Ashram Bhajanavali is a collection of devotional songs which formed part of the morning and evening prayers at Gandhiji’s ashrams. They were in various languages and taken from various sources, some of them obscure, but all fairly popular in Hindu religious tradition. Gandhiji rendered these into English for Mirabehn’s benefit, in the first place, during his imprisonment in Yeravda Central Prison. The work of translation was begun on May 6, 1930 and the last hymn was translated on December 15.

In 1934, George Allen & Unwin Ltd. brought out an adaptation of the work by John S. Hoyland. But in order to make the poems acceptable to English readers, Hoyland omitted a great deal, "chiefly Indian names and symbolism" but also much else so that at places it is difficult to recognize the original in the adaptation. See for instance Gandhiji’s translation of verse 8 and Hoyland’s adaptation of it.

The version reproduced here is taken from a photostat of the original work in Gandhiji’s hand (C. W. 4903).

1

प्रातःस्मरामि ह्नदिसंस्फुरदान्मतत्त्वम्

Early in the morning I call to mind that Being which is felt in the heart, which is sat (the eternal), chit (knowledge) and sukham (bliss), which is the state reached by perfect men and which is the super-state. I am that immaculate Brahma which ever notes the states of dream, wakefulness and deep sleep, not this body, the compound made of the elements—earth, water, space, light and air.

20-12-1930

2

In the early morning I worship Him who is beyond the reach of thought and speech and yet by whose grace all speech is possible. I worship Him whom the Vedas describe as neti neti (not this, not this).

Him they, the sages, have called God of gods, the unborn, the unfallen, the source of all.

7-5-1930

In the early morning I bow to Him who is beyond darkness, who is like the sun, who is perfect, ancient, called Purushottama, (the best among men) and in whom (through the veil of darkness) we fancy the whole universe as appearing even as (in darkness) we imagine a rope to be a snake.

8-5-1930

4

O! Goddess Earth with the ocean for thy garment, mountains for thy breasts, thou consort of Vishnu (the Preserver), I bow to thee; forgive the touch of my feet.

Note. Bowing to the earth, we learn to be humble as the earth which supports the beings that tread upon it. Earth therefore is rightly the consort of the Preserver.

9-5-1930

5

या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्रावृता

May the Goddess Saraswati (of learning), the destroyer completely of black ignorance, protect me. She who is white as the mogra flower or the moon and a garland of snow, who has worn white robes, whose hands are adorned with the beautiful bamboo of her veena (a kind of violin), who is seated on a white lotus and who is always adored by Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and the other gods.

10-5-1930

6

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ

O God with a curved mouth, big body, refulgent like ten million suns, keep me ever free from harm whilst doing beneficent acts.

Note. This is addressed to God represented by the mystic letter ‘ ß ’ pronounced ‘Om’. Mark its curved mouth and big body. Its mystic splendour has been sung by the Upanishads.

11-5-1930

7

गुरुर्बह्या गुरुविष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः

Guru (teacher) is Brahma, he is Vishnu, he is Mahadev, he is the great Brahman itself. I bow to that guru.

NOTE. This refers of course to the spiritual teacher. This is not a mechanical or artificial relationship. The teacher is not all these in reality but he is all that to the disciple who finds his full satisfaction in him and imputes perfection to him who gave him a living faith in a living God. Such a guru is a rarity, at least nowadays. The best thing is to think of God Himself as one’s Guru or await the Light in faith.

12-5-1930

8

शान्ताकारं भुजगशयनं पद्मनाभं सुरेशम्

I bow to Vishnu, who is peace incarnate, who lies on a snaky bed, from whose navel grows the lotus, who is the supreme lord of the gods, who sustains the universe, who is like unto the sky, who has the colour of clouds, whose body is blissful, who is the lord of Lakshmi (goddess of good fortune), who has lotus-like eyes, who is knowable by the yogis through meditation, who dispels the fear of the wheel of birth and death and who is the sole Ruler of all the worlds.

13-5-1930

9

करचरणकृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा

Forgive, O merciful and blessed Mahadev, all those sins of mine, of commission or omission, mental or actual and whether done through the hands or the feet, the speech, the ears or the eyes. Let Thy will be done.

14-5-1930

10

नत्वहं कामये राज्यं न स्वर्ग नापुनर्भवम्

I desire neither earthly kingdom nor paradise, no, not even release from birth and death. I desire only the release of afflicted life from misery.

15-5-1930

11

16-5-1930

12

नमस्ते सते ते जगन्कारणाय

I bow to Thee the sat (see first verse), the cause of the universe, I bow to Thee the chit (1st verse), the refuge of the world, I bow to Thee the one without a second, the giver of salvation, I bow to Thee the Brahman, the all-pervading, the eternal.

17-5-1935

13

त्वमेकं शरण्यं त्वमेकं वरेण्यम्

Thou art the only refuge, Thou art the only one to be desired, Thou art the sole protector of the universe, Thou art self-revealed, Thou art the sole creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe, Thou alone art supreme, immovable, unchangeable.

18-5-1930

14

भयानां भयं भीषणं भीषणानाम्

Of all the fears, Thou art the chief, of all that is terrible Thou art the most terrible, Thou art the motion of all life, Thou art the holy of holies, Thou art the sole regulator of the mightiest places, Thou art the greatest among the great. Thou art the chief among all protections.

19-5-1930

15

वयं त्वां स्मरामो वयं त्वां भजामो

We think of Thee, we worship Thee, we bow to Thee as the witness of this universe, we seek refuge in Thee the sat, our only support, yet Thyself needing none, the ruler, the barque in the midst of this ocean of endless birth and death.

20-5-1930

16

विपदो नैव विपदः संपदो नैव संपदः

That which goes by the name of adversity is not such; nor is that prosperity which goes by that name. To forget God is adversity; ever to think of Him is prosperity.

21-5-1930

17

विष्णुर्वा त्रिपुरान्तको भवतु वा ब्रह्या सुरेद्रो़Sथवा

Let him be whosoever he may be whether Vishnu or Mahadev, Brahma or Indra, Sun or Moon, Lord Buddha or Mahavir, obeisance be ever only to him who is free from the poisonous effect of desire and anger, who is filled with compassion for all life and who is purified by a perfectly virtuous life.

22-5-1930

18

The face of truth is overlaid with a golden lid, O God, remove it so that I may see the true light.

23-5-1930

19

O God, the Knower of all the ways, lead us along the right path so as to enable us to reach the goal; wrestle with our dark sins; we make obeisance to Thee again and again.

24-5-1930

20

Both that which is good and that which is pleasing face man. A wise man will discriminate and will certainly prefer the good to the pleasing whereas the foolish one will prefer the pleasing thinking it to be profitable.

25-5-1930

21

I shall tell thee in one word that state which all the Vedas establish, to which all the austerities are dedicated and desiring which devotees observe brahmacharya. It is Om.5

26-5-1930

22

The sun does not carry its light there, nor the moon, nor the stars, not even lightning can penetrate there, how then can this fire? All of them derive their light from It and all this (universe) is lighted by Its splendour.¹

27-5-1930

¹ Note by Gandhiji: "This should have been later. It is the translation of verse 14."

23

Those knowing ones who with austerities and faith live the forest life in peace begging for their food becoming sinless enter through the sunny gate that abode where dwells that well-known immortal changeless Being.

28-5-1930

24

Regard the soul as the warrior, body as his chariot, reason as the charioteer, mind as the reins; they call senses horses, sense-objects meadows; wise men have said that the soul acts through the mind and the senses.

29-5-1930

25

He whose reason is like an experienced charioteer and whose mind is under control like the reins crosses over safely and safely comes to the journey’s end, the excellent abode of Vishnu.

30-5-1930

26

Awake, arise, and learn wisdom from the wise. The sages say to traverse this way (through life) is as difficult as it is to walk along the edge of a razor.

31-5-1930

27

Even as fire though always the same assumes different forms as it passes through different media, so does the indwelling spritt, though essentially always the same, appear different passing through different media

1-5-1930

28

Even as the air though always the same assumes different forms as it passes through different media so does the indwelling spirit, though essentially always the same, appear different passing through different media.

2-6-1930

29

Even as the sun which gives light to all the eyes remains un-affected by the external defects of these eyes so is the over soul dwelling in all that lives not affected by the, external woes of mankind.

3-6-1930

30

Those wise men alone, not others, attain eternal happiness who feel dwelling in themselves that one all-controlling power which pervades all life and though one appears as many.

4-6-1930

31

Those wise men alone, not others, attain eternal peace who feel dwelling in themselves that God who is the permanent essence among the impermanent, who is the life in all that lives and who though one fulfils the desires of many.5

5-6-1930

32

Having realized (the impermanence of) the status to be obtained by works, a Brahmin should cultivate detachment. Stability cannot come from activity. To know that he should reverently approach a teacher who knows the Vedas and is intent on God.

6-6-1930

33

To him thus come with due reverence, calm of mind brought under control, the wise teacher imparts divine knowledge whereby one really knows that permanent Being who is truth incarnate.

7-6-1930

34

Pranav (Om) is the bow, the spirit is the arrow and Brahm[an] is the target; therefore one must shoot unerringly so that the spirit becomes one with Brahm[an] like the arrow (with the target).

8-6-1930

35

When one realizes Godhead one’s 4 heart is rid of difficulties, doubts vanish and works do not bind.

9-6-1930

36

This eternal Brahm[an] is before and behind, is in the right and the left, is below and above, pervades everywhere, is the universe, is above all.

10-6-1930

37

Self-realization comes always through truth, tapas (austerity), true knowledge and brahmacharya. Seekers who have become free from sins realize the immaculate refulgent spirit within themselves.

11-6-1930

38

Truth alone triumphs, never untruth. That way which the sages whose purpose is fulfilled traverse, which is the way of the gods and where is the great abode of truth opens (for us) through truth.

12-6-1930

39

This spirit is not attainable by the Vedic study or by feats of intellect or by attending discourses. It is attainable only by him who woos it. It reveals itself to such a one.

13-6-1930

40

This realization is not possible for the weak or the indolent or those who resort to unmeaning austerities. But the soul of the wise man who remedies these defects enters the abode of Brahm[an].

13-6-1930

41

All those who have well understood the meaning of life through Vedant and science, whose hearts are purified through sannyasa, being intent on the immortal, on death enter Brahmaloka and become free.

15-6-1930

42

All those who have well understood the meaning of life through Vedant and science, whose hearts are purified through sannyasa, being intent on the immortal, on death enter Brahmaloka and become free.

15-6-1930

43

Just as rivers rushing towards the sea leave their names and forms and merge in the sea, even so do wise men leave their names and forms and merge in the paramount divine Being.

16-6-1930

44

He who knows that great Brahm[an] I becomes It. In his family no one ignorant of Brahm[an] is possible. He passes grief and sin. He becomes free from the bonds of the heart and becomes immortal.

17-6-1930

45

He who knows that Brahm[an] which not reaching both speech and mind return, fears nothing. He does not burn thinking, ‘Why have I not done this good thing? Why have I committed that sin?

18-6-1930

46

A young man should have character, should be studious, full of hope, determination and strength. For him all this earth should be full of riches.

19-6-1930

47

He may not witness dances, he may not attend meetings, gatherings and revel, he may not gossip, he should cultivate a love for solitude, he may not resent incorrect conduct by the teacher and his family, he may not engage in talks with women except as may be necessary, he should be gentle, calm, modest and determined, he should shun idleness, anger, envy; he should fetch a pitcherful of water for the teacher both morning and evening and fetch wood from the forest.

20-6-1930

48

Soul-force is superior even to science, for one man having soul-force will shake one hundred learned men. When one has that force he is ready to go to a teacher, he serves him, then he becomes fit to sit near him, he ponders over what he has heard; he becomes wise, he does his duty, he has experience. The earth keeps its place through that force, the heavens retain their place through it, the mountains, the gods, mankind, the brute creation, birds, grass, plants, game, insects, moths, ants, etc., all life are sustained by that force. Therefore cultivate that force.

21-6-1930

49

May the winds, the waters, the plant life, the evening and the dawn, the dust of the earth, the heavenly vault which is like father, the trees, the sun and the cows be a blessing to us.

22-6-1930

50

One may not abandon one’s faith for the satisfaction of a desire, or from fear or ambition, not even for saving one’s life. Faith is permanent, happiness and unhappiness are fleeting things. The spirit is immortal, the result of its actions—the body—is evanescent.

23-6-1930

51

Work done with knowledge and faith and in a prayerful spirit becomes most effective strength.

24-6-1930

52

I bow to that God whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra and the Maruts adore with divine hymns, of whom the Vedic singers sing in the Vedas with the angas, the padas, the kramas and the Upanishads, whom the yogis see in their meditations with minds fixed on Him and whose end the devas and the asuras do not see.

25-6-1930

53

Om! may God protect us, may He support us, may we make joint progress, may our studies be fruitful, may we never harbour ill will against one another. Om shanti, shanti, shanti.

26-6-1930

54

Om! From untruth lead me unto truth, from darkness lead me unto light, from death lead me unto life everlasting.

27-6-1930

55

I bow to thee, O God, who being almighty and having entered my heart, gives by His power life to the silent tongue, the hands, feet, ears, skin and other members of the body.

28-6-1930

56

WOMEN’S PRAYER

O Govind, dweller of Dwarika, Krishna, Thou beloved of the Gopis, O Keshav, dost Thou not know that the Kauravas have surrounded me?

O Lord, Thou Lord of Lakshmi, protector of Vraja, deliverer from affliction, O Janardana, save me [from] the ocean of misery in the shape of the Kauravas.

O Krishna, Thou great Yogi, soul and protector of the universe,

O Govind, deliver me lying hopeless in the midst of the Kauravas and seeking thy support.

29-6-1930

57

Act righteously, never unrighteously; speak truth, never untruth; look far ahead, never shortsightedly; look above; never below.

30-6-1930

58

Ahimsa, truth, non-stealing, purity and self-control, these, said Manu, are the common duty of all the four divisions.

1-7-1930

59

Ahimsa, truth, non-stealing, freedom from passion, anger and greed, wishing the well-being and good of all that lives is the duty common to all the divisions.

2-7-1930

60

Understand that to be religion which the wise, the good and those that are free from likes and dislikes follow and which is I felt in the heart.

3-7-1930

61

Listen to the essence of religion and assimilate it through the heart: one should never do to others which one would not wish done to oneself.

That which has been said in countless books I shall say in half a verse: service of others is virtue, injury to others is sin.

4-7-1930

62

The sun, the moon, the wind, the fire, the sky, the earth, the waters, the heart, the god of judgment, the day, the night, the evening, the morning and dharma itself are witnesses to man’s actions, i.e., he can conceal nothing.

5-7-1930

63

FROM "DWADASHAPANJARIKA [-STOTRA"]

O foolish one, give up the desire for amassing wealth, make thy mind pure and free from desire, .satisfy thy mind with what thou may’st obtain through thy own labour.

6-7-1930

64

Always believe that wealth is illth. It is simple truth to say that there is no happiness coming from its possession. It is known to all that rich people fear even their own children.

7-7-1930

65

Shun desire, anger, greed, possession and ask thyself who am I’. Those foolish ones who don’t strive for self-realization go to perdition.

8-7-1930

66

In thee, me and others there is but one God who suffers us all; thou art angered for nothing. See thyself in all and everywhere, give up thy ignorance in the shape of differentiation.

9-7-1930

67

Like the precarious drops on a lotus leaf this life is fleeting. Know this world to be full of disease, egotism and affliction.

10-7-1930

68

FROM "PANDAVAGITA"

PANDAV: I think reverently of the holy ones: Prahlad, Narad, Parashar Pundarika, Vyasa, Ambarisha, Shuka, Shaunaka, Bhima, Dalbhya, Rukmangada, Arjuna, Vasishtha, Bibhishana and other great saints.

11-7-1930

69

KUNTI: O Krishna, no matter in what species I am born due o my actions, may my devotion to you grow in strength.

12-7-1930

70

DRONA: O King, those who were killed by the Wielder of the Discus, the Lord of the three worlds, Janardana, have gone to the abode of Vishnu. For even the wrath of God is like his boon.

13-7-1930

71

GANDHARI: O Thou God of gods, Thou alone art my all, mother, father, brother, friend, knowledge, wealth.

14-7-1930

72

VIRATA: Ten thousand ten obeisances to the great God Krishna, Govind the benefactor of the cow, the Brahmin, the whole universe.

PRAHLAD:  O Lord ! O Changeless One ! may my devotion unto Thee remain for ever constant, no matter where among the thousands of species I may take birth. May my love for Thee be pure and even as intense as the love of the worldly man for his sensepursuits and may it never fade from my heart ever intent upon Thee.

BHARADWAJA: Good fortune and victory, never defeat, attend upon those whose hearts are ruled by lotus-like Janardana.

MARKANDEYA: That moment or occasion when one does not think of Vasudeva means as much waste, loss, ignorance, folly, stupidity.

SHAUNAKA: Devotees of Vishnu needlessly worry over food and clothing. Surely He who sustains the whole universe is not going to neglect His devotees.

SANATKUMAR: Even as the waters dropping from the heavens are received into the ocean, so is the worship of the different gods received unto Keshav.

15-7-1930

73

SELECTIONS FROM "MUKUNDAMALA"

O Mukunda, grant that I may always say: O Vallabh, O Giver of boons, O Fount of Mercy, O Lover of devotees, O Destroyerof the wheel of birth and death, O Lord, O Thou with a serpentine bed, O Thou Refuge of the Universe.

15-7-1930

74

O Mukunda! With head bowed down I ask of Thee only this that by Thy grace I may never from birth to birth lose sight of Thy lotus feet.

O God! I have no relish for dharma, nor for wealth nor yet for worldly enjoyments; let whatever is to happen happen as a result of my past actions; only this prayer I regard as of utmost importance: may my attachment to Thy lotus feet be unshakable.

O Thou Destroyer of hell! I do not care where my lot is to be cast, whether in heaven or on earth or in hell; only grant that I may ever think of Thy feet more beautiful than the lotus during the rains.

Vishnu becomes like a ship protecting men sailing on the ocean of birth and death, tossed to and fro as by the wind, by the pairs of opposites such as happiness and misery, borne down by the weight of guarding sons, daughters, wives and the like and sinking in the storms of violent passions.

16-7-1930

75

O, my heart, you need not be afraid that you cannot cross this unfathomable and difficult ocean of birth and death; thy single-minded devotion to the lotus-eyed, hell-destroying God will

surely save thee.

O Lotus-eyed One! with hands folded, head bowed, body moved, throat choked, eyes bathed in hot tears, may our life close ever drinking in the nectar in the form of the meditation of Thy lotus-like feet.

O Cupid! Get thee gone from my heart which is the seat of the lotus-like feet of Mukunda; thou art already scorched by the fire from Siva’s eyes; why will you not remember the might of Vishnu’s discus?

O thou wrong-headed fool ! Why dost thou afflict with drugs this body which has hundreds of weak joints, which is liable to certain decay and which is subject to constant change? Drink in the one life-giving potion—the name of Krishna.

17-7-1930

76

I touch the lotus feet of Narayana, I worship Narayana always; I take the holy name of Narayana, I remember the changeless essence called Narayana. O how passion deadens man’s senses; for though he can take, he never does take any of the many names of God such as Ananta, Vaikuntha, Mukunda, Krishna, Govind, Damodar, Madhav.

18-7-1930

77

BHAJANS

O elephant-mouthed one, the chief of ganas by thinking on whom one attains salvation and who is a storehouse of knowledge and virtues, may Thy grace descend upon me; O merciful one by whose mercy the dumb speak, the lame ascend steep hills and who washes off all the scorching dirt of Kali—shower thy blessings upon me.

19-7-1930

78

For those in want there is no other than Thou so merciful, so generous! What is the use of my carrying my wants to others? They appear to me as much in want as myself. Gods, men, sages, demons, serpents and others exercise sway only during Thy pleasure. The world, eternity, the four Vedas proclaim that Rama is the beginning, the end and the middle; Thine is the Kingdom. To ask of Thee is not begging. Thy devotee comes to Thee for Thy well-known nature; for hast Thou not taken under Thy protection stone, beast, trees, bird? O Thou, son of Lord Dasharatha, Thou hast turned beggars into kings, Thou art the refuge of the distressed. I am Thy slave. O merciful God, say if only once: "Tulsidas is Mine."

20-7-1930

79

Thou art merciful, I am in distress; Thou art the giver, I am a beggar; I am a known sinner, Thou art the forgiver of mountains of sins; Thou art the help of the helpless and who can be so helpless as I?

There is none so afflicted like me, there is no deliverer like unto Thee; Thou art the creator, I am a little creature; Thou art the lord, I am a slave; Thou art father, brother, teacher, friend, all in all to me; if I have only faith, I know that there is much between Thee and me; may Tulsi somehow feel the protecting power of Thy holy feet.

21-7-1930

80

When shall I conduct myself thus by the grace of the merciful Rama that I shall cultivate the nature of good and true men; that I shall be satisfied with whatever accrues to me in the ordinary course and shall expect nothing from anybody; that I shall carry out the resolution to serve others in thought, deed and word; that I shall not burn with the scorching fire of the unbearably harsh language of others when I chance to hear it; that I shall be free from pride and have a mind equipoised and not delight in narrating the defects of others and that I shall give up all anxiety about the body and will not be elated by happiness and downcast by misery?

Tulsidas declares: being steadfast along the foregoing path I shall attain the boon of unchangeable devotion.

22- 7-1930

81

O my soul! How foolish art thou, thou leavest the celestial waters of Ramabhakti and runnest after the mirage even as the chatak bird being thirsty mistakes a volume of smoke for a cloud but finds neither coolness nor water and damages its eyes into the bargain; or even as the hungry hawk seeing its own reflection through a glass floor falls upon it forgetting the injury done to its own face.

O merciful God, how long need I relate my misdeeds? Thou knowest the minds of Thy devotees.

Tulsidas says: Lord, think of Thy  promise and deliver Thy servant from the insufferable misery.

23-7-1930

82

O Lord! Hear this my prayer. Remove my ignorance which makes [me] cherish expectations of and faith in others rather than Thee. I want neither heaven nor good intellect, nor riches nor possessions nor greatness. I want an ever-growing devotion to Thee without expectation of reward. May Thy grace save me even as the tortoise its eggs from succumbing to the weakness of my irresistible evil nature; Tulsidas prays for deliverance from all egotism and

attachments of the body.

24-7-1930

83

O Madhav, how can this bondage of infatuation be broken? Not even a million external remedies will remove the internal malady. No amount of fire underneath a cauldron will destroy the moon reflected in a cauldron filled with ghee. The bird living in the hollow of a tree will not be killed by cutting the tree (from above). Even so a mind devoid of disciplined thinking will never be purified by any external means. When the heart within is impure and full of evil passions, no amount of external cleansing of the body will purify it. Can the snake inside its mound be killed by destroying the mound? Tulsidas says that without the grace of God there is no clear discrimination and without it no one may hope to cross the deep ocean named the universe.

25-7-1930

84

O Raghuvir, help of the distressed, to whom shall I take the tale of my great misery? My heart, O my God, is Thy abode, but many thieves have entered therein and although I am beseeching and imploring them to leave it, they are using unbearable force; ignorance, delusion, greed, pride, arrogance, anger, passion—all enemies of free knowledge are causing much trouble, O Lord, and thinking me to be helpless are crushing me, I am alone, the thievesare many, no one hears my cries; Lord, there is no escape from this either; O Lord of the Raghus, protect me. Tulsidas says: Listen, O Rama, thieves are looting Thy house; my great anxiety is lest they should bring discredit on Thee !

26-7-1930

85

None is so generous in this world as Rama who is merciful to the distressed without requiring any service in return. There is no one like him. That state which even sages fail to attain after devotion and self-denial he bestowed upon the Vulture and Sabari and then thought he had not given much. The kingdom that Ravana got from Sivji after having offered his head Rama gave to Bibhishana as if it was nothing.

Tulsidas says: O my mind, if thou wouldst have the real good then worship Rama who out of the abundance of his grace will answer thy prayer.

27-7-1930

86

Shun those people as enemies who are not devoted to Rama and Sita, be they ever so good friends. (For Him), Prahlad left his father, Bibhishana his brother, Bharata his mother, Bali his teacher, the women of Vraj their husbands and they all rejoiced (in their sacrifice).

A friend is desirable only so long as he is attached and devoted to Rama. What more need I say, what is the use of the eye-powder that destroys the eyes? Tulsi says: In my opinion, he who is devoted to the feet of Rama is in every respect my friend worthy of love and dear as life itself.

28-7-1930

87

What should I do to be able to pray? I am afraid, for looking at my conduct I realize my defeat; I obstinately refrain from doing the things which make God merciful towards His devotees and I follow the path that leads me into the trap of misfortune and daily misery. I know that I should be safe if I gave myself in thought, word and deed to the service of fellow creatures but on the contrary I am vainly jealous when I see others happy. The Vedas, the Puranas and other scriptures proclaim the necessity of cultivating firmly the companionship of the good but my pride, passion and jealousy turn me away from them. I always delight in that which will lead me unto misery. Now tell me, O Lord! how may I be delivered from this misery? I can only be saved if Thou according to Thy nature will have

mercy on me; Tulsidas has no other hope; how long shall he remain in this mire?

29-7-1930

88

Raghunath knows what love is. He sets aside all other bonds and accepts only real love. Dasharatha expressed paternal affection by giving up life and made his fame immortal. But look at the greatness of Rama—he held the Vulture as superior to such a father. He even forgot his beloved Sita when he saw his friend Sugriva grief-stricken over the separation of his wife. Here was his brother lying senseless in the battle-field but he was thinking, at the time, of Bibhishana. Whether at home, or the teacher’s house, or the home of friends or the father-in-law’s, wherever he was treated, he never experienced the richness of those feasts as that of the wild berries provided by Sabari. When the sages begin to narrate His original nature they humbly acknowledge their inability to do justice to the theme and are happy to call themselves friends of the Bhil or take pride in calling themselves companions of monkeys. Tulsidas says: If thou, having known this nature and this love of Rama, hast not devotion in thine heart, then, O fool, thy mother in giving thee birth uselessly threw away her youth.

89

O Raghuvir, my shame is Thy shame. I am ever seeking Thy protection and Thou art noted as protector of the weak. I have heard it said of Thee that it is Thy promise that Thou wouldst save sinners. And I am an old sinner; take my ship ashore. To destroy the sin of Thy devotees and to remove their distress is Thy only task. Be merciful, O Lord, to Tulsidas, and give him the boon of Thy worship.

90

O Prince of the Raghus, wake up; the birds are singing in the grove. The moon will disappear presently, the chakravaka bird is off to meet her lord. The threefold breeze is gently blowing, the leaves are rustling. The morning sun is on the horizon, darkness of the night is gone. The bees are humming, the lotus has opened its leaf. Brahma and others are in meditation; the gods, common people and sages are singing hymns of praise. Thus when it was rising time Rama opened his eyes. Tulsidas is overjoyed to see the lotus face of Rama who gives valuables as gifts to the poor.

30-7-1930

91

O Lord, my mind will not give up its waywardness. I try every day to control it but it will not change its nature. As a woman, although she recognizes the pains of labour, foolishly forgets them and goes to her foolish husband or as a greedy dog, even though it gets knocks on the head, meanly continues to visit the same haunts and is not ashamed, even so is this mind of mine willful and unconquerable, I own defeat in spite of various efforts. Tulsidas says: It will come under subjection only when God the inspirer of all takes it up in hand.

31-7-1930

92

O Rama, he (Bibhishana) left family, fort Lanka, palaces and temples and hearing Thy name rushed to Thee for protection. Seated in his full court Ravana kicked him and the foolish one would not listen though he was warned again and again. Thou embracedst this Bibhishana as soon as he came to Thee and crowned him King of Lanka. As soon as he met Thee the insults of ages were wiped out. O Raghunath, friend of the friendless, Thou owned him knowing him to be helpless. Tulsidas says: He received the boon of the protection from and devotion to the Lord of the Raghus.

1-8-1930

93

O my mind, worship the beneficent feet of Rama. From these feet issued forth the Ganga and was caught by Siva in his ample lock of hair. It was therefore named Jatashankari; it came for the good of the three worlds. Bharata treasured as a token of love the sandals bearing the imprints of these feet. The Bhil chief would not steer Rama’s boat without being allowed to wash those feet. Saintly persons always worship these beneficent feet. The wife of the sage Gautama obtained salvation by the touch of those feet. Rama hallowed (with his feet) the Dandak forest and removed the distress of the rishis. (Yet strange to relate) this very Rama the lord of the three worlds ran after the golden deer. He gave the palm of victory to the monkey Sugriva, who was afflicted by the fear of his brother. Bibhishana, the brother of the enemy (Ravana), got the crown of Lanka through the touch of those feet. Siva, Sanak, Brahma, etc., also the thousand-mouthed serpent sing his praises but, says Tulsidas, his lips utter the praise of Hanuman the monkey.

2-8-1930