“सुनहु राम अब कहउँ निकेता”
“Sunahu Rāma Aba Kaha-um̐ Niketā”
[“Listen Rama, I’ll tell you where to reside”]
The following is an excerpt from Ayodhyakanda of SriRamcharitamanas written by Goswami Tulasidas ji. Having left Ayodhya with Devi Sita and Lakshman ji, Lord Ram is looking for a suitable place to stay awhile. After crossing river Yamuna, they come across Sage Valmiki’s ashram who welcomes them with open arms. Sri Ram requests him to guide them to a place where they can reside. Sage Valmiki, being aware of Lord Ram’s true nature, asked if there is any place at all where He doesn’t reside. He then goes on to list some characteristics of the people who are most beloved to the Lord, in whose hearts Sri Ram resides.
Aspirants and devotees should use this conversation as guide on the path of spiritual development, and strive to nurture these qualities in themselves.
पूँछेहु मोहि कि रहौं कहँ मैं पूँछत सकुचाउँ। जहँ न होहु तहँ देहु कहि तुम्हहि देखावौं ठाउँ॥
Pūm̐chehu mohi ki rahaun kaham̐ main pūm̐chata sakuchā-ūm̐। jaham̐ na hohū taham̐ dehu kahi tumhahi dekhāvaun ṭhā-ūm̐।।
(Valmiki ji says to Sri Ram) You’re asking me where to live, while I’m hesitant to ask you this- Tell me where is it you don’t reside, and then I‘ll tell you where to stay.
सुनि मुनि बचन प्रेम रस साने। सकुचि राम मन महुँ मुसुकाने॥ बालमीकि हँसि कहहिं बहोरी। बानी मधुर अमिअ रस बोरी॥
Suni muni bacana prema rasa sāne। sakuci Rāma mana mahum̐ musukāne।। Bālamīki ham̐si kahahin bahorī। bānī madhura amia rasa borī।।
Hearing the Sage’s love-laden words, shy Ram smiled inwardly. Valmiki said laughing whole-heartedly, in sweet ambrosia-dipped voice-
सुनहु राम अब कहउँ निकेता। जहाँ बसहु सिय लखन समेता॥ जिन्ह के श्रवन समुद्र समाना। कथा तुम्हारि सुभग सरि नाना॥
Sunahu Rāma aba kaha-um̐ niketā। jahām̐ basahu Siya Lakhana sametā।। Jinha ke śravana samudra samānā। kathā tumhāri subhaga sari nānā।।
Listen Ram, now I’ll tell you the house where you reside with Sita and Lakshman. Whose hearing is like the sea, (where) Your beautiful stories like various streams-
भरहिं निरंतर होहिं न पूरे। तिन्ह के हिय तुम्ह कहुँ गृह रूर॥ लोचन चातक जिन्ह करि राखे। रहहिं दरस जलधर अभिलाषे॥
Bharahin nirantara hohin na pūre। tinha ke hiya tumha kahum̐ gr̥ha rūre।। Locana cātaka jinha kari rākhe। rahahin darasa jaladhara abhilāṣe।।
keep pouring but never saturates, their hearts are your beautiful home. Who’ve made their eyes Chatak (a bird that only drinks from rain), always longing for the clouds of your vision,
निदरहिं सरित सिंधु सर भारी। रूप बिंदु जल होहिं सुखारी॥ तिन्ह कें हृदय सदन सुखदायक। बसहु बंधु सिय सह रघुनायक॥
Nidarahin sarita sindhu sara bhārī। rūpa bindu jala hohin sukhārī।। Tinha ken hr̥daya sadana sukhadāyaka। basahu bandhu Siya saha Raghunāyaka।।
ignoring huge rivers, oceans, lakes, (they) are pleasured with a drop of Your form Raghunayak (Leader of Raghu dynasty), in the comfortable house of their hearts, reside with Lakshman and Sita.
जसु तुम्हार मानस बिमल हंसिनि जीहा जासु। मुकताहल गुन गन चुनइ राम बसहु हियँ तासु॥
Jasu tumhāra mānasa bimala hansini jīhā jāsu। Mukatāhala guna gana cuna-i Rāma basahu hiyam̐ tāsu।।
In the pure mind-lake of Your glory, whose tongue, like swan picks at the pearls of Your virtues, reside in their hearts Ram.
प्रभु प्रसाद सुचि सुभग सुबासा। सादर जासु लहइ नित नासा॥ तुम्हहि निबेदित भोजन करहीं। प्रभु प्रसाद पट भूषन धरहीं॥
Prabhu prasāda suci subhaga subāsā। sādara jāsu laha-I nita nāsā।। Tumhahi nibedita bhojana karahīn। Prabhu prasāda pata bhūṣana dharahīn।।
Whose nose regularly smells Lord’s pious, pleasing, fragrant offering Who eat food offered to You, wear clothes and ornaments offered to You.
सीस नवहिं सुर गुरु द्विज देखी। प्रीति सहित करि बिनय बिसेषी॥ कर नित करहिं राम पद पूजा। राम भरोस हृदयँ नहिं दूजा॥
Sīsa navahin sura guru dvija dekhī। prīti sahita kari binaya biseṣī।। Kara nita karahin Rāma pada pūjā। Rāma bharosa hr̥dayam̐ nahin dūjā।।
Who bow their heads upon seeing god, guru, twice-born with love and special reverence Whose hands are always worshiping Ram’s feet, who in their hearts depend only on Ram and none other
चरन राम तीरथ चलि जाहीं। राम बसहु तिन्ह के मन माहीं॥ मंत्रराजु नित जपहिं तुम्हारा। पूजहिं तुम्हहि सहित परिवारा॥
Carana Rāma tīratha cali jāhīn। Rāma basahu tinha ke mana māhīn।। Mantrarāju nita japahin tumhārā। pūjahin tumhahi sahita parivārā।।
Whose legs move to Ram’s pilgrimages, reside in their mind Ram. Who constantly chant Your greatest mantra, worship You with Your family
तरपन होम करहिं बिधि नाना। बिप्र जेवाँइ देहिं बहु दाना॥ तुम्ह तें अधिक गुरहि जियँ जानी। सकल भायँ सेवहिं सनमानी॥
Tarapana homa karahin bidhi nānā। bipra jevām̐i dehin bahu dānā।। Tumha ten adhika gurahi jiyam̐ jānī। sakala bhāyam̐ sevahin sanamānī।।
perform offerings and fire rituals of various kinds, serve food to the knowledgeable people and give them various offerings Who hold the guru higher than You in their hearts, and in every way serve them with respect
सबु करि मागहिं एक फलु राम चरन रति होउ। तिन्ह कें मन मंदिर बसहु सिय रघुनंदन दोउ।।
Sabu kari māgahin eka phalu Rāma carana rati hou। Tinha ken mana mandira basahu Siya Raghunandana dou।।
Sabu kari māgahin eka phalu Rāma carana rati hou। Tinha ken mana mandira basahu Siya Raghunandana dou।।
काम कोह मद मान न मोहा। लोभ न छोभ न राग न द्रोहा॥ जिन्ह कें कपट दंभ नहिं माया। तिन्ह कें हृदय बसहु रघुराया॥
Kāma koha mada māna na mohā। lobha na chobha na rāga na drohā।। Jinha ken kapata dambha nahin māyā। tinha ken hr̥daya basahu raghurāyā।।
Who have no lust, anger, arrogance, pride, attachment, greed, agitation, affection, opposition Who have no treachery, egotism, illusion, reside in their hearts King of Raghu Dynasty
सब के प्रिय सब के हितकारी। दुख सुख सरिस प्रसंसा गारी॥ कहहिं सत्य प्रिय बचन बिचारी। जागत सोवत सरन तुम्हारी॥
Saba ke priya saba ke hitakārī। dukha sukha sarisa prasansā gārī।। Kahahin satya priya bacana bicārī। jāgata sovata sarana tumhārī।।
Dear to everyone, doing good to all, equanimous in sorrow-joy, praise-abuse Who speak only sweet true words, who are in Your shelter waking and sleeping
तुम्हहि छाड़ि गति दूसरि नाहीं। राम बसहु तिन्ह के मन माहीं॥ जननी सम जानहिं परनारी। धनु पराव बिष तें बिष भारी॥
Tumhahi chāṛi gati dūsari nāhīn। Rāma basahu tinha ke mana māhīn।। Jananī sama jānahin paranārī। dhanu parāva biṣa ten biṣa bhārī।।
Who have no other refuge but You, Ram reside in their minds. Who consider other’s women as mother, and other’s wealth as most poisonous poison
जे हरषहिं पर संपति देखी। दुखित होहिं पर बिपति बिसेषी॥ जिन्हहि राम तुम्ह प्रान पिआरे। तिन्ह के मन सुभ सदन तुम्हारे॥
Je haraṣahin para sampati dekhī। dukhita hohin para bipati biseṣī।। Jinhahi Rāma tumha prāna piāre। tinha ke mana subha sadana tumhāre।।
Who delight in seeing other’s prosperity, are specially sorrowed at other’s sorrows To whom You Ram are as dear as life, their mind is your auspicious home.
स्वामि सखा पितु मातु गुर जिन्ह के सब तुम्ह तात। मन मंदिर तिन्ह कें बसहु सीय सहित दोउ भ्रात॥
Swāmi sakhā pitu mātu gura jinha ke saba tumha tāta। Mana mandira tinha ken basahu Sīya sahita dou bhrāta।।
Lord, buddy, father, mother, guru, to whom You are everything reside in the temple of their minds with Sita, You two brothers.
अवगुन तजि सब के गुन गहहीं। बिप्र धेनु हित संकट सहहीं॥ नीति निपुन जिन्ह कइ जग लीका। घर तुम्हार तिन्ह कर मनु नीका॥
Avaguna taji saba ke guna gahahīn। bipra dhenu hita sankata sahahīn।। Nīti nipuna jinha ka-I jaga līkā। ghara tumhāra tinha kara manu nīkā।।
Discarding vices, who imbibe other’s virtues, bear troubles for the good of the knowledgeable people and cows Whose moral proficiency is exemplary for the world, their minds are Your beautiful house.
गुन तुम्हार समुझइ निज दोसा। जेहि सब भाँति तुम्हार भरोसा॥ राम भगत प्रिय लागहिं जेही। तेहि उर बसहु सहित बैदेही॥
Guna tumhāra samujha-I nija dosā। jehi saba bhām̐ti tumhāra bharosā।। Rāma bhagata priya lāgahin jehī। tehi ura basahu sahita Baidehī।।
Who consider (their) virtues as Yours and vices their own, who count on You for everything to whom Ram-devotees are dear, reside in their hearts with Vaidehi.
जाति पाँति धनु धरमु बड़ाई। प्रिय परिवार सदन सुखदाई॥ सब तजि तुम्हहि रहइ उर लाई। तेहि के हृदयँ रहहु रघुराई॥
Jāti pām̐ti dhanu dharamu baṛāī। priya parivāra sadana sukhadāī।। Saba taji tumhahi raha-i ura lāī। tehi ke hr̥dayam̐ rahahu Raghurā-ī।।
Caste, creed, wealth, duty, praise, dear ones, family, comfortable house- who let go of everything and only hold You in their hearts, reside in their hearts Raghurai.
सरगु नरकु अपबरगु समाना। जहँ तहँ देख धरें धनु बाना॥ करम बचन मन राउर चेरा। राम करहु तेहि कें उर डेरा॥
Saragu naraku apabaragu samānā। jaham̐ taham̐ dekha dharen dhanu bānā।। Karama bacana mana rā-ura cerā। Rāma karahu tehi ken ura derā।।
(For whom) heaven, hell, liberation is all the same (because) they see You everywhere wielding bow and arrow who are Your servant O Lord in action, speech and mind, reside in their hearts Ram.
जाहि न चाहिअ कबहुँ कछु तुम्ह सन सहज सनेहु। बसहु निरंतर तासु मन सो राउर निज गेहु॥
Jāhi na cāhia kabahum̐ kachu tumha sana sahaja sanehu। Basahu nirantara tāsu mana so rā-ura nija gehu।।
Who don’t desire anything ever but only natural love with You Forever reside in their mind O Lord, that is Your own home. Ram.