageśa sunahu mana lāī || jaba jaba rāma manuja tanu dharahīṁ | bhakta hetu līlā bahu karahīṁ || taba taba avadhapurī maiṁ jāūṁ | bālacarita biloki haraṣāūṁ || janma mahotsava dekhauṁ jāī | baraṣa pāṁca tahaṁ rahauṁ lobhāī || iṣṭadeva mama bālaka rāmā | sobhā bapuṣ koṭi sata kāmā || nija prabhu badana nihāri-nihārī | locana suphala karauṁ uragārī || laghu bāyasa bapu dhari hari saṅgā | dekhauṁ bālacarita bahuraṅgā ||

By Rāma’s grace—though my understanding is dull—I speak; O lord of birds, listen with a mind made attentive. Whenever Rāma assumes a human form, He performs many playful acts for the sake of His devotees. Then, again and again, I go to Ayodhyā, and rejoicing, behold His childhood sports. I go to witness the great festival of His birth, and, enchanted, I remain there five years. My chosen Lord is the child Rāma; the beauty of His form surpasses hundreds of millions of Kāmas. Gazing and gazing upon my Master’s face, I make my eyes fruitful, O enemy of serpents. Taking the body of a little crow and staying near Hari, I watch His many-hued childhood līlās.

Verse 159 (दोहा/सोरठा)

लरिकाईं जहँ जहँ फिरहिं तहँ तहँ संग उड़ाउँ। जूठनि परइ अजिर महँ सो उठाइ करि खाउँ।।75(क)।। एक बार अतिसय सब चरित किए रघुबीर। सुमिरत प्रभु लीला सोइ पुलकित भयउ सरीर।।75(ख)।।

larikāīṁ jahaṁ jahaṁ phirahīṁ tahaṁ tahaṁ saṅga uṛāūṁ | jūṭhani parai ajira maṁha so uṭhāi kari khāūṁ || 75(ka) || eka bāra atisaya saba carita kiye raghubīra | sumirata prabhu līlā soi pulakita bhayau sarīra || 75(kha) ||

In His childhood, wherever He would roam, there I would fly along with Him. If crumbs fell in the courtyard, I would pick them up and eat. Once, when Raghubīr performed all His deeds in a most wondrous way, remembering that very līlā of the Lord, my body thrilled with rapture.

Verse 160 (चौपाई)

कहइ भसुंड सुनहु खगनायक। रामचरित सेवक सुखदायक।। नृपमंदिर सुंदर सब भाँती। खचित कनक मनि नाना जाती।। बरनि न जाइ रुचिर अँगनाई। जहँ खेलहिं नित चारिउ भाई।। बालबिनोद करत रघुराई। बिचरत अजिर जननि सुखदाई।। मरकत मृदुल कलेवर स्यामा। अंग अंग प्रति छबि बहु कामा।। नव राजीव अरुन मृदु चरना। पदज रुचिर नख ससि दुति हरना।। ललित अंक कुलिसादिक चारी। नूपुर चारू मधुर रवकारी।। चारु पुरट मनि रचित बनाई। कटि किंकिन कल मुखर सुहाई।।

kahai bhasuṇḍa sunahu khaganāyaka | rāmacarita sevaka sukhadāyaka || nṛpamandira sundara saba bhāṁtī | khacita kanaka mani nānā jātī || barani na jāi rucira aṅganāī | jahaṁ khelahiṁ nita cāriu bhāī || bālabinoda karata raghurāī | bicarata ajira janani sukhadāī || marakata mṛdula kalevara syāmā | aṅga aṅga prati chabi bahu kāmā || nava rājīva aruna mṛdu caranā | padaja rucira nakha sasi duti haranā || lalita aṅka kulisādika cārī | nūpura cāru madhura ravakārī || cāru puraṭa mani racita banāī | kaṭi kiṅkina kala mukhara suhāī ||

Bhūṣuṇḍi said: Listen, O lord of birds—Rāma’s कथा bestows joy upon His servants. The royal palace was beautiful in every way, studded with gold and gems of many kinds. The lovely courtyards cannot be described, where the four brothers play each day. Raghurāī sports in childish play, moving about the courtyard, delighting His mother. His soft dark body was like an emerald; in every limb His beauty outshone countless Kāmas. His tender lotus-feet were reddish like newly blossomed lotuses; the lovely nails stole the moon’s luster. Graceful anklets and other ornaments shone; charming bells rang sweetly. A lovely girdle wrought of gold and gems—its waist-bells tinkled with pleasing music.

Verse 161 (दोहा/सोरठा)

रेखा त्रय सुन्दर उदर नाभी रुचिर गँभीर। उर आयत भ्राजत बिबिध बाल बिभूषन चीर।।76।।

rekhā traya sundara udara nābhī rucira gaṁbhīra | ura āyata bhrājata bibidha bāla bibhūṣana cīra || 76 ||

Three lovely lines adorned His abdomen; His navel was fair and deep. His broad chest shone, arrayed in varied childish ornaments and garments.

Verse 162 (चौपाई)

अरुन पानि नख करज मनोहर। बाहु बिसाल बिभूषन सुंदर।। कंध बाल केहरि दर ग्रीवा। चारु चिबुक आनन छबि सींवा।। कलबल बचन अधर अरुनारे। दुइ दुइ दसन बिसद बर बारे।। ललित कपोल मनोहर नासा। सकल सुखद ससि कर सम हासा।। नील कंज लोचन भव मोचन। भ्राजत भाल तिलक गोरोचन।। बिकट भृकुटि सम श्रवन सुहाए। कुंचित कच मेचक छबि छाए।। पीत झीनि झगुली तन सोही। किलकनि चितवनि भावति मोही।। रूप रासि नृप अजिर बिहारी। नाचहिं निज प्रतिबिंब निहारी।। मोहि सन करहीं बिबिध बिधि क्रीड़ा। बरनत मोहि होति अति ब्रीड़ा।। किलकत मोहि धरन जब धावहिं। चलउँ भागि तब पूप देखावहिं।।

aruna pāni nakha karaja manohara | bāhu bisāla bibhūṣana sundara || kaṅdha bāla kehari-dara grīvā | cāru cibuka ānana chabi sīṁvā || kalabala bacana adhara arunāre | dui dui dasana bisada bara bāre || lalita kapola manohara nāsā | sakala sukhada sasi kara sama hāsā || nīla kañja locana bhava mocana | bhrājata bhāla tilaka gorocana || bikaṭa bhṛkuṭi sama śravan suhāe | kuñcita kaca mecaka chabi chāe || pīta jhīni jhagulī tana sohī | kilakani citavani bhāvati mohī || rūpa rāsi nṛpa ajira bihārī | nācahiṁ nija pratibiṁba nihārī || mohi sana karahīṁ bibidha bidhi krīḍā | baranata mohi hoti ati brīḍā || kilakata mohi dharana jaba dhāvahīṁ | calauṁ bhāgi taba pūpa dekhāvahīṁ ||

His lotus-like hands were ruddy, His nails bright; His broad arms were lovely with ornaments. His shoulders were stout, his neck like a young lion’s; his chin was charming—his face’s beauty beyond measure. His babbling words, his lips reddened; two and two bright teeth, excellently set. Graceful cheeks, a lovely nose; a moon-and-camphor smile that grants all joy. Blue-lotus eyes that free one from worldly becoming; on his forehead shone a tilak of sacred gorocan. His brows were bold; his matching ears were fair; curled dark hair poured forth its splendor. A thin little yellow robe suited his body; his playful glances delighted me. A very heap of beauty, roaming the king’s courtyard, he danced on seeing his own reflection. With me he played in many ways—speaking of it makes me feel shy. Laughing, when he ran to catch me, I would flee; then he would show me a sweet cake.

Verse 163 (दोहा/सोरठा)

आवत निकट हँसहिं प्रभु भाजत रुदन कराहिं। जाउँ समीप गहन पद फिरि फिरि चितइ पराहिं।।77(क)।। प्राकृत सिसु इव लीला देखि भयउ मोहि मोह। कवन चरित्र करत प्रभु चिदानंद संदोह।।77(ख)।।

āvata nikaṭa haṁsahiṁ prabhu bhājata rudana karāhiṁ | jāuṁ samīpa gahana pada phiri-phiri citai parāhiṁ ||77(ka)|| prākṛta sisu iva līlā dekhi bhayau mohi moha | kavana caritra karata prabhu cidānanda saṁdoha ||77(kha)||

As I drew near, the Lord would smile; when I rushed toward Him, He would cry out and wail as though afraid. When I came close, again and again He would glance back and dart away—His ways were unfathomable. Seeing this play, like that of an ordinary child, I was utterly bewildered: what wondrous act is the Lord performing—He who is a very treasury of Consciousness and Bliss?

Verse 164 (चौपाई)

एतना मन आनत खगराया। रघुपति प्रेरित ब्यापी माया।। सो माया न दुखद मोहि काहीं। आन जीव इव संसृत नाहीं।। नाथ इहाँ कछु कारन आना। सुनहु सो सावधान हरिजाना।। ग्यान अखंड एक सीताबर। माया बस्य जीव सचराचर।। जौं सब कें रह ग्यान एकरस। ईस्वर जीवहि भेद कहहु कस।। माया बस्य जीव अभिमानी। ईस बस्य माया गुनखानी।। परबस जीव स्वबस भगवंता। जीव अनेक एक श्रीकंता।। मुधा भेद जद्यपि कृत माया। बिनु हरि जाइ न कोटि उपाया।।

etanā mana ānata khagarāyā | raghupati prērīta byāpī māyā || so māyā na dukhada mohi kāhīṁ | āna jīva iva saṁsṛta nāhīṁ || nātha ihāṁ kachu kārana ānā | sunahu so sāvadhāna harijānā || gyāna akhaṇḍa eka sītābara | māyā basya jīva sacarācara || jauṁ saba keṁ raha gyāna eka-rasa | īswara jīvahi bhēda kahahu kasa || māyā basya jīva abhimānī | īsa basya māyā guṇakhānī || parabasa jīva svabasa bhagavaṁtā | jīva anēka eka śrīkaṁtā || mudhā bhēda jadyapi kṛta māyā | binu hari jāi na kōṭi upāyā ||

‘This much,’ said the king of birds, ‘I can understand: by the Lord’s prompting, māyā spreads everywhere. Yet that māyā does not afflict me at all; unlike other beings, I am not bound to saṁsāra. But, O Master, there is some other reason here—tell it clearly, O knower of Hari. Knowledge is one, unbroken, O Bridegroom of Sita; and yet all living beings, moving and unmoving, are under māyā. If the same single, uniform knowledge abides in all, how can you speak of difference between the Lord and the soul? The soul, swollen with ego, is under māyā; the Lord, a treasury of qualities, holds māyā under His sway. The soul is dependent; the Blessed Lord is self-sovereign. Souls are many; the Lord of Lakshmi is One. Though māyā has fashioned a seeming difference, it cannot be overcome by a million devices without Hari.’

Verse 165 (दोहा/सोरठा)

रामचंद्र के भजन बिनु जो चह पद निर्बान। ग्यानवंत अपि सो नर पसु बिनु पूँछ बिषान।।78(क)।। राकापति षोड़स उअहिं तारागन समुदाइ। सकल गिरिन्ह दव लाइअ बिनु रबि राति न जाइ।।78(ख)।।

rāmacandra ke bhajana binu jo caha pada nirbāna | gyānavanta api so nara pasu binu pūṁcha biṣāna ||78(ka)|| rākāpati ṣōṛasa uahiṁ tārāgana samudāi | sakala girinha dava lāia binu rabi rāति na jāi ||78(kha)||

Without devotion to Rāmacandra, whoever longs for the state of liberation—even if learned—is but a beast in human form, lacking only tail and horns. Though the lord of the full-moon night rises complete in all sixteen phases amid a host of stars, still night does not depart without the sun—even if you set every mountain ablaze.

Verse 166 (चौपाई)

ऐसेहिं हरि बिनु भजन खगेसा। मिटइ न जीवन्ह केर कलेसा।। हरि सेवकहि न ब्याप अबिद्या। प्रभु प्रेरित ब्यापइ तेहि बिद्या।। ताते नास न होइ दास कर। भेद भगति भाढ़इ बिहंगबर।। भ्रम ते चकित राम मोहि देखा। बिहँसे सो सुनु चरित बिसेषा।। तेहि कौतुक कर मरमु न काहूँ। जाना अनुज न मातु पिताहूँ।। जानु पानि धाए मोहि धरना। स्यामल गात अरुन कर चरना।। तब मैं भागि चलेउँ उरगामी। राम गहन कहँ भुजा पसारी।। जिमि जिमि दूरि उड़ाउँ अकासा। तहँ भुज हरि देखउँ निज पासा।।

aiseehiṁ hari binu bhajana khagēsā | miṭai na jīvanha kera kalēsā || hari sēvakahi na byāpa abidyā | prabhu prērīta byāpai tehi bidyā || tātē nāsa na hōi dāsa kara | bhēda bhagati bhāṛhai bihaṁgabara || bhrama tē cakita rāma mohi dēkhā | bihaṁsē so sunu carita bisēṣā || tehi kautuka kara maramu na kāhūṁ | jānā anuj na mātu pitāhūṁ || jānu pāni dhāē mohi dharanā | syāmala gāta aruna kara caranā || taba maiṁ bhāgi calēuṁ uragāmī | rāma gahana kahaṁ bhujā pasārī || jimi-jimi dūri uṛāuṁ akāsā | tahiṁ bhuj hari dēkhauṁ nija pāsā ||

So it is, O lord of birds: without devotion to Hari, the afflictions of living beings do not cease. Ignorance does not overpower the Lord’s servant; by the Lord’s own prompting, that saving knowledge prevails in him. Therefore a servant is not ‘destroyed’ by māyā; rather, the very sense of difference only makes devotion grow, O best of birds. In my confusion Rama looked at me, astonished, and smiled—listen to this special marvel. No one grasped the secret of that sport—not His younger brother, nor His mother and father. As if to seize me with His hands, He ran—dark of limb, with rosy hands and feet. Then I fled, swift as a serpent; but Rama, inscrutable, stretched out His arms toward me. The more I flew far into the sky, the more I saw the Lord’s arms right beside me.

Verse 167 (दोहा/सोरठा)

ब्रह्मलोक लगि गयउँ मैं चितयउँ पाछ उड़ात। जुग अंगुल कर बीच सब राम भुजहि मोहि तात।।79(क)।। सप्ताबरन भेद करि जहाँ लगें गति मोरि। गयउँ तहाँ प्रभु भुज निरखि ब्याकुल भयउँ बहोरि।।79(ख)।।

brahmaloka lagi gayauṁ maiṁ citayauṁ pācha uṛāta | juga aṅgula kara bīca saba rāma bhujahi mohi tāta ||79(ka)|| saptābaraṇa bhēda kari jahāṁ lagēṁ gati mōri | gayauṁ tahāṁ prabhu bhuja nirakhi byākula bhayauṁ bahōri ||79(kha)||

I flew as far as Brahmaloka, and looking back as I sped on, I saw Rāma’s arms still only a two-finger span away. Piercing through the seven cosmic enclosures to the limit of my flight, I went there too—yet on seeing the Lord’s arms, I was again overwhelmed and distraught.