||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter – 19 – Dhoha – 18

Tulsidas Maharaj speaks “ The greatest work of Lord Shambhu inspired the heart of Tulsi to create the Ramacharitha Manas. I have taken all effort to beautify the work according to my intelligence, Oh! Mahathma, kindly listen to it with generosity and purify it. A Sathvik mind is the reservoir of water, the heart is deep with diversified thoughts, Veda and scriptures are ocean-like, pious, and ascetics symbolize the sweetened virtues and fame of Rama, which are beautiful, and auspicious, which is the source of the rainy clouds. The ascetics and pious describes the endless virtues and various pastimes of Rama, it purifies the heart of listeners. It removes all the impurities in the mind; it has indescribable devotion that spread coolness and sweetness as well.  This glorious scripture is the source of good fortune; it nourishes the grains like the fate of the worshiper with an abundance of water, it is highly promising, it is life-giving to the devotees of Lord Rama, this glorious water drench the mud like the intellect of Jeeva, it flows through the ears and settles in the heart, further it resides in the heart of the Jeeva for a long period of time and spread coolness, happiness, purity, and contentment as well.”

There are four interesting conversations in this legend, 1) Kakabhushundi and Garuda, 2) Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi 3) Yajjavalkhyan and Bharadhwaja, 4) Tulsidas and ascetics, it represents a beautiful four stone walls around the most purifying pond of crystal color water. The seven cantos are marvelous steps leading to the pond; it helps the wisdom like eyes of the Jeeva take great pleasure in the boundless virtues and independent nature of that Supreme Lord Rama. I shall narrate the same; it describes the bottomless sacred water like virtues of Rama. The glories and fame of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita are nectar-like water, the waves in this sacred water describe the various amusements that provides happiness to Jeeva. The four lines of verses/ Chaupai describe the cluster of lotus flower plants in that pond.  The poetic skills in these verses are like shells of precious pearls, the Chandass, Sorada, and Dhoha are a cluster of various colors of lotus flowers.  The incomparable meanings, excellent assumptions, meticulous descriptions represent the pollen of flowers, honey, and fragrances respectively.  The glorious deeds described in that legend is the pack of beautiful honey bees. The Gnana/wisdom, Vairagya/sense of abandonment, and contemplation represents the swans that take great pleasure in the pond. The notations, complex words, various captivating effects, and methods of expression represent fishes of different natures. It describes the four Purusharththa known as Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, wisdom about Nirgunabhramam, Vijyana about the Saguna Bhramam, Navarasa/nine emotions, Japa, Tapas, Yoga, Vairagya, are the various attractive aquatic animals on this pond.  The saintly people, noble souls, liberated souls and sacred names of Lord are often described with the attractive aquatic birds.  The assembly point of these ascetics and nobles’ souls are mentioned as the marvelous mango wood around this beautiful pond. The dedication is compared with the Vasantharithu/autumn season, the various virtues of Bhakti described in it as patience, kindness, and control over senses are creeper homes in the wood. The qualities like self-control, non-violence, truthfulness, control over senses, performance of austerities, and vows, causes internal and external cleansing, it brings purity and serenity of the mind with the learning and reciting the scriptures, reciting the sacred names of Lord, and complete surrender to supreme Lord.  The fruits and flowers of the creeper represent wisdom, and intense devotion at the lotus feet of Lord Hari, there are sub-stories on the legend represents parrots, cuckoos and various attractive colorful birds.  The happiness derived after listening to this legend represents pleasure gardens, flowering plants, mangroves, and the numerous birds taking great pleasure in it.  The noble souls collect the sacred water from this pond through their eyes and watering it to the entire garden.