Ayodhya Kanda

Chapter 72: Lakshmana's plea: you alone are mine

5 verses · 72 of 326

What happens in this chapter

Lakshmana's plea: you alone are mine

Lakshmana says: my lord has given me good counsel, but in my weakness I find it beyond me. Veda and statecraft are for steady men who bear dharma. I am a child reared by your love; can a swan lift Mandara or Meru? I know no guru, father or mother; believe me, lord, I speak my nature. All the love and kinship in the world, all trust and learning, for me are you alone, friend of the lowly, knower of hearts. Teach dharma to one who loves fame, fortune and a good end; can the ocean of mercy cast off one devoted to his feet in mind, deed and word? Hearing his brother's humble words and seeing him afraid out of love, the Lord embraces and reassures him.

72.1

दीन्हि मोहि सिख नीकि गोसाईं । लागि अगम अपनी कदराईं ॥
नर बर धीर धरम-धुर-धारी । निगम नीति कहँ ते अधिकारी ॥

dīnhi mohi sikha nīki gosāīṃ | lāgi agama apanī kadarāīṃ ||
nara bara dhīra dharama-dhura-dhārī | nigama nīti kaham̐ te adhikārī ||

72.2

मैं सिसु प्रभु सनेहँ प्रतिपाला । मन्दर मेरु कि लेहिँ मराला ॥
गुरु पितु मातु न जानउँ काहू । कहउँ सुभाउ नाथ पतिआहू ॥

maiṃ sisu prabhu saneham̐ pratipālā | mandara meru ki lehim̐ marālā ||
guru pitu mātu na jānaum̐ kāhū | kahaum̐ subhāu nātha patiāhū ||

72.3

जहँ लगि जगत सनेह सगाई । प्रीति प्रतीति निगम निपुनाई ॥
मोरें सबइ एक तुम्ह स्वामी । दीनबन्धु उर अन्तरजामी ॥

jaham̐ lagi jagata saneha sagāī | prīti pratīti nigama nipunāī ||
moreṃ sabai eka tumha svāmī | dīnabandhu ura antarajāmī ||

72.4

धरम नीति उपदेसिअ ताही । कीरति-भूति-सुगति प्रिय जाही ॥
मन क्रम बचन चरन-रत होई । कृपासिन्धु परिहरिअ कि सोई ॥

dharama nīti upadesia tāhī | kīrati-bhūti-sugati priya jāhī ||
mana krama bacana carana-rata hoī | kṛpāsindhu pariharia ki soī ||

दो॰ 72Doha

करुनासिन्धु सुबन्धु के, सुनि मृदु बचन बिनीत ।
समुझाये उर लाइ प्रभु, जानि सनेहँ सभीत ॥

karunāsindhu subandhu ke, suni mṛdu bacana binīta |
samujhāye ura lāi prabhu, jāni saneham̐ sabhīta ||

Text source: Wikisource · Public domain (Tulsidas, 16th c.; 1925 edition, Wikisource PD-1996 tag); transcription CC BY-SA 4.0