On the occasion of Ram_navami: Here is a beautiful composition
from Goswami Tulsidas. It describes the birth of Lord Ram,
the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
bhaye prakat kripaalaa, deen dayaalaa,
kaushalyaa hitkaari
(The Generous One, the Kind One, manifested
for Kaushalya's benefit)
harshit mahataareee, muni man haaree
adbhut roop vichaaree
(The mother is happy, the sages and the mother
are contemplating the wonderful beauty of Lord)
lochan abhiraama, tanu ghansyaama
nij auyudha bhuj chaaree
(The Lord has beautiful eyes, a dark cloud colored complexion
in His four divine hands, he is having shankha, chakra, padma, and gadaa)
bhooshan vanmaala, nayan vishaalaa
shobhaa sindhu kharaaree
(He is adorned by a garland in His nech, His eyes are large
His grace is as large as the Ocean, He is the slayer of demon Khar)
kaha dui kar joree, astutee tori
kehi bidhi karaun anantaa
(The Queen (Kaushalya) asks the Lord with folded hands
as to how to praise the Endless One)
mayaa gun gyaanaa_teet amaana
ved puraan bhanantaa
(She continues: You are beyond whatever exists (mayaa),
Knowledge defies you, and the sacred texts (Vedas and Puranaas) are
confused in their understanding about You.)
karunaa sukha saagar, sab guna aagar
jehi gavahi shruti santaa
(You are the Oceanic reservoir of sympathy and hapiness,
the Home of all goodness:
This is the way, the Sages and the Shrutis (sacred texts) describe You).
so mam hita laagee, jana anuraagee
bhayau prakat shrikantaa
(O lover of people, it is your concern for me, that made
you manifest before me, O ShriKanta (the One adorned by Laxmi)).
brmhaada nikaayaa, nirmit mayaa
roma roam prati ved kahey
(The universe emanates from you, you created all that exists
and your each individual hair, is the source of the supreme Vedic wisdom)
so mam us baasee, jag upahaasee
sunat dheer mati thir na rahey
(And that Lord, who is so great, and so large, resides in a small
place of my heart. This is indeed comical, and mysterious. Hearing
about you bewilders me, and I am confused)
upajaa jab gyaanaa, prabhu musukaana
charit bidhi bahu keen chahey
(When the Lord saw that Kaushalya is experiencing the confusion as a consequence
of the knowledge pertaining to Him, He smiled graciously. Kaushalya says: you desire to play a
diverse set of roles)
kahi kathaa suhai, matu bujhai
jehi prakaar suta prem lahey
(Kaushalya continues: Lord, please tell me of a way
so that I can love you as my son)
keejay sishu_leelaa, ati priyasheelaa
yeh sukh param anoopaa
(Please manifest as a kid, and do all the innocent
acts of a kid. Such acts are very pleasing, and
the pleasure in being a mother is unparalleled)
suni vachan sujaanaa, rodan thaanaa
hoi balak surbhoopaa
(The Lord hearing these well meant words, decided to cry
as a baby, and the Lord of the Gods, manifested as a newborn)
yeh charit jey gaavahi, hari_pad paavahi
tey na parahi bhava_koopaa
(People who sing the stories of such a Lord, are destined to
reach at His feet. They get liberated from the deep well
of this world, and experience union with Him).
