Tulsidas

“ By my lord's. favour my mind is set at rest; I will abandon pleasure, fortune, home, grandeur and all, to do you service; for all these things are hindrances to faith in Ráma, as the saints declare who are devoted to the worship of your feet. [5] All the friends and enemies, joys and sorrows of the world, are effects of delusion, and are not eternal realities. Báli is my greatest friend, by whose favour I have met you, O Ráma, destroyer of all sorrow; as when a man dreams that he has been fighting some one, and on waking and coming to his senses is ashamed of his illusion. ”

“ Wherever she may be, if only she still lives, brother, I would make an effort to rescue her. Sugríva has forgotten all about me, now that he has got back his kingdom and treasure, his city and his queen. Fool that he is, I will to-morrow slay him with the selfsame arrow with which I slew Báli." He, by whose favour, Umá, pride and delusion are dissipated, could never even dream of being angry. Only enlightened saints can understand these actions of his, who have a hearty devotion to the feet of Raghubír. Lakshman believed his lord was angry, and strung his bow and took his arrows in his hands. ”

“ In obedience to the Lord's commands she went to the Badri forest, cherishing in her heart Ráma's feet, the adoration of the eternal Siva.
Chaupái.
Now the monkeys were thinking to themselves: "The appointed time has passed and nothing has been done." So they all came together and asked one another, "there is no news, brother; what are we to do?" Angad's eyes were full of tears as he replied: "It is death for us either way. Here we have failed to get tidings of Síta, and if we go home our king will slay us. ”

“ The ridges of the fields are broken down by the heavy rains, like women ruined by too much license. The diligent cultivators weed their lands, like philosophers who root up ignorance, vanity and pride. The chakwá and other birds are nowhere to be seen, like virtue that fled at the coming of the iron age. However much it may rain, no grass springs upon barren ground; so lust takes no root in the heart of Hari's worshippers. The earth gleams with swarms of living creatures of every kind; so the people multiply under good government. ”

“ As a servant has confidence in his master, or a child in its mother, so all dwell secure under the protection of the Lord." So saying, he fell in much agitation at his feet, and the love that filled his soul shewed itself in every part of his body. Then Raghupati raised him up and took him to his bosom, while his own eyes were flooded with tears of joy. "Hearken, O monkey; do not account yourself vile; you are second to Lakshman only in my affection; every one says that I have no respect of persons; any servant is beloved of me, and has a rank in heaven second to none. ”

“ Or has the lord of all the spheres become incarnate in your human form for the good of the world, to bridge the ocean of existence and relieve earth of its burdens?"
Chaupái.
"We are the sons of Dasarath, the king of Kosala, and have come into the forest in obedience to our father's command; Ráma, the name of one brother, and Lakshman of the other. With us was my young and beautiful bride, the daughter of the king of Videha. But some demon here has stolen her away; and it is she, O Bráhman, whom we are trying to find. We have told you our affairs, tell us now your own story." ”

“ You knew that he had taken refuge under the might of my arm, and yet in your wicked pride you wished to kill him."
Dohá 9.
"Hearken, Ráma; I dealt craftily with my lord; to-day, guilty as I am, I obtain, sire, at my death a place in heaven."
Chaupái.
When Ráma heard this most tender speech, he touched Báli's head with his hands: "I restore the soundness of your body; retain your life." Said Báli: "Hearken, All-merciful; the saints are born again and again and labour throughout their life, and yet even to the last Ráma never comes near them. ”

“ What with clouds that ever canopied the heavens and the frequent thunder, the season of the rains seemed a most delightful time.
Dohá 13.
"See, Lakshman, how the peacocks dance at the sight of the clouds, like a householder, enamoured of asceticism, who rejoices when he finds a true believer in Vishnu.
Chaupái.
Clouds gather in the sky and thunders roar; but my darling is gone and my soul is in distress. [9] The lightning flashes fitfully amid the darkness, like the friendship of the vile which never lasts. ”

“ If that wretch Báli has sent them, I must leave the hill and flee at once." The monkey assumed the form of a Bráhman and went to the place; there bowed his head and thus questioned them: "Who are you two knights of warrior mien, who roam this wood, one dark of hue, the other fair. The ground is rough for your soft feet to tread. What is the reason, my masters, that you visit this forest? Your body is too delicate and exquisitely beautiful to be exposed to the intolerable sun and wind of these wild regions. Who are you? A Person of the Trinity; or the two great gods Nara and Náráyan? ”

“ But one who speaks you fairly to your face, but behind your back is an enemy in the viciousness of his soul, whose mind, brother, is as tortuous as the movements of a snake, such a man is a bad friend, whom it is well to let alone. ”

“ A man who is invulnerable by the arrow of a woman's eye, who remains wakeful through the dark night of angry passion, and whose neck has never been bound by the halter of covetousness, is your equal, O Raghurái. ”

“ There is neither mud nor dust; the earth is as brilliant as the administration of a king, who is well versed in state policy. The fish are distressed by the shrinking of the water, like improvident men of family by the loss of money. The unclouded sky shines as bright as a worshipper of Hari, who has discarded every other patron. ”

“ Though his heart was full of affection, the words of his mouth were harsh, as he looked towards Ráma and said: "You have become incarnate, sire, for the advancement of religion, and yet you take my life, as a huntsman would that of a wild beast. I forsooth am an enemy and Sugríva a friend; yet for what fault have you killed me, my lord?" "Hearken, wretch; a younger brother's wife, a sister, a daughter-in-law and an unwedded maid are all alike: whoever looks upon one of them with an evil eye may be slain without any sin. ”

“ For a moment they were overwhelmed with despair, but at last they all spoke and said "unless we get news of Sita we will not return, O sagacious prince." So saying the monkeys all went to the seashore, where they spread beds of kusa grass and sat down. But Jámbaván, seeing Angad's distress, addressed him with a discourse of appropriate admonition: "My son, do not imagine Ráma to be a man; know that he is the invisible god, unconquerable and from everlasting. All we who are his servants are most highly blessed in our love for the eternal God thus made incarnate. ”

“ Search as you like, the dusty foot-path is no longer to be traced; like as when religion is put out of sight by passion. The earth rich with crops makes as goodly a show as the prosperity of the benevolent. ”

“ Where the water is deep, the fish are as glad as men who have taken refuge with Hari and have not a single trouble. The lakes, with their flowering lotuses, are as beaatiful as the immaterial Supreme Spirit when clothed with a material form. The garrulous bees make a wonderful buzzing, and the birds a charming concert of diverse sounds ”

“ With his hosts of monkeys Ráma will destroy the demons and recover Síta; and gods and saints and Nárad and all will declare his glory, that sanctifies the three spheres." Any man attains the highest beatitude who hears, sings, tells or meditates upon the feet of Raghubír, lotus flowers which, like the bee, Tulsi Dás is ever singing. ”

“ The pouring clouds cleave close to the ground, as sages stoop beneath accumulated lore. The mountain endures the buffeting of the storm, as the virtuous bear the abuse of the wicked. The flooded streamlets rush proudly along, like mean men puffed up with a little wealth. ”

“ To restrain from evil paths and to direct in the path of virtue; to publish all good qualities and conceal the bad; to give and take without any distrust of mind; to be always ready to assist with all one's power, and in time of misfortune to be a hundred times more affectionate than ever ”

“ No sooner had they heard this speech than all the monkeys started at once in every direction. Sugríva then called Angad, Nila and Hanumán:
Chaupái.
"Hearken, Nila, Angad and Hanumún, and you, O staunch and sagacious Jámbaván; go ye together, all ye gallant warriors, to the south and ask every one for news of Síta. Strain every faculty to devise some way of accomplishing Ráma's object. The sun is content with back service and the fire with front, but a master must be served back and front alike, without any subterfuges. [13] Discard the unrealities of the world and consider the future ”

“ All the trees put forth their new leaves, like pious souls that have come to matured wisdom. The ák and jawása plants lose their leaves: as in a well-governed realm the schemes of the wicked come to nought. ”

“ In the Treta age God will take the form of a man, and his spouse will be carried off by the king of the demons. The Lord will send out spies to search for her, and if you join them you will be purified. Your wings will sprout again, fear not, when you have found them Síta. ”

“ Kings and ascetics, merchants and mendicants, leave the city and go their way with joy, like men in any of the four stages of life, [11] who cease to labour when they have once attained to faith in Hari. ”

“ I know this, that any man, who deserts such a lord, must needs be caught in the meshes of calamity. Ráma then sent for Sugríva and instructed him in all the principles of state-craft, and added: "Hearken, Sugríva, lord of the monkey race; I may not enter a city for fourteen years. The hot weather is now over and the rains have set in. I will encamp on the hills close by. Do you with Angad reign in royal state; bnt remain ever mindful of my interests." Sugriva then returned to the palace, while Ráma remained in camp on mount Pravarshana. [8] ”

“ On hearing this humble speech, Lakshman was glad and said ererytbing to reassure him, while Hanumán told him all that had been done and how a multitude of spies had already started.
Dohá 20.
Then Sugríva with Angad and the other monkeys went forth with joy, preceded by Lakshman, and arrived in Ráma's presence.
Dohá 1.
With folded hands he bowed his head at his feet and cried: "My lord, it has been no fault of mine. Your delusive power, sire, is so strong that only Ráma's favour can disperse it. Gods and men, saints and kings are mastered by their senses ”