Yamas and Niyamas

 Jai Sri Ram,

Even so the mind control, the five , or the form of self restraint, viz,. non violence, truthfulness, non thieving, continence and non acquisition of property, 

The five Niyamas or religious vows, viz,. those external and internal purity, contentment, austerity, study of sacred books or repetition of the divine name and self surrender to God, are blossoms of these creepers, spiritual enlightenment is their fruit and loving devotion to the feet of Sri Hari constitutes the sap of this fruit of spiritual enlightenment, so declare the Vedas, 

The various other episodes forming part of this narrative are the birds of different colors such as the parrot and the cuckoo, 

The thrill of joy that one experience while to this narrative represents the flower gardens, orchards and groves, and the delight one feels is the sporting of birds, while a noble mind is gardner, who waters the garden, with moisture of love through the charming jars of eyes, 

Jai Siya Ram 

beautiful pearls

  Jai Sri Ram,

The Seven books are the seven beautiful lights of steps, which the soul delights to look upon with the eyes of wisdom, the unqualified and unbounded greatness of Rama, which will be presently discussed, represents the unfathomable, depth of this holy water,

The glory of Rama and Sita constitute the nectorian water, the similes represents the soul ravishing sport of its wavelets, the beautiful caupais represents the thick growth of lotus plants, the various poetic devices constitute the lovely shells that yield beautiful pearls, other alike are cluster of charming lotuses,

The incomparable senses, the beautiful ideas and the elegant expression represents the pollen, honey and fragrance of those flowers respectively, the virtuous acts mentioned therein are the charming swarms of bees, the references to spiritual enlightenments, dispassion and reason represents the swan, 

The implications and involutions and the various excellences and styles of poetry are the lovely fishes of various kinds, the four ends of human existence, viz, worldly riches, religious merits, enjoyment and liberation, the reckoning exhaustion of Jnana that knowledge of God in his absolute formless aspects, and Vijnana that knowledge of qualified divinity both with and without form, the nine sentiments of poetry, and reference to the Japa the muttering of mystic formulae, austerity, Yoga that contemplative unison with God, and detachment from the world and all these represents the charming aquatic creatures of this lake, Eulogies on various men, pious souls and the name of God, these correspond to water birds of various kinds, the assemblage of saints referred to herein are the mango grooves hemming the lake on all sides and piety has been likened to  the vernal season, the exposition of the various types of devotion and the references to forbearance, compassion, and sense control represents the canopies of creepers, 

Jai Siya Ram 

four most beautiful

  Jai Sri Ram,

Invoking Goddess Parvati, and Lord Shiva, I proceed to give a full account as to what this Ramacaritamanasa is like, how it come to be and what lead to its popularity in the world,

Author has polished his composition to the best of his intellect, yet listen to it with sympathetic mind, a refined intellect is catchment area, heart is fathomless depression, Vedas and Puranas constitute the ocean, while holy men represents the clouds which rain down pure, sweet, agreeable and blessed water in the form of Rama's excellent glory, pastimes of a personal God that holy men narrate in extenso are the transparency of this water, which cleans the impurities, while loving devotion, which defies all description, represents its sweetness and coolness, 

The water is beneficial for the paddy crop in the form of virtuous deeds, it is life itself to the devotees of Rama,The same holy water, when it dropped on the soil of intellect, flowed through the beautiful channel of the ears and, collecting the lovely spot called heart, came to the stationary, having remained there for long time, it became clear, agreeable, cool and refreshing,

The four most beautiful excellent dialogue those in between, Bhusandi and Garuda, Shiva and Parvati, Yajnavalakya and Bhardwaj, between tulsidas and other saints, that have been cleverly woven into this narrative are the four lovely Ghatas of this holy and charming lake, 

Jai Siya Ram

Jai Siya Rama 

माघ मकरगत रवि जब होई तीरथपतिहिं आव सब कोई

 

holy and beautiful Ramacaritamanasa

 Jai Sri Ram,

The holy and beautiful Ramacaritamanasa is the delight of sages, it was conceived by Shiva, it puts down the three kind of error, sorrow and indigence, 

It uproots all the evil practices and impurities of the kali age, heaving conceived it, Shiva treasured it in his mind till, when a favorable opportunity presented itself, 

He communicated it to his consort, therefore after due consideration Shiva joyously gave it the excellent title of Ramacaritamanasa, 

I repeat the same delightful and charming story, hear it reverently and attentively, O Noble Souls, 

Jai Siya Ram

abode in sri Rama's heaven

 Jai Sri Ram,

The Very sight and touch of the Sarayu, a dip into its water or a draught from the cleanses one's sins, 

The beautiful town of Ayodhya grants an abode in sri Rama's heaven, it is celebrated through all the worlds belonging to the four species,

That Viviparous, oviparous, sweat born and those shooting from the earth, who so ever shed their mortal coil in Ayodhya are never born again, 

Knowing the town to be charming in everyway, a bestower of all forms of success and storehouse of blessings, I commenced writing this sacred story there, the impulses of lust, arrogance and hypocrisy positively disappears from the mind of those who hear it, 

Jai Siya Ram,  

ninth of lunar month Chaitra,

  Jai Sri Ram,

Rama is infinite, infinite are his virtues,

The dimensions of his story are also immeasurable,

Those whose thoughts are pure will, thereupon, feel no surprise when they hear it, 

With humble supplication to all, proceed to recount the virtues of Rama, I commenced this story in the Samvat year 1631 that 1575 AD, on Tuesday, the ninth of lunar month Chaitra, story shed its luster in Ayodhya, on Rama's birth, infinite sagacious souls and gods come and pay their homage to Rama, and celebrate the Birthday festival, numerous pious men take dip in the holy water of Celestial Sarayu, muttering the name of Sri Rama,

Jai Siya Ram, 

Sri Ekadasi today

 Jai Sri Ram, 

Sri Ekadasi today, a defined day to keep spirit alive in journey of life in the planet through adoration of the day in truth with cult of the day,

Sri Ekadasi is embodiment of eternity to update the truth of eternity individual possesses with, 

A day that not only a tangible help to support self eternally but a truth to impart requisite know how to graduate self in pristine cult of spirit,

Indeed a favorable day which support for fair spiritual evolution of self, to meet the truth of cause eternal, a day beyond words and chapters of Philosophy and ideology, 

Jai Siya Ram,

weaving a strange narrative

   Jai Sri Ram,

The exploits of Rama are delightful to one and all even as the rays of the full moon, they are particularly agreeable and highly beneficial to the mind of the virtuous, who can be compared to the white lily and Cakora bird, 

I shall relate now at some length the seed of the story, how goddess Bhavani questioned lord Sankara and how Sankara answered her questions, weaving a strange narrative round this episode, let no one who should happen not to have heard this anecdote before be surprised to hear it, 

Wise men who hear this uncommon, legend marvel not, for they know there is no limit to the stories of Rama, they are convinced in their heart that Rama has embodied himself forth in diverse ways and that the Ramayana, though consisting of a thousand million verses, is yet infinite,

Great sages have diversely sung the charming stories of Sri Hari, relating as they do to different Kalpas or cycles, bearing this in mind the reader should not entertain any doubt and should hear this narrative reverently and with devotion, 

Jai Siya Rama, 

Manasarovara lake

   Jai Sri Ram,

They are spells and valuable gems as it were for countering the venom of serpents in the form of sensuous enjoyments, the efface of deep marks of evil destiny contained on the forehead,

They are sunbeam, as it were, dispelling the darkness of ignorance, and clouds nourishing the paddy crop in the form of devotees, trees of paradise, as it were, yielding the object of one's desire, easily available for service and gratifying like Vishnu and Shiva, 

Stars as it were adoring the autumnal sky in the shape of the poets mind, and the very life's treasure for the devotees of Rama, a rich harvest of enjoyments as it were, yielding by the totality of one's meritorious deeds and sincerely devoted to the good of the world like holy men,

Sporting in the mind of the devotees as swans in the Manasarovara lake and purifying as the waves of the holy Ganga, the host of the virtues possessed by Sri Rama are like a blazing fire to consume the dry wood of evil ways, fallacious reasoning, mischievous practices, deceit, hypocrisy, and hereby prevailing in kali age,

Jai Siya Ram 

river Mandakini

 Jai Sri Ram,

The story of Sri Rama is the river Mandakini, which washes the foot of Chitrakoot, a guileless heart is mount Chitrakoot, one of the harpy resort of Sri Rama During his wandering in the forest, while pure pure love, says Tulsidasa in which Sita and Rama carry on their divine pastime,

The narratives of Rama is lovely wish yielding gem, and a graceful adornment for saintly wisdom, the host of virtues possessed by Rama are a blessing to the world and bestowers of liberation, riches, religious merit and the divine abode, and the divine abode,

They are true teachers of wisdom, dispassion and Yoga That Contemplative unison with God, and celestial physician that Ashwini kumars for the fell disease of metempsychosis, parents of devotion to Sita Rama and the seed of all holy vows, practices and observances, antidote for sins, agonies and grief and beloved guardian in this as well in that world,

Valliant ministers to king reason and a veritable Agustya drinking up the illimitable ocean of greed, young lions, residing in the forest of the devotee's mind to kill the herd of elephants in the shape of lust, anger, and impurities of the kali age, dear lord Shiva, the slayer of demon Tripura as a highly respectable and most beloved guest, and wish yielding clouds quenching the wild fire of indigence, 

Jai Siya Ram, 

Laxmi sprang from the ocean,

 Jai Sri Ram,

It is beneficent to pious souls, even as goddess Parvati, is friendly to gods, again,it puts an end to hell even as Parvati exterminated the army of demons, 

It flows from the assemblage of saints, even as Laxmi sprang from the ocean, and like the immovable earth it bears the burden of the entire creation, like the sacred river Yamuna in this world it scared away the messengers of Yama, the death god,

It is Holy Kashi, as it were for the liberation of souls, it is dear to Rama as the sacred basil plant and is truly beneficent to Tulsidasa as his own mother, HULASI, it is beloved of Shiva as the river Narmada which has its source in mount Makala, a peak of the Amarakantaka hill,

It is mine of attainments as well as of happiness and prosperity, it is to noble qualities what mother Aditi is to gods, it is culmination as it were of devotion to and love for Sri Rama,  

Jai Siya Ram 

Story of Rama

 Jai Sri Ram,

Said Tulsidas, I heard the same story in the holy Sukaraksetra that modern soron in the western UP, from my preceptor, but as I had no sense in those days of my childhood, I could not follow it full well, both the listener and the reciter of the mysterious story of Rama must be repositories of wisdom,

How, then could I, a dull witted and stupid creature steeped in the impurities of the kali age, expect to follow it, nevertheless, when the preceptor repeated the story time after time, I followed it to be a certain extent according to my poor lights, I shall versify the same in popular tongue, so that my mind derive satisfaction from it, 

Equipped with what little intellect and critical power I possess, I shall write with a heart inspired by Sri Hari, the story I am going to tell is such as will dispel my own doubts, errors and delusion, and will serve as a boat for crossing the stream of mundane existence,

The Story of Rama is a solace to the learned and a source of delight to all men and wipes out the impurities of Kali age, Sri Rama's story is a pea hen for the serpent in the form of kali age, again it is a wooden stick for kindling fire of wisdom, is a cow of plenty in this age of Kali, beautiful life giving herb for the virtuous, veritable river of nectar on the surface of this globe, which shatters the fear of birth and death, is a virtual snake for frog of delusion, 

Jai Siya Rama, 

Shiva imparted it once more to Kakabhusandi

  Jai Sri Ram,

The Ravishing tale was conceived by Sambhu, who graciously communicated to his consort Uma that Goddess Parvati, 

Shiva imparted it once more to Kakabhusandi, a sagacious reality in the form of a crow, knowing to be a devotee of Sri Rama, and one qualified to hear it,

It was Yajnavalikya who received it from Sri Kakabhusandi, and narrated it to a pious sage Bhardwaja, 

Both these, the listener and the reciter are equally virtuous, they know all alike and are more acquainted with the pastimes of Sri Hari, like a emblic myrobalan fruit placed on one's palm, they hold the past, present and future within their knowledge, besides these, other enlightened devotees of Sri Hari too recite hear and understand this story if diverse ways,

Jai Siya Ram, 

The charming Story which Yajnavalkya related to the Good Sage Bhardwaj,

 Jai Sri Ram,

While the Lord sat at the foot of trees, the monkeys perched themselves high on the boughs, Such insolent creatures He exalted to his own position, 

There is no lord so gracious as Rama, O Tulsidasa, your goodness, O Rama, is beneficent to all, if this is a fact, Tulsidas too will be blessed by the same,

Thus revealing my merits and demerits and bowing my head once more to all, I proceed to sing the immaculate glory of the chief of Raghus, by hearing which the impurities of the kali age are wiped away, 

The charming Story which Yajnavalkya related to the Good Sage Bhardwaj, I shall repeat the same dialogue at length, let all good souls hear with a feeling of delight,

Jai Siya Ram,

benevolent Rama

 Jai Sri Ram,

The benevolent Rama will nonetheless respect the devotion and pleasure of this wicked servant, Rama, who made barks out and wise counsellors out of monkeys and bears, everybody calls me a servant of the lord and I my self claim to be one, and Sri Rama puts up with the scoffing remark that a master like Sita's Lord has a servant like Tulsidasa, 

My presumption and error are indeed very great, and, hearing the tale of my sins, even hell has turned up its nose at them, Lord applauded my devotion and spirit on hearing of perceiving and scanning them with the mind's eye,

Lord never cherishes at his mind the lapse, if any, on part of a devotee, while he remembers the latter's spirit a hundred time,

For instance, the very crime of which he had killed Vali even as a huntsman was repeated in the misdemeanour by Sugriva and Vibhishan too was guilty of the same offence, but Sri Rama took no cognizance of it even in a dream, Rama on the other hand, honored them both at his meeting and commented them in open Court, 

Jai Siya Ram

 

2025

 

diffuses joy in all the ten directions

  Jai Sri Ram,

The name repeated with good or evil intention, in an angry mood or even while yawning, diffuses joy in all the ten directions, remembering that Name and bowing my head to Lord, and proceed to recount the virtues of Rama, 

Rama is a noble Lord, and poor servant like me, yet, true to his own disposition, that storehouse of compassion has fostered me, in the world as well as in the Vedas we observe the following characteristic in a good master, that he recognize one's devotion to him as soon as he hears one's prayer, 

Rich or a poor, rustic or urban or unlettered of good repute or bad, a good poet or a bad one, all men and woman extol the king according to his or her light, 

The pious, sensible, amiable and supremely compassionate ruler, who takes his descent from a ray of God, greets all with sweet words hearing their compliments and appraising their composition, devotion, supplication and conduct, such is the way of earthly monarchs, to say nothing of Rama, who is crest jewel of wise men, Rama get pleased with unalloyed love, but duller and more impure of mind in this world than I, 

Jai Siya Ram, 

Sri Somvati Amavasya

 Jai Sri Ram,

Sri Somvati Amavasya today, a day to sanctify self in truth of available flux from the celestial bodied on this auspicious occasion of Conjunction of Sun and the Moon on the day of Moon,

A day for fair communication with supreme personality through respective discipline available to mark the self in truth with cult of the day,

Adoration of the day in cult with truth of spirit dissolves the unwanted knots to reach the destined destination designated for spirit in the Garb of Man,

The day is embodiment of eternity in itself to revamp the truth of inherent cult of self for fair compliance of journey in the planet, infinite are the aspects and infinite are the ways to enjoin this divine cult to make it for the cause eternal,

Jai Siya Ram 

neither Karma that action, nor Bhakti

   Jai Sri Ram,

The name of Rama is bestower of one's desired object of this age, it is beneficent in the other world, and one's father and mother in this world, 

In Kaliyuga neither Karma that action, nor Bhakti that devotion, again not that Jnana that true knowledge avails, the name of Rama is the only resort,

The age of Kali is as it were the demon Kalanemi, the repository of all wiles, whereas the name is the wise and mighty Hanuman, 

To use another metaphor, the name of Rama is, as it were, the lord Manifested as a man lion That Narasimhan and the kali age, the demon Hiranyakasipu, Crushing this enemy of gods, the name will protect the devotees repeating it, even as the man-lion protected Prahalada,

Jai Siya Ram

home of beatitude in this age of Kali

  Jai Sri Ram,

The name of Rama is a wish yielding tree, the very home of beatitude in this age of Kali, by remembering which Tulsidasa, the saint poet, was transformed from an intoxicated drug like hemp plant to the holy basil,

Not only in this kali age but in all the four ages, at all times that past present and future and in all the three spheres that heaven, earth ad subterranean, creatures have been rid of grief by repeating the name,

The verdict of Vedas and Puranas as well as saints is just this, that love of Rama, or the name of Rama, is the reward of all virtuous acts,

In the first age, contemplation,,,, in the second age, sacrifice,,,, in the third that dwaper, lord is propitiated through worship,,,, this age of Kali, however, simply corrupt and the root of all impurities, where the mind wallows like fish in the ocean of sin, in this terrible age the name alone is a wish yielding tree, the very thought of which puts an end to all the illusions of the world,

Jai Siya Ram

power of Sri Hari's Name

  Jai Sri Ram,

By the grace of the name alone Lord Shiva is immortal and through endowed with auspicious paraphernalia such as a wealth of skulls, is yet a storehouse of blessings, 

By the grace of Name alone Siddhas that adepts, enjoy divine reptures, Narada realize this truth, that why, that Sri Hari is beloved of the world and Hara is dear to Hari, Narada is dear to both, 

Because of repeating the name, Lord shower his grace of Bhakta Prahlada, it is by remembering the holy name that Hanuman holds Rama under his thumb, 

The vile AJamila and even the celebrated elephant and harlot of the legend were liberated by the power of Sri Hari's Name, I have no word to depict the glory of the Name, not even Rama can adequately glorify it,

Jai Siya Ram,

Sri Ekadasi today,

 Jai Sri Ram,

Sri Ekadasi today, a most meaningful day which could help eternal evolution at its best pitch and pace,

Indeed a cult which could help spirit suitable in fair expansion of self in truth with truth of self in finite body for infinite truth,

There are many cults and cultures to guide the spirit suitably in the journey of life but none equates with cult of Sri Ekadasi which pin point the target directly,

Sri Ekadasi is a comprehensive syllabus for self eternal to reach the peak of civilization eternally in truth with sole cause of being man,

Jai Siya Ram, 

superb glory of the name shines forth in the world

  Jai Sri Ram,

As is well known to all that Sri Rama extended his protection to two devotees, Sugreeva and Vibhishan, his name on the other hand has showered its grace on numerous humble souls, 

This superb glory of the name shines forth in the world as well as in the Vedas, Rama collected an army of monkeys and bears and took no little pain over construction of a bridge to connect mainland with Island, through repetition of his name, the ocean of mundane existence itself gets dried up, 

Let the wise bear this in mind, Rama killed Ravana in battle with all his family and returned to his own city with Sita, then crowned king of Ayodhya, while gods and sages sung his glories in choicest phrases, his servants are however, able to conquer the formidable army of errors by fondly remembering His name, absorbed in devotion, move about in joy which is particularly their own, by the grace of Name they knew not sorrow even in dream, 

The Name is thus greater than Brahma and Rama both and confer blessings even on the bestowers of boons, knowing this in heart, the great Shiva chose this word Rama for himself out of sri Ram's story comprising of 100 crore verses,

Jai Siya Ram

redeemed woman Ahilya

  Jai Sri Ram,

Sri Rama himself redeemed woman Ahilya, the wife of an ascetic, while His Name corrected the error of crores of wicked souls, 

For the Sake of Sage Vishvamitra, Rama wrought the destruction of Suketu's daughter Tadaka with her army and son Subahu, while his name puts an end to the devotees vain hopes along with errors and sorrows even as the sun terminates night,

In his own person Rama broke the bow of Shiva, while the very glory of his name dispels the fear of rebirth, Rama restored the charm of Dandak Van alone, while his Name purifies the mind of countless devotees,

The delighter of Raghus crushed only a host of demons, while his name uproots all the impurities of the Kali age, Rama conferred immortaliy on faithful servant like Sabari, the Bheel woman, Jatayu, the vulture, while his name delivered innumerable wretches,  the tale of its virtues is well known in the Vedas,

Jai Siya Ram,

Brahma is all truth

  Jai Sri Ram,

Brahma is all truth, consciousness and a compact mass of joy, even though such immutable lord is present in every heart, all beings in this world are nonetheless miserable and unhappy, 

Through the practice of the Name preceded by its true appraisement, however, the same Brahma reveals itself even as the value of jewel is revealed by its correct knowledge, 

The Glory of the name is thus infinitely greater that the that of the Absolute, 

For the sake of devotees Rama assumed the form of a human being and, suffering calamities himself, brought relief to the pious, by fondly repeating his name, on the other hand, devotees easily become abodes of joy and blessings, 

Jai Siya Ram,

four kinds of devotees

  Jai Sri Ram,

In this world there are four kinds of devotees of Sri Rama, all of them are virtuous, sinless and noble, all the four are clever as they are, rely upon the NAME, of these the enlightened devotees is specially dear to Rama, glory of name is supreme in all the four Yugas, and all the four Vedas, particularly in Kali age, there is no other mean of salvation, 

Even those who are free from all desires and absorbed in the joy of devotion to Rama, have known their heart as fish into the nectarine lake of supreme affection for the name,

There are two aspects of God, one is unqualified and other is qualified, both are unspeakable, unfathomable, without beginning and without parallel, TO MY MIND GREATER THAN BOTH IS THE NAME, that has established its rule over both by its might,

The two aspects of God should be recognized as akin to fire, the one that represent the fire which is latent in wood, while other that qualified divinity corresponds to that which is externally visible, though both are inaccessible by themselves, they are easily attainable through the Name, therefore I have called the Name is greater than Brahma and Sri Rama both, 

Jai Siya Ram 

Instal the luminous gem in the shape of the divine name Rama

  Jai Sri Ram,

Between the Unqualified Absolute and Qualified divinity, the name is a good intermediary, it is clever interpreter revealing the truth of Both,

Instal the luminous gem in the shape of the divine name Rama, on the threshold of the tongue at the doorway of your mouth, if you will have light both inside and outside,

Yogis and mystics who are full of dispassion and wholly detached from mundane that created by the God through his Maya, keeps awake in the daylight of wisdom, by muttering the Name with their inner truth including tongue and enjoy the felicity of Brahma that absolute, which is incomparable, unspeakable, unmixed with sorrow and devoid of name and form, 

Even those who, the seeker of truth,  aspire to know the mysterious ways of providence are able to comprehend them by muttering the name, strivers that hankering after worldly achievements, repeat the name,,,,absorbed in contemplation, and become accomplished, acquiring super human powers,,,,,, if devotees mutter the name, their worst calamities of the gravest type disappears and they become Happy, 

Jai Siya Ram 

name of Rama

   Jai Sri Ram,

The two letters forming part of the name of Rama crown of all letters, one spreading like an umbrella and the other as a crest jewel, the name and object name, though significance, are allied as master and servant one to other,

The Lord appears in person at the very mention of his name, name and form are two attributes of God, both of them are ineffable and beginningless and can be rightly understood only be means of good intelligence, 

It is presumptuous on one's part to declare as to which is superior or inferior, hearing the distinctive merit of both, pious soul will judge for themselves, forms are found to be subordinate of name, without the name you cannot come to the knowledge of a form, 

Typical forms cannot be identified even if they be in hand, without knowing their name, and if the name is remembered even without seeing the form, the letters flashes on the mind with a special liking for it, mystery of name and form is a tale which cannot be told, though delight to comprehend, it cannot be described in words, 

Jai Siya Ram

easy to remember and delightful to one and all,

  Jai Sri Ram,

Devotion to Rama is, as it were, the rainy season and the noble devotees, represents paddy crop, while the two charming syllables of the Name Rama, stand for the two months of Sravana and Bhadrapada correspond to july and August,

Both the latter sounds are sweet and attractive, they are two eyes, as it were, of the alphabet and the very life of the devotee, easy to remember and delightful to one and all, bring gain here and provide sustenance hereafter, 

They are most delightful to utter, hear and remember and are dear as Rama and Laxman to Tulsidasa, when treated separately, the two letters lose their harmony, differently pronounced, bear diverse meaning in the form of seed letters and as much yield different results, whereas they are naturally allied even as Brahma, the cosmic spirit, and Jiva that individual soul, good brothers like the divine sages Nara and Narayana, they are sustainer of the universe and redeemer of the devotees in particular, 

They are beautiful ornaments of the ears of the fair damsel in the form of Bhakti, and stand as the spotless sun and moon for the good of the world, like taste and the nectar, in the form of emancipation and supporter of the globe like the divine tortoise and the serpent god seas, they are like bees for the beautiful lotus in the shape of devotee's mind and are the very like Hari that Krishna and Haldhar that Balarama, for Yashoda,

Jai Siya Ram

Sita and Rama

 Jai Sri Ram,

I reverence the feet of Sita and Rama, who though state to be different are yet identical just like a word and its meaning or like water and the waves on its surface, and to whom the afflicted are most dear,

I greet the Name Rama, which is composed of seed letters, representing fire god, the sun god, the moon god, is the same Brahma Vishnu and Shiva, the vital breath of Vedas, attributeless, peerless and mine of virtues, 

Shiva mutter this name and which, when imparted by him at Kashi to departed soul, leads to emancipation, Its glory is well known in spheres of all regions, The saint poet Valmiki acquainted with the glory of the name, inasmuch as he attained to purity by repeating it even in reverse order, 

Shiva chant this name before dine which equates the thousand Names, and relate this mystic reality to goddess Gauri, Shiva knows the power of muttering the name, due to which deadly poison served the purpose of nectar to him, 

Jai Siya Ram, 

whose glory has been exalted by Rama himself

  Jai Sri Ram,

I make obeisance to king Janaka,, along with his family, who bore hidden affection for the lous feet of Rama, I bow the Bharata, whose self discipline and religious austerity beggar description, whose mind thirst for the lotus feet of Rama like a bee, I revere the lotus feet of Laxman, charming that delight to devotees, serve the Rama, is no other than thousand head Sesa Naag,

I supplicate Hanuman, the great hero, whose glory has been exalted by Rama himself, I greet Hanuman, the son of wind god, an embodiment of wisdom, who is fire as it were for the wicked, and in the abode of whose heart reside Rama, 

I revere the charming feet of all those who have serve the lotus feet of Rama, including Sugreeva and Vibhishan, Angada and Jambavan and much more, 

I make obeisance in the lotus feet of Devi Sita, daughter of king Janaka, mother of the universe, and the most beloved consort of Rama, the fountain of mercy, and seek to propitiate the pair of her lotus feet, so that by her grace, I may be blessed with refined intellect, 

Jai Siya Rama, 

Shiva and goddess Gauri

  Jai Sri Ram,

I bow to the lotus feet of Sage Valmiki, composer of Ramayana, full in infinite references and glory of Rama, Revere Vedas, bark as it were on the ocean of mundane existence, Greet the dust from the feet of Brahma, who has evolved this ocean in truth with saints and demons, nectar and poison, bodage and liberation, Pray to gods who plays pivotal role in evolution theory for animate and inanimate, 

Bow to goddess Saraswati and celestial Ganga, one wipes the sin through true knowledge other by an holy dip, Adore Shiva and Goddess Gauri, the true benefactor of embodied souls and the saint poet Tulsidas, seeing prevalence of Kali age, evolved a string of spells in the tongue of savages, incoherent syllabus which yields no interpretation, require no repetition but whose efficacy is patent, 

If Shiva and goddess Gauri, are really propitious to me, even in dream, let all that I have said in glorification of this poetry of mine, in popular language, come true,

I reverence the exceedingly Holy city Ayodhya,  and Saryu flowing beside it, which wipes out the sins of Kali age, bow to people of the city, who enjoy the felicity of comprehensive Rama Bhakti, Greet Kaushalya, the eldest queen and the Mother of Rama, is the eastern horizon whence arose loving moon, serve the Brahma as her child, adore the lotus feet of Dasaratha, the king of Ayodhya, who give up his life mare staw the moment Rama parted from him, 

Jai Siya Ram

bridges constructed over the big rivers

  Jai Sri Ram,

If kings get bridges constructed over the big rivers, which are too broad, even the tiniest ants cross them without exertion, reassuring the mind this way, shall narrate the charming story of Rama, many saint poets reverently recounted it, bow to them, 

I make obeisance to the bards of the Kali age, who have sung the virtues of Rama, Revere them all who have narrated the exploits of Rama, including those who have flourished in past, still living and those who yet to come, revere them all, 

The Glory of Rama is charming beyond words, while my speech is rough, am afraid, by your grace this incongruity will turn out well for me, embroidery of silk looks charming even on a coarse cloth,

The wise admire only that poetry which is lucid and portrays a spotless character and which even opponents hear with applause forgetting natural animosity, such poetry is not possible without a refined intellect,I bear limited intellectual power,  therefore I may depict the glory of Lord, I solicit again and again, hearing my childlike prayer and recognizing my refined taste, be kindly disposed towards me,

Jai Siya Ram, 

BEFRIENDER OF THE POOR,

   Jai Sri Ram,

Goddess Saraswati, Sesa, Shiva, Agamas that Tanta and Vedas and Puranas unceasingly sing his virtue Saying NOT THAT, NOT THAT, through all knows the greatness of Lord, but non has refrain from describing it, 

The Vedas has justified it thus they have variously sung the glory of remembering the Lord, who is one, desireless, formless, nameless and unborn, is truth that bliss personified consciousness, indeed supreme effulgence, all pervading, the one who has performed many deeds assuming suitable form, and done for the good his devotees, indeed supremely gracious by nature, and loving to the suppliant, excessively fond of devotees and treat them as his own, 

His greatest feature is that he never frowned at him to whom he has once shown his favour, known for being a restower of what has been lost,  BEFRIENDER OF THE POOR, straightforward and powerful master, 

Knowing thus, the wise sing his glories, thereby hallow and bring supreme reward to their speech, bowing my head to the lotus feet of such Lord, Saints of time and ages have sung his glory to make it easy to follow the very Path unto Him,

JAI SIYA RAM 

the pearls are pierced

  Jai Sri Ram,

If the pearls are pierced with skill and strung together on the beautiful thread of Rama's exploits, and if noble souls wear them in their innocent heart, grace in the form of excessive fondness is result,

Those who are born in the kali age, who though akin to the crow in their doings have put on the garb of a swan, who tread the evil path, abandoning the track of Vedas, who are embodiment of falsehood and repositories of sins of the kali age, imposter by nature claiming to be the devotee of Rama, though slaves of mammon, anger and passion, and unscrupulous, hypothetical and foremost among intriguers, I occupy the first among them, 

Were I to recount all my vices, their tale, will not be limited to describe here, hence mentioned a few, entering in the spirit of my manifold prayer, none should blame me, those who raise objections, even then are more stupid and deficient in intellect than myself, Am not a poet, sing the glories of Rama, according to my own lights,

My intellect that wallow in the world, is poor match for unlimited exploits of Rama, tell me, what account is cotton in the face of the strong wind before which even mountains blown away, realizing the infinite glory of Rama, my mind feels very diffident in proceeding with the story, 

Jai Siya Ram

beauty of a gem

  Jai Sri Ram,

The beauty of a gem, a ruby and a pearl does not catch the eyes as it should long as they are borne on the head of a serpent, the top of the mountain and the crown of an elephant respectively,

The charm of them all is enhanced when they adorn the diadem of a king or the person of a young lady, even so, the wise say, the outpouring of a good poet originate at one place, in the mind of poet, and exercise their charm elsewhere, on the mind of admirer,

Attracted by the devotion, Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of poetry, comes with all speed from the abode of Brahma, the topmost heaven, at his very invocation, the fatigue occasioned by the long journey cannot be relieved by millions of devices unless she takes a dip in the lake of Sri Rama's exploits,

Realizing this in their heart, poets and the wise men chant the glory of Sri Hari alone, which wipes away the impurities of the Kali age, the wise liken the heart of poet to the sea, his intellect to shall containing pearls and goddess Saraswati to the star Svati, if there is a shower in the form of beautiful ideas, lovely pearls make their appearance in the form of poetic effusion, 

Jai Siya Ram 

milk of even a dark cow is white

  Jai Sri Ram,

The tale of Sri Rama brings forth blessings and wipes away the impurities of the Kali age, the course of the stream of my poetry is torturous like that of the holy Ganga,

By the association with the auspicious glory of Rama, my composition will be blessed and will captivate the mind of virtuous, on the person of Lord Shiva, even the ashes of the cremation ground appear charming and purify by their very thought,

My composition will appear extremely delightful to all by its association with the story of Rama, even as timber of every description is transformed into sandal and become worthy of adoration by contact with Malaya mountain, and nobody takes the quality of wood in that region, 

The milk of even a dark cow is white and possesses a great medicinal value and is drunk by all, so do the wise chant and hear the glory of Sita and Rama even though couched in the language of common people,

Jai Siya Ram,  

Sri Mokshda Ekadasi

 

A pretty woman

 Jai Sri Ram,

My composition is devoid of charm but it has only merit, which is known throughout the world, recognizing this merit, men of sound reason, who are gifted with unplased judgement will surely hear it,

It contains the glory of Rama, which is exceedingly holy and very cream of the Puranas and the Vedas, abode of blessings and is muttered by Lord Shiva, the enemy of demon Tripura, along with his consort, Uma, 

Even a composition of marvellous beauty and written by a gifted poet does not command itself without the name of Rama, A pretty woman with a charming appearance and fully adorned doesn't look attractive when undressed,

On the other hand, the wise recite and hear with admiration even the composition of a worthless poet, which is devoid of all merits, knowing it as adorned with the name and Glory of Rama, for, like the bee, saints have bias for goodness, although it has no poetic charm, whatsoever, the glory of Rama is manifest in it, the only hope which flashes on my mind, who has not been exalted by noble company, even smoke from burning aloe wood is impregnated with the latter's fragrance and gives up its natural pungency, my composition is clumsy, treats a commendable theme. the story of Rama which brings felicity to the world,

Jai Siya Ram,

cipher in all art and sciences,

  Jai Sri Ram,

The laughter of the evil minded will benefit me, call the cuckoo hoarse, herons ridicule the swan, frog makes fun of the Cataka bird and malicious deride relined speech, 

To those who have no taste for poetry nor devotion to the feet of Rama, this undertaking of mine will serve as a subject for delightful mirth,

My composition is couched in the popular dialect and my intellect is feeble, hence it is a fit subject for ridicule, and those who laugh shall not incur any blame,

Virtuous will listen this tale of Rama with taste as sweet, I am not poet, nor adept, cipher in all art and sciences, Possesses critical knowledge of none vouch for it in writing on the blank sheet,

Jai Siya Ram

Rocount the virtues of Rama

 Jai Sri Ram,

I would Rocount the virtues of Rama, but my vit is poor, whereas the exploits of Rama are unfathomable, for this I find not the least resources, while I am bankrupt of mind and intellect, my ambition is royal, but my intellect is exceedingly mean, but aspirations are pitched too high, while crave for nectar, I have no mean in this world to procure even butter milk, 

The virtuous will forgive my presumptions, and listen to my childish babbling with interest, when a child prattles in lipsing ascents, the parents hear it with mind full of delight, those, whoever, who are hard heartened, mischievous and perverse and cherish others as an ornament, will feel amused, 

Who does not like one's own poetry, be it delightful or exceedingly insipid, such good people as delight to hear other's composition are rae in the world, the world abounds in men who resemble lakes and rivers, that get swollen with their own rise when waters are added to them,

There is some rare good soul like ocean, which swells at the sight of the full moon, humble is my lot, and my ambition high, my only hope is that all good men will be gratified to hear what I say, while the evil minded will laugh,

Jai Siya Ram, 

emaciator of the moon

  Jai Sri Ram,

Parrots and Mainas nurtured in the house of virtuous and wicked repeat the name of Rama and pour avolly of abuses respectively, smoke coming in contact with an evil earthly substance turns into soot, the same is used as material for copying the Vedas and Puranas, brings life to the world,

The planets, medicines, water, air and cloth prove good or bed in the world according to their good and evil associations, only men endowed with keen inside are able to know this, proportion of moonlight and darkness is same in the bright and the dark fortnight, only two have name differently by the creator,

Knowing one as the nourisher and other as the emaciator of the moon, the world has given it good and the bad name, whatever beings are in this universe either animate or inanimate, recognize them as consisting of Sri Rama, I ever adore the lotus feet of all with joined palms,

I revered the gods, demons, human beings, Nagas, birds, spirits, manes, Gandharva, Kinnaras and Giants, pray gracious to me all on this occasion, Eight million and four hundred thousand species of living beings classified under four broad divisions, inhabit, land, water and sky, recognising them as Full of Sita and Rama, make obeisance to them all with joined palms, knowing me as your servant, be genuinely gracious to me all of you, 

Jai Siya Rama 

Sri Vivaha Panchami

 

bad association is harmful,

   Jai Sri Ram,

When providence blesses one with such discrimination as possessed by the swan, then alone does the mind abandon evil and get enamoured of goodness, by force of the spirit of the times, old habits and the past Karma even the good deviate from goodness under the influence of Maya, 

But just as servants of Sri Hari rectify that error and, eradicating sorrow and weakness, bring untarnished glory to them, even so the wicked occasionally perform a noble deed due to their good association, although their evil nature, which is unchangeable, cannot be obliterated, 

Even those who are imposters are respected on account of their garb, as the world is taken in by their attractive appearance, but they are eventually exposed, and cannot keep up their false appearance till the end, as was in the case of Kalanemi and Rahu, 

The good are honoured notwithstanding their mean appearance even as Jamavan, endowed with a form of bear, possessed miraculous strength and that Hanuman, the monkey god, won honor in this world, bad association is harmful, while good company is an asset in itself, this is true in the world as well as in the eyes of Vedas,

Jai Siya Rama 

 

good man has a bias for goodness alone

  Jai Sri Ram,

Of course, a good man has a bias for goodness alone, while a vile person is prone to vileness, while nectar is praised for its immortalizing virtue, poison is extolled for its deadly effects, The tales of sin and vices on one the one hand and of the virtues of the virtuous, on other, are like boundless and unfathomable oceans, 

That is why I have enumerated only a few virtues and vices, for they cannot be acquired or discarded without being duly distinguished, the good and the vile all have been brought into beings by the creator, It is Vedas that have differentiated them by reckoning the merits of the former and demerits of the other,

The Vedas and other ancient scriptures have unanimously declared the creation of Brahma is an intermixture of good and evil, charecterised the pair of opposites, such as pain and pleasure, sin and virtue, day and night, good and the wicked, good birth and the vile birth, demons and gods, high and the low, nectar and the poison, happy life and the death, Maya and Brahma, pauper and the king, matter and spirit, Sacred Kashi and indifferent Magadha that in north Bihar, a cursed land, Holy Ganga and unholy Karmanasa, Rich soil of Brahman Varn and other, Braman that gods on earth and barbarians and much more, heaven and hell, attachments and dispassion,

God has created the universe consisting of animate and inanimate beings as partaking of both good and evil, Swans in the form of a saints imbibe the the milk of goodness rejecting the water in the form of evil, 

Jai Siya Ram

King Prthu

   Jai Sri Ram,

Again, I greet with a sincere heart the malevolent class, who are hostile without purpose even to the friendly, to whom others loss is their own gain, and who delight in others desolation, and wail over their prosperity,

They try to eclipse the Glory of Lord Vishnu and Shiva as Rahu intercept the light of Moon in lunar eclipse and same in case of solar eclipse , detect other's faults as if with thousand eyes and their mind mars others interests even as a fly spoils clarified butter,

In splendour they emulate the fire and In anger they vie with the god of death, like the rise of a comet their advancement augurs ill for others interest, like the slumber of Kumbhakarna their decline alone is propitious for the world, they lay down their life in order to harm others, even as hailstone dissolves after destroying the crop, 

I revered the wicked soul as the fiery Thousand tongued serpent god Sesa, in so far as he eagerly expatiates on others faults with thousand tongues as it were, again, I bow to King Prthu who prayed thousand ears to hear the glories of Lord, inasmuch as he hears of others faults, once more do I supplicate to Indra that lord of celestials, in so far as wine appears charming and beneficial to him, harsh language is dear to him even as the thunderbolt is fondly cherished by Indra and he detects other's faults with thousand eyes as it were,

Jai Siya Ram, 

O Noble souls

  Jai Sri Ram,

Though contact with the virtuous even the wicked get reformed, just as base metal is transmuted by the touch of philosopher's stone, on the other hand, if by mischance good men fall into the evil company, they maintain their noble character like the gem on the hood of serpents,

Even the Speech of the deities like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, poets and men of wisdom falters in depicting the glory of pious soul, much less can it be described by me, even as a dealer in vegetables finds himself incapable of expatiang on the qualities of gems, 

I bow to the Saints that even minded to all and have no friend and foe just a flower of good quality placed in the palm of one which plucked it and that which held and reserved it, realizing thus the noble disposition and loving nature of saints, who are innocent at heart and catholic in spirit, I make this humble submission to them, 

Listening to my child like prayer and taking compassion on me, O Noble souls, bless me with devotion to the lotus feet of Sri Rama,

Jai Siya Ram, 

Wisdom dawns not without association with saints

  Jai Sri Ram,

Man who having heard the glory of this moving Prayaga in the form of the assemblage of Holy men appreciate it with an enraptured mind and then take a plunge into it with extreme devotion obtain the four rewards of human existence during their very life time,

The result of immersion into the sacred waters of Prayaga instantly perceived, crows turns into cuckoo's and herons into swans, let no one marvel to hear this, the glory of contact with saints is no secret, 

Valmiki, Narada and Agastya, who born of pitcher, have related the story of their birth and transformation with their own lips, of the various creatures, both animate and inanimate, living in this world, whatever in water or land or air, whoever has attained wisdom, glory, salvation, material prosperity or welfare anywhere and by any means whatsoever, know it to be the result of association with holy men, There is no other mean either in the world or in the Vedas, 

Wisdom dawns not without association with saints and such saints cannot be easily had without the grace of Rama, contact with noble souls is the root of joy and blessings, it constitute the very fruit and fulfilment of all endeavours, 

Jai Siya Rama

The assemblage of saints, which is joy and felicity, is a moving prayaga,

 Jai Sri Ram,

Even by suffering hardships in the form of ginning, spinning and weaving, the cotton plant covers' other's faults and has thereby earned in the world a renown which is worthy of adoration,

The assemblage of saints, which is joy and felicity, is a moving prayaga, the king of all holy places, as it were, Devotion to Sri Rama represents, in this moving Prayaga, the stream of the Holy Ganga, the river of the celestials, while the proceedings of an enquiry into the nature of Brahma that absolute, constitute Saraswati that subterranean stream, which is traditionally believed to join the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayaga, thus accounting for the Name Triveni, which signify the meeting place of the three Rivers,

Discourse of Karma or action, consisting of injunctions and interdictions, have been spoken of as the sacred Yamuna, the daughter of sun god in her angelic form, washing the impurities of the kali age, while the anecdotes at Vishnu and Shiva stands out as the triple stream known as Triveni, the bringing joy, blessings to those who listen to them,

Unwavering faith in their own creed constitute the immortal banyan tree and noble action represents the royal court of that king holy places, easy of access to all on any day and at every place, this moving prayaga assuages the afflictions of those who resort to it with reverence, This King of holy places is beyond description and bestows the reward immediately and its Glory is manifest,

Jai Siya Ram

loving obeisance to the whole body of pious souls

Jai Sri Ram,

 With its very appearance the bright eyes of the mind get opened, the attendant evils and sufferings of the night of mundane existence disappears, and gems and rubies in the shape of stories of Rama, both patent and hidden, wherever and in whatever mine they may be, come to light,

As for instance, by applying to the eyes the miraculous salve known by the name of Siddhanjana that eye salve of protection, strivers, adepts as well as men of wisdom easily discover a host of mines on hill tops, in the midst of forest and in the bowels of earth, 

The dust of the Guru's feet is a soft and agreeable, salve, which is ambrosia as it were for the eyes and remedies the defects of vision, Having brightened my eyes of discemented thereby I proceed to relate the Story of Rama, which secure freedom from the bondage of mundane existence, 

First I revered the feet of Brahmans, the very gods of the earth, who are able to dispel all doubts born of ignorance, then I make loving obeisance to the whole body of pious souls, the mine of all virtues, the conduct of holy man is noble as the career of the cotton plant, the fruit whereof is tasteless, white and fibrous, even as the doings of saints yields results which are free from attachments, stainless and full of goodness,

Jai Siya Ram

Merciful Lord Ganesha,

  Jai Sri Ram,

May the Merciful Lord Ganesha, whose grace enables the dumb to wax eloquent and a cripple to ascend an inaccessible mountain, and who burns all the impurities of the Kali age, be moved pity, May Lord, who ever sleeps on the ocean of milk and who is swarthy as a blue lotus and has eyes resembling a pair of full blown red lotuses, take up his abode in my bosom, 

May the crusher of cupid, Bhagwan Shiva, whose form resembles in colors the jasmine flower and the moon, who is consort of Goddess Parvati and an abode of compassion and who is fond of all afflicted, be gracious, 

I Bow to the lotus feet of my Guru, who is an ocean of mercy and is no other than Sri Hari himself in human form, and whose words are sunbeams as it were for dispersing the mass of darkness in the form of gross ignorance, I greet the pollen like dust of the lotus feet of my preceptor, refulgent, fragrant , and flavoured with love,

It is lovely power of life giving herb, which allays the host of all the attendants ills of mundane existence, it adorns the body of lucky person even as white ashes beautify the person of Lord Shiva, and brings forth sweet blessings and joy, it rubs the dirt off the beautiful mirror in the shape of devotee's heart, when applied to the forehead in the form of Tilaka that religious mark, attracts host of virtues, the splendor of gems in the form of nails on the feet of blessed Guru unfolds divine vision in the heart by its very thought,  the luster disperses the shades of infatuation, highly blessed is he in whose bosom it shines,

Jai Siya Ram

obeisance to the eternal preceptor

 Jai Sri Ram,

I Reverence the lotus feet of Lord Ganesha, and limit of compassion  and intellect Goddess Saraswati, begetter of all blessings, I greet the goddess Gauri along with Lord Shiva that embodiment of reverence and faith respectively, without which the adept cannot perceive God enshrined in their very Heart,

I make obeisance to the eternal preceptor in the Form of Lord Sankara, who is all wisdom and resting on whose brow the crescent moon,  

I Pay homage to the Sage Valmiki, and legend of Ram Bhakti Sri Hanuman, both of whom sport in the holy woods in the shape of glories of Devi Sita and Bhagwan Ram, I bow to the lotus feet of Goddess Sita that responsible for creation, sustenance and dissolution, removes afflictions and begets all blessings, 

I adore Lord Hari, known by the name of Rama, superior to and lies beyond all causes, whose Maya holds sway over the entire universe, whose presence lends positive reality to the world of appearance, even as the false notion of a serpent is entertained with reference to a rope, whose feet are the only bark for those who eager to cross the ocean of mundane existence, May Ganesha, the leader of Shiva's retinue, whose very thought, ensures success, who by nature is repository of wisdom and abode of blessed qualities, shower his grace,

Jai Siya Ram

Sri Ekadasi today

 

Jai Sri Ganesha