Sri Rama Charita Manasa - Shri Sita Ram Foundation, USA

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›R∫ RÅMACARITAMÅNASA *
karana cahau° raghupati guna gåhå, laghu mati mori carita avagåhå.
sµujha na ekau a≈ga upåµu, mana mati ra≈ka manoratha råµu.3.
mati ati n∂ca µu° ci ruci åch∂, cahia amia jaga jurai na chåch∂.
chamihahiÚ sajjana mori Œhi¢hå∂, sunihahiÚ bålabacana mana lå∂.4.
jau° bålaka kaha totari båtå, sunahiÚ mudita mana pitu aru måtå.
ha° sihahiÚ kµµura ku¢ila kubicår∂, je para dµuana bhµuanadhår∂.5.
nija kabitta kehi låga na n∂kå, sarasa hou athavå ati ph∂kå.
je para bhaniti sunata haraåh∂° , te bara purua bahuta jaga nåh∂°.6.
jaga bahu nara sara sari sama bhå∂, je nija båRhi baRhahiÚ jala på∂.
sajjana sakæta si≈dhu sama ko∂, dekhi pµura bidhu båRhai jo∂.7.
Eight million and four hundred thousand* species of living beings, classified under
four broad divisions, inhabit land, water and the air. Recognizing the entire creation as
full of S∂tå and Råma, I make obeisance to them with joined palms. Knowing me as your
servant, be genuinely gracious to me all of you, O mines of compassion. I have no
confidence in my intellectual power, hence I supplicate you all. I would recount the
virtues of the Lord of Raghus,† ›r∂ Råma; but my wits are poor, whereas the exploits
of ›r∂ Råma are unfathomable. For this I find not the least resources, while I am bankrupt
of mind and intellect, my ambition is right royal. Even though my intellect is exceedingly
mean, my aspiration is pitched too high; while I crave for nectar, I have no means in this
world to procure even butter-milk. The virtuous will forgive my presumption and listen to
my childish babbling with interest. When a child prattles in lisping accents, the parents
hear it with a mind full of delight. Those, however, who are hard-hearted, mischievous
and perverse and cherish othersí faults as an ornament, will feel amused. Who does not
like oneís own poetry, be it delightful or exceedingly insipid? Such good people as delight
to hear othersí composition are rare in this 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 the ocean, which swells at the sight of the
full moon. (1ó7)
ŒÊapple0ó÷ʪ ¿UÙ≈U •Á÷‹Ê·È ’«∏U ∑§⁄U©°U ∞∑§ Á’SflÊ‚–
¬Ò„U®„U ‚Èπ ‚ÈÁŸ ‚È¡Ÿ ‚’ π‹ ∑§Á⁄U„U®„U ©U¬„UÊ‚H 8H
Do.: bhåga cho¢a abhilåu baRa karau° eka bisvåsa,
paihahiÚ sukha suni sujana saba khala karihahiÚ upahåsa.8.
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. (8)
øı0óπ‹ ¬Á⁄U„UÊ‚ „UÙß Á„Uà ◊Ù⁄UÊ – ∑§Ê∑§ ∑§„U®„U ∑§‹∑¢§∆U ∑§∆UÙ⁄UÊH
„¢U‚Á„U ’∑§ ŒÊŒÈ⁄U øÊÃ∑§„UË – „°U‚®„U ◊Á‹Ÿ π‹ Á’◊‹ ’Ã∑§„UËH 1H
* The number of species of living beings has been categorically fixed in Hindu scriptures as
eighty-four lakhs. The four broad divisions are: (1) Jaråyuja (viviparous, such as men and beasts), (2)
AƒŒaja (oviparous), (3) Svedaja (born of sweat, such as lice, bugs etc.,) and (4) Udbhijja (sprouting from
the soil, viz., plants).
† King Raghu was a forbear of ›r∂ Råma. His descendants bore the name of Raghus. Having been the
head of the clan after His father, Da‹aratha, He is aptly called the Lord of the Raghus.