Baal Kaanda
7 - Tulasidasas humility and the glory of poetry describing Sri Rama's greatness
Chaupais
Description
Though all know the Lord's greatness as such, yet none has refrained from describing it. The Vedas have justified it thus; they have variously sung the glory of remembering the Lord, God, who is one, desireless, formless, nameless and unborn, who is Truth, Consciousness and Bliss, who is supreme effulgence, all-pervading and all-formed-it is He who has performed many deeds assuming a suitable form. That He has done only for the good of His devotees; for He is supremely gracious and loving to the suppliant. He is excessively fond of His devotees and treats them as His own; He has never frowned at him to whom He has once shown His favour. The restorer of what has been lost, the befriender of the poor, the Lord of Raghus is a straightforward and powerful master. Knowing thus, the wise sing the glory of Sri Hari and thereby hallow and bring supreme reward to their speech. It is on this strength (the supreme efficacy of remembering the Lord and the potency of His grace) that I shall sing the virtues of the Lord of Raghus, bowing my head to the feet of Sri Rama. Sages have sung the glory of Sri Hari in the past; it will be easy for me to follow that very path.(1-5)