Aranya Kaanda
122 - Grace on Sabari; a discourse on the nine forms of Devotion and departure for the Pampa lake
Chaupais
Description
"Muttering My Name with unwavering faith constitutes the fifth form of adoration revealed in the Vedas. The sixth variety consists in the practice of self-control and virtue, desisting from manifold activities and ever pursuing the course of conduct prescribed for saints. He who practises the seventh type sees the world full of Me without distinction and reckons the saints as even greater than Myself. He who cultivates the eighth type of Devotion remains contented with whatever he gets and never thinks of detecting others' faults. The ninth form of Devotion demands that one should be guileless and straight in one's dealings with everybody, and should in his heart cherish implicit faith in Me without either exultation or depression. Whoever possesses any one of these nine forms of Devotion, be he man or woman or any other creature- sentient or insentient- is most dear to Me, O good lady. As for yourself, you are blessed with unflinching devotion of all these types. The prize which is hardly won by the Yogis is within your easy reach today. The most incomparable fruit of seeing Me is that the soul attains its natural state. If you know anything about Janaka's daughter, My good lady, tell Me her news, O fair dame." "Go to the Pampa lake, O Lord of Raghus; there You will make friends with Sugriva. He will tell You everything, my Lord Rama, Hero of Raghu's line; You are of steady resolve and know everything; nevertheless You ask me!" Bowing her head at the Lord's feet again and again she lovingly related the whole story (of what the sage Matanga had told her and how eagerly she had watched His approach all the time).