Every Form That Reached Ram
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 18
Doha 18 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sugriva, Jambavan, Vibhishana, Angada, and the vanara hosts gather before the poet's bow. Their bodies belong to forest, cave, and the night wandering race, yet none of those forms barred the highest grace. They reached Ram through devotion, courage, counsel, surrender, and service.
The circle widens to every worshipper of Raghupati's feet: birds, animals, gods, human beings, and asuras, all who serve without bargaining for reward. Shuka, Sanaka, Narada, and sages accomplished in divine knowledge stand among them. Tulsidas places his head upon the earth and asks these masters to show mercy to one who comes as a servant.
At the centre stands Janaki, daughter of Janaka and mother of the world, supremely dear to the treasury of compassion. The poet seeks purity of mind through her feet. Then with mind, speech, and action he bows to lotus eyed Ram, bearing bow and arrow, destroyer of the devotee's distress and giver of joy.
Around Sita and Ram, the boundaries of body and birth fall outside the circle.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 18
An iconic devotional portrait of Sita and Rama evokes the group's concluding salutation.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 42 · printed pages 40. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-018. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Group salutes Sugriva, Jambavan, Vibhishana, Angada, selfless servants and sages including Shuka, Sanaka and Narada
- Concluding lines salute Janaki as world mother beloved of the compassionate Lord
- Rama praised as lotus-eyed, bearing bow and arrows and relieving devotees' distress
Artistic choices
- Iconic Sita/Rama pair selects the concluding salutation; no ceremony or historical episode
- Conventional crowns, complexions, robes, Sita's lotus, Rama's pose, platform and garden imagined
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
कपिपति रीछ निसाचर राजा। अंगदादि जे कीस समाजा।। बंदउँ सब के चरन सुहाए। अधम सरीर राम जिन्ह पाए।। रघुपति चरन उपासक जेते। खग मृग सुर नर असुर समेते।। बंदउँ पद सरोज सब केरे। जे बिनु काम राम के चेरे।। सुक सनकादि भगत मुनि नारद। जे मुनिबर बिग्यान बिसारद।। प्रनवउँ सबहिं धरनि धरि सीसा। करहु कृपा जन जानि मुनीसा।। जनकसुता जग जननि जानकी। अतिसय प्रिय करुना निधान की।। ताके जुग पद कमल मनावउँ। जासु कृपाँ निरमल मति पावउँ।। पुनि मन बचन कर्म रघुनायक। चरन कमल बंदउँ सब लायक।। राजिवनयन धरें धनु सायक। भगत बिपति भंजन सुख दायक।।
I bow to the beautiful feet of Sugriva, king of the vanaras; of Jambavan the bear; of Vibhishana, king of the night-wanderers; and of Angada and the entire assembly of monkeys. Even dwelling in humble animal bodies, they attained Sri Ram. Their lowly forms proved no barrier to the highest grace.