Uttar Kaanda
218 - Greatness of the Ramayana; Tulasidasa's prayer and reward of reciting this poem
Chaupais
Description
I have narrated, Girija, the story of Sri Rama, which wipes out the sins of the Kali age and removes the impurities of the mind. The narrative of Sri Rama, as is declared by the Vedas and the seers, is a life-giving herb to cure the disease of birth and death. It has seven beautiful stairs, which are so many roads as it were leading to the goal of Devotion to the Lord of the Raghus. He alone who enjoys the utmost grace of Sri Hari can set his foot on this road (the road to Devotion). Men who sing this story in a guileless spirit attain the object of their soul's desire. Nay, they who repeat or listen to it or even approve of its recitation cross the ocean of mundane existence as they would the print of a cow's hoof. Girija (Daughter of the mountain-king) was greatly delighted at heart to hear the whole narrative and replied in pleasing tones : "By the grace of my lord (Yourself) my doubts have disappeared and my devotion to Sri Rama's feet has been renovated."