Prakarana 10

Verse 188 (चौपाई)

बिनु संतोष न काम नसाहीं। काम अछत सुख सपनेहुँ नाहीं।। राम भजन बिनु मिटहिं कि कामा। थल बिहीन तरु कबहुँ कि जामा।। बिनु बिग्यान कि समता आवइ। कोउ अवकास कि नभ बिनु पावइ।। श्रद्धा बिना धर्म नहिं होई। बिनु महि गंध कि पावइ कोई।। बिनु तप तेज कि कर बिस्तारा। जल बिनु रस कि होइ संसारा।। सील कि मिल बिनु बुध सेवकाई। जिमि बिनु तेज न रूप गोसाई।। निज सुख बिनु मन होइ कि थीरा। परस कि होइ बिहीन समीरा।। कवनिउ सिद्धि कि बिनु बिस्वासा। बिनु हरि भजन न भव भय नासा।।

binu santoṣa na kāma nasāhīṃ | kāma achata sukha sapanehũ nāhīṃ || rāma bhajana binu miṭahiṃ ki kāmā | thala bihīna taru kabahũ ki jāmā || binu bigyāna ki samatā āvai | kou avakāsa ki nabha binu pāvai || śraddhā binā dharma nahiṃ hoī | binu mahi gandha ki pāvai koī || binu tapa teja ki kara bistārā | jala binu rasa ki hoi saṃsārā || sīla ki mila binu budha sevakāī | jimi binu teja na rūpa gosāī || nija sukha binu mana hoi ki thīrā | parasa ki hoi bihīna samīrā || kavaniu siddhi ki binu bisvāsā | binu hari bhajana na bhava bhaya nāsā ||

Without contentment, desire is not quelled; while desire remains, there is no happiness—even in a dream. Without worship of Rama, can craving ever be erased? Can a tree sprout without ground? Without true discernment, how can equanimity arise? Can one find space without the sky? Without faith, there is no dharma; can anyone obtain fragrance without the earth? Without austerity, where is the radiance that spreads? Without water, what essence can the world have? Without good conduct, how can the wise possess a servant’s devotion—just as without radiance there is no beauty, O Lord. Without one’s own inner peace, can the mind become steady? Can wind exist without the quality of touch? What attainment is possible without trust? Without Hari’s worship, the fear of worldly becoming is not destroyed.

Verse 189 (दोहा/सोरठा)

बिनु बिस्वास भगति नहिं तेहि बिनु द्रवहिं न रामु। राम कृपा बिनु सपनेहुँ जीव न लह बिश्रामु।।90(क)।। अस बिचारि मतिधीर तजि कुतर्क संसय सकल। भजहु राम रघुबीर करुनाकर सुंदर सुखद।।90(ख)।।

binu bisvāsa bhagati nahiṃ tehi binu dravahiṃ na rāmu | rāma kṛpā binu sapanehũ jīva na laha biśrāmu ||90(ka)|| asa bicāri matidhīra taji kutarka saṃsaya sakala | bhajahu rāma raghubīra karuṇākara sundara sukhada ||90(kha)||

Without trust there is no devotion; and without that, Rama does not melt in compassion. Without Rama’s grace, even in a dream the soul finds no rest. (90ka) Therefore, O steadfast mind, considering this, abandon all crooked disputation and doubt, and worship Rama—Raghu’s hero, the mine of mercy, beautiful and the giver of joy. (90kha)

Verse 190 (चौपाई)

निज मति सरिस नाथ मैं गाई। प्रभु प्रताप महिमा खगराई।। कहेउँ न कछु करि जुगुति बिसेषी। यह सब मैं निज नयनन्हि देखी।। महिमा नाम रूप गुन गाथा। सकल अमित अनंत रघुनाथा।। निज निज मति मुनि हरि गुन गावहिं। निगम सेष सिव पार न पावहिं।। तुम्हहि आदि खग मसक प्रजंता। नभ उड़ाहिं नहिं पावहिं अंता।। तिमि रघुपति महिमा अवगाहा। तात कबहुँ कोउ पाव कि थाहा।। रामु काम सत कोटि सुभग तन। दुर्गा कोटि अमित अरि मर्दन।। सक्र कोटि सत सरिस बिलासा। नभ सत कोटि अमित अवकासा।।

nija mati sarisa nātha maiṃ gāī | prabhu pratāpa mahimā khagarāī || kaheũ na kachu kari juguti biseṣī | yaha saba maiṃ nija nayananhi dekhī || mahimā nāma rūpa guna gāthā | sakala amita anaṃta raghunāthā || nija nija mati muni hari guna gāvahiṃ | nigama seṣa siva pāra na pāvahiṃ || tumhahi ādi khaga masaka prajaṃtā | nabha uṛāhiṃ nahiṃ pāvahiṃ aṃtā || timi raghupati mahimā avagāhā | tāta kabahũ kou pāva ki thāhā || rāmu kāma sata koṭi subhaga tana | durgā koṭi amita ari mardana || sakra koṭi sata sarisa bilāsā | nabha sata koṭi amita avakāsā ||

O Lord, according to my small understanding I have sung of the Lord’s glory, O king of birds. I have said nothing by special contrivance; all this I have seen with my own eyes. The greatness—of Name, Form, qualities, and deeds—of Raghu’s Lord is all immeasurable and endless. Each sage sings Hari’s virtues according to his own measure; even the Vedas, Shesha, and Shiva do not find the far shore. You are primordial—begetting beings from bird to mosquito; yet though they fly through the sky, they do not reach your end. So too, dear one, who can ever fathom the depth of Raghu-pati’s majesty? Rama’s beauty surpasses tens of crores of Kamadevas; His power to crush foes surpasses countless crores of Durgas. His splendor exceeds tens of crores of Indras; His vastness exceeds countless crores of skies.

Verse 191 (दोहा/सोरठा)

मरुत कोटि सत बिपुल बल रबि सत कोटि प्रकास। ससि सत कोटि सुसीतल समन सकल भव त्रास।।91(क)।। काल कोटि सत सरिस अति दुस्तर दुर्ग दुरंत। धूमकेतु सत कोटि सम दुराधरष भगवंत।।91(ख)।।

maruta koṭi sata bipula bala rabi sata koṭi prakāsa | śasi sata koṭi susītala samana sakala bhava trāsa ||91(ka)|| kāla koṭi sata sarisa ati dustara durga duranta | dhūmaketu sata koṭi sama durādharṣa bhagavaṃta ||91(kha)||

His strength is vast as tens of crores of winds; His radiance as tens of crores of suns; His coolness as tens of crores of moons—pacifying all the terrors of worldly becoming. (91ka) He is like tens of crores of Times—an utterly unfordable, dreadful, unapproachable fortress; like tens of crores of comets—an invincible Lord. (91kha)

Verse 192 (चौपाई)

प्रभु अगाध सत कोटि पताला। समन कोटि सत सरिस कराला।। तीरथ अमित कोटि सम पावन। नाम अखिल अघ पूग नसावन।। हिमगिरि कोटि अचल रघुबीरा। सिंधु कोटि सत सम गंभीरा।। कामधेनु सत कोटि समाना। सकल काम दायक भगवाना।। सारद कोटि अमित चतुराई। बिधि सत कोटि सृष्टि निपुनाई।। बिष्नु कोटि सम पालन कर्ता। रुद्र कोटि सत सम संहर्ता।। धनद कोटि सत सम धनवाना। माया कोटि प्रपंच निधाना।। भार धरन सत कोटि अहीसा। निरवधि निरुपम प्रभु जगदीसा।।

prabhu agādha sata koṭi patālā | samana koṭi sata sarisa karālā || tīratha amita koṭi sama pāvana | nāma akhila agha pūga nasāvana || himagiri koṭi acala raghubīrā | siṃdhu koṭi sata sama gaṃbhīrā || kāmadhenu sata koṭi samānā | sakala kāma dāyaka bhagavānā || sārada koṭi amita caturāī | bidhi sata koṭi sṛṣṭi nipunāī || biṣṇu koṭi sama pālana kartā | rudra koṭi sata sama saṃhartā || dhanada koṭi sata sama dhanavānā | māyā koṭi prapaṃca nidhānā || bhāra dharana sata koṭi ahīsā | niravadhi nirupama prabhu jagadīsā ||

The Lord is unfathomable as tens of crores of nether-depths, and awe-inspiring as tens of crores of terrors. He is purifying as countless crores of holy places; His Name destroys the accumulated heaps of all sins. Raghu’s hero is immovable as crores of Himalayas, and deep as tens of crores of oceans. He equals tens of crores of wish-fulfilling cows—God who grants every rightful desire. He has the cleverness of countless crores of Sarasvatis, and the skill of tens of crores of creators in fashioning worlds. He is like crores of Vishnus in preserving, and like tens of crores of Rudras in dissolving. He is wealthy as tens of crores of Kuberas; the treasury of manifoldness as crores of Mayas. He is like tens of crores of Sheshas in bearing the burden—limitless, incomparable, the Lord of the universe.

Verse 193 (छंद)

निरुपम न उपमा आन राम समान रामु निगम कहै॥ जिमि कोटि सत खद्योत सम रबि कहत अति लघुता लहै॥॥ एहि भाँति निज निज मति बिलास मुनिस हरिहि बखानहीं॥ प्रभु भाव गाहक अति कृपाल सप्रेम सुनि सुख मानहीं॥

nirupama na upamā āna rāma samāna rāmu nigama kahai | jimi koṭi sata khadyota sama rabi kahata ati laghutā lahai || ehi bhā̃ti nija nija mati bilāsa munisa harihi bakhānahī̃ | prabhu bhāva gāhaka ati kṛpāla saprema suni sukha mānahī̃ ||

Rama is incomparable—no other likeness can match Him; so declare the Vedas. To call the sun ‘like’ a hundred million fireflies only reveals the littleness of the comparison. In this way, sages describe the Lord according to the play of their own understanding; but the Master, supremely compassionate and a receiver of the heart’s intent, hears with love and is pleased.

Verse 194 (दोहा/सोरठा)

रामु अमित गुन सागर थाह कि पावइ कोइ। संतन्ह सन जस किछु सुनेउँ तुम्हहि सुनायउँ सोइ।।92(क)।।

rāmu amita guna sāgara thāha ki pāvai koi | santanha sana jasa kichu suneũ tumhahi sunāyũ soi || 92(ka) ||

Rama is an immeasurable ocean of virtues—who can find His depth? Whatever I have heard in the company of saints, that alone I have related to you.

Verse 195 (चौपाई)

भाव बस्य भगवान सुख निधान करुना भवन। तजि ममता मद मान भजिअ सदा सीता रवन।।92(ख)।।

bhāva basya bhagavāna sukha nidhāna karuṇā bhavana | taji mamatā mada māna bhaji-a sadā sītā ravana || 92(kha) ||

The Lord—treasure of bliss, abode of compassion—is conquered by loving devotion. Casting off possessiveness, arrogance, and pride, worship ever Rama, the beloved of Sita.

Verse 196 (दोहा/सोरठा)

सुनि भुसुंडि के बचन सुहाए। हरषित खगपति पंख फुलाए।। नयन नीर मन अति हरषाना। श्रीरघुपति प्रताप उर आना।। पाछिल मोह समुझि पछिताना। ब्रह्म अनादि मनुज करि माना।। पुनि पुनि काग चरन सिरु नावा। जानि राम सम प्रेम बढ़ावा।। गुर बिनु भव निधि तरइ न कोई। जौं बिरंचि संकर सम होई।। संसय सर्प ग्रसेउ मोहि ताता। दुखद लहरि कुतर्क बहु ब्राता।। तव सरूप गारुड़ि रघुनायक। मोहि जिआयउ जन सुखदायक।। तव प्रसाद मम मोह नसाना। राम रहस्य अनूपम जाना।।

suni bhusuṇḍi ke bacana suhāe | haraṣita khagapati paṅkha phulāe || nayana nīra mana ati haraṣānā | śrīraghupati pratāpa ura ānā || pāchila moha samujhi pachitānā | brahma anādi manuja kari mānā || puni puni kāga carana siru nāvā | jāni rāma sama prema baṛhāvā || guru binu bhava nidhi tarai na koī | jaũ birañci saṅkara sama hoī || saṃsaya sarpa graseu mohi tātā | dukhada lahari kutarka bahu brātā || tava sarūpa gāruṛi raghunāyaka | mohi jiāyu jana sukhadāyaka || tava prasāda mama moha nasānā | rāma rahasya anūpama jānā ||

Hearing Bhushundi’s lovely words, the lord of birds rejoiced and spread his wings in delight. Tears filled his eyes and his heart overflowed with joy; the glory of Shri Raghupati entered his breast. He understood his former delusion and repented—he who had deemed the beginningless Brahman a mere man. Again and again he bowed his head at the crow’s feet; knowing him to be equal in love for Rama, his affection grew. Without a guru none can cross the ocean of becoming, even if one be like Brahma or Shankara. The serpent of doubt had seized me, dear one; painful waves of many false arguments rose up. But your true nature is the Garuda-charm of Raghunatha: you have revived me, bringer of joy to devotees. By your grace my delusion is destroyed; I have come to know the incomparable secret of Rama.

Verse 197 (चौपाई)

ताहि प्रसंसि बिबिध बिधि सीस नाइ कर जोरि। बचन बिनीत सप्रेम मृदु बोलेउ गरुड़ बहोरि।।93(क)।।

tāhi prasaṃsi bibidha bidhi sīsa nāi kara jori | bacana binīta saprema mṛdu boleu garuṛa bahori || 93(ka) ||

Praising him in many ways, bowing his head and joining his hands, Garuda then spoke again—his words gentle, humble, and full of love.

Verse 198 (दोहा/सोरठा)

तुम्हहि न ब्यापत काल अति कराल कारन कवन। मोहि सो कहहु कृपाल ग्यान प्रभाव कि जोग बल।।94(क)।। प्रभु तव आश्रम आएँ मोर मोह भ्रम भाग। कारन कवन सो नाथ सब कहहु सहित अनुराग।।94(ख)।।

tumhahi na byāpat kāla ati karāla kārana kavan | mohi so kahahu kṛpāla gyāna prabhāva ki joga bala ||94(ka)|| prabhu tava āśrama āẽ mora moha bhrama bhāga | kārana kavan so nātha saba kahahu sahita anurāga ||94(kha)||

Time, so terribly fearsome, does not touch you—what is the reason? Tell me, O compassionate one: is it the power of knowledge, or the force of yoga? Lord, the moment I came to your hermitage my delusion and bewilderment fled. O Master, tell me fully—and with loving regard—what is the cause of this.

Verse 199 (चौपाई)

गरुड़ गिरा सुनि हरषेउ कागा। बोलेउ उमा परम अनुरागा।। धन्य धन्य तव मति उरगारी। प्रस्न तुम्हारि मोहि अति प्यारी।। सुनि तव प्रस्न सप्रेम सुहाई। बहुत जनम कै सुधि मोहि आई।। सब निज कथा कहउँ मैं गाई। तात सुनहु सादर मन लाई।। जप तप मख सम दम ब्रत दाना। बिरति बिबेक जोग बिग्याना।। सब कर फल रघुपति पद प्रेमा। तेहि बिनु कोउ न पावइ छेमा।। एहि तन राम भगति मैं पाई। ताते मोहि ममता अधिकाई।। जेहि तें कछु निज स्वारथ होई। तेहि पर ममता कर सब कोई।।

garuṛa girā suni haraṣeu kāgā | boleu umā parama anurāgā || dhanya dhanya tava mati uragārī | prasn tumhāri mohi ati pyārī || suni tava prasn sa-prema suhāī | bahuta janama kai sudhi mohi āī || saba nija kathā kahaũ maĩ gāī | tāta sunahu sādara mana lāī || japa tapa makha sama dama brata dānā | birati bibeka joga bigyānā || saba kara phala raghupati pada premā | tehi binu kou na pāvai chemā || ehi tana rāma bhagati maĩ pāī | tāte mohi mamatā adhikāī || jehi tẽ kachu nija svāratha hoī | tehi para mamatā kara saba koī ||

Hearing Garuda’s words, the crow rejoiced, and spoke with deepest love—‘O Uma!’ ‘Blessed, blessed is your understanding, O foe of serpents; your question is exceedingly dear to me. On hearing your loving and fitting inquiry, the memory of many births has returned to me. I shall sing my own story in full; dear one, listen with a respectful, attentive mind. Japa and austerity, sacrifice, calm and restraint, vows and charity; renunciation, discernment, yoga and spiritual knowledge— the fruit of them all is love for the feet of Raghupati; without that, none attains true welfare. In this very body I obtained devotion to Rama; therefore my attachment to it is great. To whatever yields one’s own good—toward that, everyone bears possessive love.’

Verse 200 (दोहा/सोरठा)

पन्नगारि असि नीति श्रुति संमत सज्जन कहहिं। अति नीचहु सन प्रीति करिअ जानि निज परम हित।।95(क)।। पाट कीट तें होइ तेहि तें पाटंबर रुचिर। कृमि पालइ सबु कोइ परम अपावन प्रान सम।।95(ख)।।

pannagāri asi nīti śruti sammata sajjana kahahĩ | ati nīcahu sana prīti kari-a jāni nija parama hita ||95(ka)|| pāṭ kīṭ tẽ hoi tehi tẽ pāṭaṁbara rucira | kṛmi pālai sabu koi parama apāvana prāna sama ||95(kha)||

O foe of serpents, such is the maxim—endorsed by sacred authority and spoken by the virtuous: befriend even the very lowly, knowing it to be one’s highest good. From a mere worm comes silk, and from that, a lovely silken robe; everyone nurtures the worm—though most impure—deeming it as precious as life.

Verse 201 (चौपाई)

स्वारथ साँच जीव कहुँ एहा। मन क्रम बचन राम पद नेहा।। सोइ पावन सोइ सुभग सरीरा। जो तनु पाइ भजिअ रघुबीरा।। राम बिमुख लहि बिधि सम देही। कबि कोबिद न प्रसंसहिं तेही।। राम भगति एहिं तन उर जामी। ताते मोहि परम प्रिय स्वामी।। तजउँ न तन निज इच्छा मरना। तन बिनु बेद भजन नहिं बरना।। प्रथम मोहँ मोहि बहुत बिगोवा। राम बिमुख सुख कबहुँ न सोवा।। नाना जनम कर्म पुनि नाना। किए जोग जप तप मख दाना।। कवन जोनि जनमेउँ जहँ नाहीं। मैं खगेस भ्रमि भ्रमि जग माहीं।। देखेउँ करि सब करम गोसाई। सुखी न भयउँ अबहिं की नाई।। सुधि मोहि नाथ जन्म बहु केरी। सिव प्रसाद मति मोहँ न घेरी।।

svāratha sā̃ca jīva kahũ ehā | mana krama bacana rāma pada nehā || soi pāvana soi subhaga sarīrā | jo tanu pāi bhaji-a raghubīrā || rāma bimukha lahi bidhi sama dehī | kabi kobida na prasaṁsahĩ tehī || rāma bhagati ehĩ tana ura jāmī | tāte mohi parama priya svāmī || tajaũ na tana nija icchā marnā | tana bina beda bhajana nahĩ barnā || prathama mohã mohi bahuta bigovā | rāma bimukha sukha kabahũ na sovā || nānā janama karma puni nānā | kie joga japa tapa makha dānā || kavana joni janameũ jahã nāhī̃ | maĩ khagesa bhrami bhrami jaga māhī̃ || dekheũ kari saba karama gosāī | sukhī na bhayaũ abahĩ kī nāī̃ || sudhi mohi nātha janma bahu kerī | siva prasāda mati mohã na gherī ||

True self-interest for a living being is this: love for Rama’s feet in mind, deed, and speech. That body alone is holy, that alone is blessed, which—having obtained it—one uses to adore Raghubir. Even if one gains a body as exalted as the Creator’s, if turned away from Rama, poets and the wise do not praise it. Devotion to Rama took root in my heart in this very body; therefore this master is supremely dear to me. I do not cast off this body, nor wish for death; without the body, Vedic worship cannot be performed. At first delusion greatly harmed me; turned away from Rama, I never slept in happiness. Birth after birth, deeds of many kinds I did—yoga, japa, austerity, sacrifices, and gifts. What womb have I not been born in? I, O king of birds, wandered and wandered through the world. Having done every sort of action, O Lord, I was not happy as I am now. O Master, I remember many births; by Shiva’s grace my mind is no longer encircled by delusion.

Verse 202 (दोहा/सोरठा)

प्रथम जन्म के चरित अब कहउँ सुनहु बिहगेस। सुनि प्रभु पद रति उपजइ जातें मिटहिं कलेस।।96(क)।। पूरुब कल्प एक प्रभु जुग कलिजुग मल मूल। नर अरु नारि अधर्म रत सकल निगम प्रतिकूल।।96(ख)।।

prathama janma ke carita aba kahaũ sunahu bihagesa | suni prabhu pada rati upajai jātẽ miṭahĩ kalesa ||96(ka)|| pūruba kalpa eka prabhu juga kali-juga mala mūla | nara aru nāri adharma rata sakala nigama pratikūla ||96(kha)||

Now I shall tell the tale of my first birth—listen, O lord of birds; hearing it, love for the Lord’s feet will arise, and thereby afflictions will be dispelled. In a former aeon there was an age—Kali, the very root of defilement—when men and women were devoted to unrighteousness, opposed to the whole order of the Vedas.

Verse 203 (चौपाई)

तेहि कलिजुग कोसलपुर जाई। जन्मत भयउँ सूद्र तनु पाई।। सिव सेवक मन क्रम अरु बानी। आन देव निंदक अभिमानी।। धन मद मत्त परम बाचाला। उग्रबुद्धि उर दंभ बिसाला।। जदपि रहेउँ रघुपति रजधानी। तदपि न कछु महिमा तब जानी।। अब जाना मैं अवध प्रभावा। निगमागम पुरान अस गावा।। कवनेहुँ जन्म अवध बस जोई। राम परायन सो परि होई।। अवध प्रभाव जान तब प्रानी। जब उर बसहिं रामु धनुपानी।। सो कलिकाल कठिन उरगारी। पाप परायन सब नर नारी।।

tehi kali-juga kosalapura jāī | janmata bhayuṁ sūdra tanu pāī || siva sevaka mana krama aru bānī | āna deva nindaka abhimānī || dhana mada matta parama bācālā | ugra-buddhi ura dambha bisālā || jadapi raheuṁ raghupati rajadhānī | tadapi na kachu mahimā taba jānī || aba jānā maiṁ avadha prabhāvā | nigamāgama purāna asa gāvā || kavanehuṁ janma avadha basa joī | rāma-parāyana so pari hoī || avadha prabhāva jāna taba prānī | jaba ura basahiṁ rāmu dhanupānī || so kali-kāla kaṭhina ura-gārī | pāpa-parāyana saba nara nārī ||

In that Kali age I went to Kosala-city and was born taking a Shudra body. I was a servant of Shiva in mind, deed, and speech, yet proud and a reviler of other gods. Drunk with the arrogance of wealth, excessively glib, of fierce intellect, with a vast store of hypocrisy in my heart. Though I lived in the capital of Raghupati, even then I did not recognize its glory. Now I have understood the power of Avadh, as Veda, Agama, and Purana proclaim. Whoever in any birth dwells in Avadh becomes, surely, one devoted to Rama. A creature understands Avadh’s greatness only when Rama, bow in hand, dwells within the heart. Such is the hard, inward-burning Kali time: all men and women are bent toward sin.

Verse 204 (दोहा/सोरठा)

कलिमल ग्रसे धर्म सब लुप्त भए सदग्रंथ। dंभिन्ह निज मति कल्पि करि प्रगट किए बहु पंथ।।97(क)।। भए लोग सब मोहबस लोभ ग्रसे सुभ कर्म। सुनु हरिजान ग्यान निधि कहउँ कछुक कलिधर्म।।97(ख)।।

kali-mala grasē dharma saba lupta bhae sadgrantha | dambhinha nija mati kalpi kari pragaṭa kiē bahu pantha || 97(ka) || bhae loga saba moha-basa lobha grasē subha karma | sunu hari-jāna jñāna-nidhi kahauṁ kachuka kali-dharma || 97(kha) ||

Kali’s stain has swallowed up all dharma; the true scriptures have fallen into obscurity. Hypocrites, inventing doctrines by their own wit, have set forth many paths. People have come wholly under delusion; greed has devoured righteous deeds. Listen, O devotee of Hari, treasure of wisdom: I shall tell a little of Kali’s ‘religion.’

Verse 205 (चौपाई)

बरन धर्म नहिं आश्रम चारी। श्रुति बिरोध रत सब नर नारी।। द्विज श्रुति बेचक भूप प्रजासन। कोउ नहिं मान निगम अनुसासन।। मारग सोइ जा कहुँ जोइ भावा। पंडित सोइ जो गाल बजावा।। मिथ्यारंभ दंभ रत जोई। ता कहुँ संत कहइ सब कोई।। सोइ सयान जो परधन हारी। जो कर दंभ सो बड़ आचारी।। जौ कह झूँठ मसखरी जाना। कलिजुग सोइ गुनवंत बखाना।। निराचार जो श्रुति पथ त्यागी। कलिजुग सोइ ग्यानी सो बिरागी।। जाकें नख अरु जटा बिसाला। सोइ तापस प्रसिद्ध कलिकाला।।

barana-dharma nahiṁ āśrama cārī | śruti-birodha rata saba nara nārī || dvija śruti-bēcaka bhūpa prajā-sana | kou nahiṁ mānai nigama anusāsana || māraga soī jā kahuṁ joī bhāvā | paṇḍita soī jo gāla bajāvā || mithyā-ārambha dambha rata joī | tā kahuṁ santa kahai saba koī || soī sayāna jo para-dhana hārī | jo kara dambha so baṛa ācārī || jau kaha jhūṁṭha masakharī jānā | kali-juga soī guṇavanta bakhānā || nirācāra jo śruti patha tyāgī | kali-juga soī gyānī so birāgī || jākeṁ nakha aru jaṭā bisālā | soī tāpasa prasiddha kali-kālā ||

There is no regard for varna-duty, nor for the four ashramas; all men and women delight in opposing the Shruti. Brahmins sell the Veda; kings exist only to rule—none accepts the discipline of revelation. The ‘path’ is whatever each happens to like; the ‘scholar’ is the one who makes the loudest noise. Whoever is devoted to false enterprises and hypocrisy—everyone calls him a saint. The clever man is the one who robs another’s wealth; the one who parades hypocrisy is hailed as a great moralist. If one knows lying and buffoonery, in Kali he is praised as ‘virtuous’. The one without conduct who abandons the Shruti’s way—he, in Kali, is called learned and detached. He whose nails and matted locks are huge—he alone becomes famous as an ascetic in the black age.

Verse 206 (दोहा/सोरठा)

असुभ बेष भूषन धरें भच्छाभच्छ जे खाहिं। तेइ जोगी तेइ सिद्ध नर पूज्य ते कलिजुग माहिं।।98(क)।। जे अपकारी चार तिन्ह कर गौरव मान्य तेइ। मन क्रम बचन लबार तेइ बकता कलिकाल महुँ।।98(ख)।।

aśubha bēṣa bhūṣana dharēṁ bhaccha-abhaccha jē khāhiṁ | tēi jogī tēi siddha nara pūjya tē kali-juga māhiṁ || 98(ka) || jē apakārī cāra tinh kara gaurava mānya tēi | mana krama bacana labāra tēi bakatā kali-kāla mahuṁ || 98(kha) ||

Those who wear impure guises and ornaments, and who eat what is fit and unfit alike— those very men are honored in Kali as yogis and siddhas. Those who are harmful yet smooth and clever—such are granted prestige. Those who are liars in mind, act, and speech—those are the celebrated orators in the Kali time.

Verse 207 (चौपाई)

नारि बिबस नर सकल गोसाई। नाचहिं नट मर्कट की नाई।। सूद्र द्विजन्ह उपदेसहिं ग्याना। मेलि जनेऊ लेहिं कुदाना।। सब नर काम लोभ रत क्रोधी। देव बिप्र श्रुति संत बिरोधी।। गुन मंदिर सुंदर पति त्यागी। भजहिं नारि पर पुरुष अभागी।। सौभागिनीं बिभूषन हीना। बिधवन्ह के सिंगार नबीना।। गुर सिष बधिर अंध का लेखा। एक न सुनइ एक नहिं देखा।। हरइ सिष्य धन सोक न हरई। सो गुर घोर नरक महुँ परई।। मातु पिता बालकन्हि बोलाबहिं। उदर भरै सोइ धर्म सिखावहिं।।

nāri-bibasa nara sakala gosāī | nācahiṁ naṭa markaṭa kī nāī || sūdra dvijanha upadēsahiṁ gyānā | mēli janēū lēhiṁ kudānā || saba nara kāma lobha rata krodhī | dēva bipra śruti santa birodhī || guṇa-mandira sundara pati tyāgī | bhajahiṁ nāri para-puruṣa abhāgī || saubhāginīṁ bibhūṣana hīnā | bidhavanha kē siṅgāra nabīnā || guru ṣiṣa badhira andha kā lēkhā | ēka na sunai ēka nahiṁ dēkhā || harai ṣiṣya dhana sōka na haraī | sō guru ghōra naraka mahuṁ paraī || mātu pitā bālakanhi bolābahiṁ | udara bharai sōi dharma sikhāvahiṁ ||

Men, mastered by women, imagine themselves lords of all; they dance like actors and monkeys. Shudras instruct the twice-born in ‘knowledge’; donning the sacred thread, they take up evil ways. All men are given to lust, greed, and wrath—opposed to gods, Brahmins, Shruti, and saints. Women, forsaking their handsome husbands—abodes of virtue—pursue other men, unfortunate ones. Fortunate wives go without adornment; widows take up new finery. Guru and disciple are like the deaf and the blind: one does not hear, the other does not see. That guru who steals the disciple’s wealth yet does not remove his sorrow—he falls into dreadful hell. Mothers and fathers summon their children; whoever fills the belly is the one who teaches ‘dharma.’

Verse 208 (दोहा/सोरठा)

ब्रह्म ग्यान बिनु नारि नर कहहिं न दूसरि बात। कौड़ी लागि लोभ बस करहिं बिप्र गुर घात।।99(क)।। बादहिं सूद्र द्विजन्ह सन हम तुम्ह ते कछु घाटि। जानइ ब्रह्म सो बिप्रबर आँखि देखावहिं डाटि।।99(ख)।।

brahma gyāna binu nāri nara kahahiṁ na dūsari bāta | kauṛī lāgi lobha basa karahiṁ bipra gura ghāta ||99(ka)|| bādahiṁ sūdra dvijanha sana hama tumha te kachu ghāṭi | jānai brahma so biprabara ā̃khi dekhāvahiṁ ḍāṭi ||99(kha)||

Without true knowledge of Brahman, men and women speak of nothing higher. For a mere cowrie, driven by greed, they even betray the Brahmin and the guru. Shudras wrangle with the twice-born—‘In what are we less than you?’—and those who should be the best of Brahmins, though claiming Brahman-knowledge, only glare and scold.