||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 7 – Dhoha – 6

Mangal Karani Kalimal Harni Tulsi Katha Rughnath Ki | Gathi Kur Kabitha Sarith Ki Jyo Sarith Pavani Padh Ki||Prabhu Sujas Sangathi Banithi Bali Hoyihi Sujan Man Bhavani | Bhav Ang Bhoothi Masan Ki Sumirath Suhavani Pavani ||

Tulsidas Maharaj speaks “ I have composed ‘Ramacharitha’  in an attractive language of Awadh, but my intellect is weak, hence my composition may become a laughing stock, I won’t complain against the people who pass sarcastic comments on it.  The people who do not have intense love and devotion at the lotus feet of Rama and who do not have the sense of perfect judgment would not take interest in my composition.  The people who do not find any difference in the faith of Lord Hara and Lord Hari would show an immense interest in my Raghuvaracharitham.  The pious understands my devotion to Rama and encourages my composition, I am not a writer, I have no talent in the construction of words, I have no skill in any language, or arts or subjects, and I have no skill in the grammar and Chandhass, and I lack all those qualities required for a skilled writer.  My composition lacks virtues; it has only one virtue that the whole world knows while reading it, it is full of various sacred names of Raghupathi, who is the essence of Veda, and sacred scriptures.  It brings all the auspiciousness to the reader and removes all the impurities.  The sacred names of Raghupathi are constantly recited by the supreme Lord Shiva who is Thripurari along with Goddess Uma.  Any composition without describing the virtues of Rama will not gain popularity or glory, even if it was composed by a well-known poet, it would be like a beautiful woman adorned in various ornaments all over the body, but no clothes on her body.  The composition of any unknown poet describes the splendor and various amusements of Rama would get high popularity among the intellectuals, like the honey bee that constantly in search of the nectar from the freshly bloomed flowers. I have not gained any association with the saintly men or preceptor, I have high expectation from them, and it is definite that they will not discard my composition even though it lacks poetic skills, but it is highly auspicious to the Universe, it praises the virtues of Lord Rama in this Ramacharitham, like the high fragrance of Agaru removes the foul smell in the atmosphere.  This Tulsikatha describes the glories of Rama which removes the evil effects of the Kali era.  This poetry has the current of waters of sacred river Ganga, it describes the splendor of Rama who symbolizes auspiciousness, and therefore it would serve the need of Sajjana/virtuous people, like the sacred ashes from the funeral pyre smeared in the body of supreme Lord Bhava is divine for the eyes, in the association of saintly men and ascetics gives extreme pleasure to Bhavani and the remembrance itself would purify the soul. Any wood in the association of Mount Malaya would transform into priceless sandalwood, therefore my composition praising the splendor of Rama would definitely gain popularity among the virtuous, like the milk from the udder of a black complexioned cow, receives with great respect for its high nutrient values.  Hence, the saintly men, ascetics, and pious people would listen to this composition, even though it is not in Sanskrit, but it comprises the virtues of Rama and Seetha.”

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 6 – Dhoha – 5

Tulsidas Maharaj speaks “I shall prostrate before all those eighty-four lakh kinds of creatures on this Earth,  which is derived from 1) The Maithunashrishti/produced by physical relationship,/humans and animals, 2) The creatures that were born from the egg, 3) The various types of bacteria born from the sweats,  4) The creatures born from the sands/trees, plants and shrubs, and these four types of creatures’ lives on the water, air, and Earth.   I shall prostrate before all those creatures and the all-pervasive nature of Rama/Ramayamayam in it. Oh! Kripanidhe, kindly shower your grace upon me, kindly consider me as your sincere servant and shower your compassion upon me. I have no trust in my intellect, I am making a humble effort to describe the virtue of Raghupathi Lord Rama, but my mind and intellect is incapable to understand the splendor of Rama whose glories are endless. Even though my intellect and mind is poor, my desire to narrate the virtues of Rama is uncontrollable, I am yearning to taste that nectar-like his splendor, but I am not even deserved to taste the buttermilk.  Therefore, I earnestly request my listeners to forgive my childish words, and listen to it carefully, like the parents of the infant listens to its unclear words with extreme happiness and curiosity.  The hard-hearted, helpless natured, wicked people and people who soaked in worldly matters would pass sarcastic comments on it, at last, who does not love their own creation of poetries? The virtuous people take immense pleasure in the scriptures and related works are rare.  The people are swollen with pride in their richness and wealth like the river breaks its boundaries when it is brimming with water.  There are saintly men who express their extreme happiness, like the waves, gets excited during the night of the full moon.”

Tulsidas Maharaj continues “ I am not a fortunate one, but my Mahathvakamsha is indescribable, I expect that the virtuous souls will get pleased to read my work. The wicked people will pass derisive comment on it, I will consider their laugh as favorable to me, like the crow criticize the sounds of Cuckoo, the pelican laughs sarcastically at Swan, and the frogs laughs at bird Chathaka.  The wicked natured people laugh at the purest forms of speeches, people who have no interest in poetry, or devotion at the feet of Lord Rama, my work will remain a laughing stock to them.”

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 5 – Dhoha – 4

Tulsidas Maharaj speaks “The supreme Lord has given the skill of a Hamsa/Swan that can filter milk from the water, to human intellect; with the help of this, the human mind can get used with the goodness and discard the evilness.  Even the noble ones get stranded from the path of righteousness, due to the influence of time, the habits are formed from the practice of a long period of time and the previous Karma.  The saintly men and ascetics, removes the sufferings, sorrows, misconception, weakness in them and lead them to the path of Dharma, even the wicked people who get the fortune to remain in their association would easily introduce themselves to the performance of righteous deeds, unfortunately, cannot remove the habits or misconducts formed in them, eventually, they attain respect in society.  The wicked people who had the fortune to remain in the association of saintly men for a short period of time, attract the society with their outward appearances, Alas! They cannot pretend as virtuous for a long period of time like Kalanemi, Ravana,  Rahu, who were failed miserably in their attempts.  Kalanemi who was prepared to kill Hanuman at the instruction of Ravana, disguised as a sage was killed by Hanuman, Ravana who abducted Devi Sita was killed in the hands of Rama, and Rahu who disguised as the deity and took a seat among the deities, while distributing the nectar of immortality by Lord Vishnu as Mohini, was beheaded by Vishnu.  The saintly men and Sadhus honored by everyone easily attract all, even though they adopt unappealing forms, like the Jambavan who assumed the form of a bear, and Hanuman who has assumed the form of a monkey.  The wide known fact is that the association of the evil-minded is toxic poison and the association of saintly people is unimaginable wealth for the souls.  The Veda and Puranas affirms the association with these saintly people would transform the human mind to adopt Nissangathvam/sense abandonment which is the ultimate source of Mukthi/Moha Kshaya Ithi Mukthi, like the dust raised with the force of the wind,  unites with the water and it becomes prolific for the plants and trees.   The parrots and Myna in the houses of pious utter the names of Lord, and in the homes of wicked people pronounce rubbish.   The smoke mixes with the sand and forms charcoal, but when the charcoal added with the water, it becomes an ink which is used for writing scriptures.   The saltwater from the ocean evaporates in the sunlight and causes rain.  The Prakrithi is constantly undergoes transformation and offers usable as well as unusable products, the full moon as well the new moon has its own nature, it reveals the all-pervasive nature of supreme Lord  Rama/Ramamayam, he represents all the living and non-living things in this Universe, hence I shall prostrate before all those living and non- living things.  I shall prostrate before Deva, Asura/Dhanuja , Gandharva, Manushya/Nara, Naga, Gaga, Pakshi, Pretha/spirit, Pithru, Kinnara and Rakshasa, and I earnestly pray them to shower grace on us.”

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 4 – Dhoha – 3

The wicked people get jealous of the welfare of their own people, others and their enemies. I shall bow before them and reverentially request them not to take pleasure in other’s difficulties.  I shall bow before the ascetics and wicked people as well, even though they both have lots of differences.   Ascetics spread grief while leaving the Earth, his absence is enough to take away the welfare of the people and its Universe.   A wicked person inflicts grief whenever he/she is alive.  The saintly men and the wicked people both are born on this Earth with a huge difference of a lotus flower and leech respectively.  Although both of them take birth in the water/Prakrithi, it has huge differences in their character; it is like nectar and intoxicating drink, like the nectar of immortality and Varuni both of them are raised from the bottom of the ocean while churning by the deities and demons.  The saintly men and Sadhus performs various pious and righteous deeds, and attains honor and respect in the society, they are often compared to the nectar of immortality, the moon that spread cool breeze and the sacred river Ganga that purifies the souls.   The wicked people perform notorious deeds and attain ill fame, are often compared to toxic poison, wood fire, the evilness of the Kali era, and hunter, Alas! Among these two, the people are compelled to choose of their own interests, good one chooses to remain in the association of virtuous and wicked chooses to remain in the association of evil.   The nectar and toxic poison has its own characteristics; both are talked for their goodness and the evilness respectively.  The marvelous legends of the saintly men and Sadhus are limitless like the depth of the sea, in the same manner, the stories of the wicked people too.  Alas! The saintly people and wicked people are created by Lord Bhrama on this Earth.  The Vedas describes the piousness and righteousness of the saintly men and describes the impurities and evilness of the wicked people.  Therefore, the Vedas, scriptures, Ithihasa describes that the creation of Lord Bhrama is a mixture of both,  it has goodness and evilness as well, righteousness and deceitfulness, happiness and sorrow, piousness, and sins, day and night, superior clan/Sujathi and inferior clan/Kujathi, pious soul and sinful soul, deities/Deva and demons/Dhanava, nectar and toxic poison, birth and death, Bramham and illusion/Maya, Paramathma/Supreme Lord and Jeevathma/supreme soul, prosperity and Poverty, King and beggar, Kashi and Magadha, Devanadhi Ganga and Papanadhi Karmanasha, the flourished land of Malava and the desert in Marwa, ascetics/Sadhu and ordinary people/Asadhu, Bhramin/Sujathi and Chandala/Kujathi, heaven and hell, Virakthi/abandonment and Asakthi/desire, in this way Veda and scriptures describe the nature of piousness and wickedness through various legends.

Therefore the entire Universe is the mixture of goodness and evilness, living and non-living things, even though the saintly men and ascetics are like Hamsa/Swan, intellectuals they separate the milk/goodness from the water/evilness and discard the water content in it.

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 3 – Dhoha – 2

I shall reverentially prostrate before the Sadhus and saints, who are impartial, serene, and void of affection or hostility, like the flower-covered with both the hands, will have the fragrance of the same.   They are pure and unblemished, work for the welfare of the Universe and its living beings, and the elevation of the souls. I shall earnestly pray to those ascetics and saintly people/Mahathma to kindly bless childlike my mind to attain intense devotion and faith at the lotus feet of Lord Srirama.  I shall prostrate before all, no matter if they are engaged in moral or immoral deeds, finding pleasures in others trouble and grief, spreading disbelief of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, torturing others like the demon Sahasrabhahu, finding faults in others, ruining the nature of good-hearted ones, those wicked people are proud like Agni, their anger is the same as Mahishavahana Lord Yama, they engage in Papakarma and earns immense wealth, they create obstacles for all the promising deeds like a Dhoomakethu.  Therefore, the destruction of these people is as good as the sleep of Kumbhakarnna.  These people sow seed for the destruction of others and eventually face self-destruction. These people criticize weaknesses and inabilities’ of others effectively as thousand hooded fierce Adhishesha. I shall bow before Prithu Maharaj who enthusiastically listens to the splendor of the Supreme Lord, it is unfortunate people who eagerly listen to the criticism of others, and finds fault in others, the wicked take pleasure in intoxicating drink, as if Lord Indra takes pride in his Vajrayudha. I shall prostrate before all those living beings on this Earth, no matter of their deeds.

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 2 – Dhoha - 1

The Siddhas, ascetics, intellectuals who have decorated their eyes with Sidhdhajjanam, will find the auspicious gems hidden in the mountain peaks, dense forests, and in the depth of the Earth.  Therefore, the dust from the feet of Preceptor is a divine Anjjanam are promising to the eyes of the devotees.   It removes the impurities of the eyes; it inspires the eyes to see the supreme Ramacharitha, which removes the worldly bondage and interest in worldly matters.  I shall prostrate before the Bhoodeva/virtuous twice-born who removes the doubtfulness of the people. I shall prostrate before the virtuous people who takes pleasure in the association of ascetics, and saintly men, whose nature is like cotton seeds that release clean crisp cotton once it dries, later it undergoes various processes and becomes clothe to serve the needs of others. I shall eulogize these holy men with my humble words, whose nature is pure, self-sacrificing, innocent, unblemished, and full of promising.  The Theertharaj Prayaga is the sacred land on Earth represents the ascetics, pious, Sages and Rishis, the confluence of the watercourse of Ganga, Yamuna/daughter of Surya and Saraswathi represents their devotion to Lord Rama and discussion on Bhramam, and the Nishidhdha Karmas/restricted deeds, and the righteous deeds that remove the sins on the Kali era.  This sacred river Prayag/Thriveni provides all the auspiciousness and bliss to the pious and righteous people who listen to the glorious myths of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.  The peepal trees on the banks of Prayag represent firm devotion and dedication in the righteous deeds, and the place where righteous deeds take place on this riverbank represents its majestic assembly.  The ascetics and saintly men are the movable Prayag, removes the afflictions of the humble souls.  These movable Theertharaja/holy men are beyond description/Parasmani, they are free from the interest in worldly matters and bondage, therefore they are capable to fulfill all the desires of the worshiper, their association would provide sincere devotion at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Rama.  Whoever understands the splendor of movable Theertharaja/saintly men, would take a dip in this sacred water with intense faith and devotion, eventually attain the Purusharththa/Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.  Whoever takes a dip in the association of the saintly men would attain auspicious results, like crows transforms into Cuckoo, and pelican transforms into Swan.  Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Narada and Sage Agasthya who was born from the vessel, have described their lives, any creatures on the Earth be it water animals, or land animals, or flying creatures, whoever attained wisdom, or Mukthi, richness, or welfare, only because of their association with these pious people, there is nothing could elevate the souls other than the association of ascetics.  The association with the saintly men would enhance wisdom and knowledge, and it won’t be easily attainable without the grace of Lord Rama.  The association with these holy men would provide bliss and auspiciousness.  Therefore the holy men are described as Parasmani, with the touch of this precious gem, even the metal becomes precious yellow gold, with the association of these saintly men, even the wicked person turns out a pious,  if a righteous person falls down from the path of Dharma, would immediately get back on their track.  The deities, Lord, Bhrama, Lord Vishnu, Lord Maheshwara, poets, and intellectuals find it difficult to describe the splendor of these saintly men.

Therefore I am incompetent to describe the splendor of these ascetics and saintly men, how did a vegetable vendor understands the worth of a gem?

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 1 - Introduction

Varnnanam Arththasanghanam Rasanam Chandhassamapi | Mangalanam Cha  Karththarau Vandhe Vanivinayakau || Bhavani Shankarau Vandhe  Shradhdha Vishwaaroopinau | Yabhyam Vina Na Pashyanthi Sidhdha: Swanthasthvameeshwaram || Vandhe Bodhamayam Nithyam Gurm Shankararoopinam| Yamashritho Hi Vakroapi Chandra: Sarvathra Vandhyathe || Seetharamaguna GramaPunyaranya Viharinau| Vandhe Vishudhdha Vignanau Kaveeshwara Kapeeshwarau||

I shall prostrate before supreme Goddess Vani and  Lord Vinayaka, who is the source of all the auspiciousness, I shall prostrate before the divine sounds that contribute Varnna, core spirit, and Chandhass. I shall prostrate before Goddess Bhavani and Lord Shankara with intense dedication and devotion, who are the source of realization of self in the hearts of illustrious Siddhas and Rishis.  I shall always prostrate before the supreme preceptor who is Lord Shankara /symbolizes auspiciousness, whose matted hair locks are adorned in the crescent moon, thereby Lord Chandra gets the opportunity to be worshiped.  I shall reverentially prostrate before the illustrious Rishis and Yogis, Sage Valmiki, and Kapeeshwara/Hanuman who permanently dwells in the dense wood which represents the virtues of Seetha and Rama.  I shall prostrate before Ramavallabha/Goddess Seetha, who is the dearest darling of Rama, represents creation, preservation, and destruction, she removes the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence and showers abundance of auspiciousness on her devotees.  I shall reverentially prostrate before supreme Lord Hari who is the cause for all the great causes, incarnated as Lord Rama to remove the lethargy and laziness in the souls.  The whole Universe and its living beings, even deities are under the influence of his Maya, like the rope gives out the appearance of serpent in the darkness.  His lotus feet are the ultimate asylum, that works like ferry to the people who yearn to cross the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence.  This glorious scripture is known as ‘Tulsi Raghunathagatha’ was highly appreciated by all the sacred scriptures, Veda and Shathras.  This brilliant scripture of ‘Raghunathacharitham’ represents the legends from  the Valmiki Ramayana, was composed by Maharaji Sri Tulsidas for his pleasure.

I shall earnestly pray to Lord Ganesha who symbolizes supreme wisdom, and virtues, provides  instant success with his remembrance, he has a beautiful face resembles an elephant, he is the chief of the Ganas of Lord Shiva.

I shall prostrate before supreme Lord whose compassionate grace works like incredible magic on the person who lack speaking ability, lame to climb up the hills, and removes all the impurities of the mind, hence I shall earnestly pray for his grace.  I shall earnestly pray to the supreme Lord Hari to reside in my heart, he has the complexion of dark-clouds, lustrous like the blue lotus flower, his eyes resemble red lotus flower petals and he reclines on the milky ocean.  I shall earnestly pray to supreme Lord Shiva to shower his permanent grace on us, he has the complexion of camphor and jasmine flowers, lustrous like the moon, he is the dearest darling of Goddess Parvathi, and he is extremely compassionate to his worshiper and distressed people, and he has won over the Kamadeva.  I shall repeatedly prostrate before supreme preceptor, whose compassionate words removes the darkness of ignorance, like the brilliance of Sun removes the darkness, I shall prostrate before supreme Lord Hari who incarnated on the Earth as a preceptor. He has the luster and fragrance of red lotus flower and extremely compassionate, I shall prostrate before the dust from the lotus feet Lord Hari, which could remove all the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence and it is a supreme cure that provides new life to the worshiper, like  the sacred ashes smeared in the body of Lord Shambhu,  the specks of dust from the feet of supreme Lord Hari adorns the body of the fortune souls, and thereby it provides auspiciousness and supreme bliss. If it is adorned on the forehead, it removes the impurities in the heart of the worshiper, and contributes an abundance of virtues. The remembrance of the brightness of the nails of the feet of preceptor resemble precious gem, would provide divinity to the worshiper, it removes the darkness of lust and desire, they are fortunate ones who get purified from the sins and sorrows of worldly existence and they would attain the precious gem-like Sriramacharithram to take pleasure in reading and reciting it.