Bhakti Arohan
ॐ

Sundarkand — Doha 51

Before the Ocean

Doha 51: Before the Ocean

Lakshman protests against relying on fate; Rama sits on kusha grass before the sea. Ravana's spies watch.

Verse 51.1

सखा कही तुम्ह नीकि उपाई। करिअ दैव जौं होइ सहाई॥ मंत्र न यह लछिमन मन भावा। राम बचन सुनि अति दुख पावा॥ १ ॥

sakhā kahī tumha nīki upāī karia daiva jauṁ hoi sahāī maṁtra na yaha lachhimana mana bhāvā rāma bachana suni ati dukha pāvā

Translation

"Friend, you have suggested a good way; let us do it, if fate lends a hand." This counsel did not please Lakshman at all; hearing Rama's words, he was very upset.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

(राम बोले) "हे मित्र! तुमने अच्छा उपाय बताया, यही किया जाए, यदि दैव सहायक हो।" यह सलाह लक्ष्मण जी के मन को अच्छी नहीं लगी। राम के वचन सुनकर उन्हें बहुत दुख हुआ।

Verse 51.2

नाथ दैव कर कवन भरोसा। सोषिअ सिंधु करिअ मन रोसा॥ कादर मन कहुँ एक अधारा। दैव दैव आलसी पुकारा॥ २ ॥

nātha daiva kara kavana bharosā soṣhia siṁdhu karia mana rosā kādara mana kahum̐ eka adhārā daiva daiva ālasī pukārā

Translation

"Master, what reliance can one place on fate? Be angry and dry up the ocean. Fate is the one prop of a coward's mind; it is the lazy who cry 'Fate, fate!'"

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

"हे नाथ! दैव का क्या भरोसा? मन में क्रोध कीजिए और समुद्र को सुखा दीजिए। दैव तो कायर मन का एक आधार है, आलसी ही 'दैव-दैव' पुकारा करते हैं।"

Commentary

Lakshman's impatience voices a real tension between waiting on providence and taking action. The Manas lets both voices speak; Rama will follow the courteous route first, and when it fails, Lakshman's advice is proved right (58.3).

Verse 51.3

सुनत बिहसि बोले रघुबीरा। ऐसेहिं करब धरहु मन धीरा॥ अस कहि प्रभु अनुजहि समुझाई। सिंधु समीप गए रघुराई॥ ३ ॥

sunata bihasi bole raghubīrā aisehiṁ karaba dharahu mana dhīrā asa kahi prabhu anujahi samujhāī siṁdhu samīpa gae raghurāī

Translation

Hearing this, Raghubir laughed and said, "We will do just that; keep calm." Saying this and reassuring his brother, the Lord Raghurai went to the seashore.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

यह सुनकर रघुवीर हँसकर बोले, "ऐसा ही करेंगे, मन में धीरज रखो।" यह कहकर छोटे भाई को समझाकर प्रभु रघुनाथ जी समुद्र के पास गए।

Verse 51.4

प्रथम प्रनाम कीन्ह सिरु नाई। बैठे पुनि तट दर्भ डसाई॥ जबहिं बिभीषन प्रभु पहिं आए। पाछें रावन दूत पठाए॥ ४ ॥

prathama pranāma kīnha siru nāī baiṭhe puni taṭa darbha ḍasāī jabahiṁ bibhīṣhana prabhu pahiṁ āe pāchheṁ rāvana dūta paṭhāe

Translation

First he bowed his head in salutation, then sat down on the shore on a spread of kusha grass. Now, just when Vibhishana had come to the Lord, Ravana had sent spies after him.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

पहले उन्होंने सिर नवाकर प्रणाम किया, फिर किनारे पर कुश बिछाकर बैठ गए। इधर जब विभीषण प्रभु के पास आए थे, तभी रावण ने उनके पीछे दूत भेजे थे।

Commentary

Sitting on darbha (kusha) grass is the posture of a formal vow or penance. Rama sits as a supplicant before the ocean. The narrative then flashes back to Ravana's spies.

Verse 51.5

सकल चरित तिन्ह देखे धरें कपट कपि देह। प्रभु गुन हृदयँ सराहहिं सरनागत पर नेह॥ ५१ ॥

sakala charita tinha dekhe dhareṁ kapaṭa kapi deha prabhu guna hṛidayam̐ sarāhahiṁ saranāgata para neha

Translation

Disguised as monkeys, they saw everything that happened, and in their hearts they praised the Lord's virtues and his love for those who seek refuge.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

कपटी वानर का शरीर धरकर उन्होंने सब लीला देखी, और वे हृदय में प्रभु के गुणों और शरणागत पर उनके प्रेम की सराहना करने लगे।

Contents
  1. Mangalacharan
  2. Doha 1: The Leap
  3. Doha 2: Surasa's Test
  4. Doha 3: First Sight of Lanka
  5. Doha 4: Lankini
  6. Doha 5: Searching the Palaces
  7. Doha 6: Meeting Vibhishana
  8. Doha 7: The Tongue among the Teeth
  9. Doha 8: Sita in the Ashoka Grove
  10. Doha 9: The Firefly and the Lotus
  11. Doha 10: Chandrahasa
  12. Doha 11: Trijata's Dream
  13. Doha 12: The Ring Falls
  14. Doha 13: Hanuman Reveals Himself
  15. Doha 14: Has He Forgotten Me?
  16. Doha 15: Rama's Message
  17. Doha 16: The Golden-Mountain Form
  18. Doha 17: Sita's Blessing
  19. Doha 18: Wrecking the Grove
  20. Doha 19: Meghanada and the Brahmastra
  21. Doha 20: In Ravana's Court
  22. Doha 21: On Whose Strength?
  23. Doha 22: The Envoy's Plea
  24. Doha 23: Wealth without Rama
  25. Doha 24: Punishment for the Envoy
  26. Doha 25: The Burning Tail
  27. Doha 26: Lanka Burns
  28. Doha 27: The Crest-Jewel
  29. Doha 28: The Return
  30. Doha 29: Before Rama
  31. Doha 30: Jambavan's Report
  32. Doha 31: Sita's Words
  33. Doha 32: A Debt That Cannot Be Repaid
  34. Doha 33: All by Your Glory
  35. Doha 34: The Boon of Devotion
  36. Doha 35: The March to the Sea
  37. Doha 36: Mandodari's Plea
  38. Doha 37: Flattering Counsel
  39. Doha 38: Vibhishana's Counsel
  40. Doha 39: Rama Is Not Merely a King
  41. Doha 40: Good Sense and Bad
  42. Doha 41: Vibhishana Is Cast Out
  43. Doha 42: Longing for Rama's Feet
  44. Doha 43: Sugriva's Suspicion
  45. Doha 44: The Vow of Refuge
  46. Doha 45: Vibhishana before Rama
  47. Doha 46: The Embrace
  48. Doha 47: Vibhishana's Hymn
  49. Doha 48: The Marks of a Devotee
  50. Doha 49: Vibhishana Crowned
  51. Doha 50: How to Cross the Ocean
  52. Doha 51: Before the Ocean
  53. Doha 52: The Spies Caught
  54. Doha 53: Ravana's Questions
  55. Doha 54: Shuka's Report
  56. Doha 55: Natural Heroes
  57. Doha 56: Lakshman's Letter
  58. Doha 57: Without Fear There Is No Love
  59. Doha 58: The Fire-Arrow
  60. Doha 59: The Ocean Surrenders
  61. Doha 60: Nala and Nila; Conclusion