T Ram Sewak

SULABH SUKHAD MARG

Shri Ram has previously elaborated that the human form is difficult to attain and that it would be a phenomenal waste if it were used only for sensual pleasures. He now proceeds to enlighten us on what to do with this human life in Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.44.

jaun paralok cahahoo, suni .gahahoo

sulabh sukhad bhai, bhagati mori gayi

"If you seek happiness in this life and after that, listen to My words and imprint them deeply in your heart. It is an easy (sulabh) and pleasant (sukhad) path, brethren, that of devotion (bhakti) to Me, extolled in the Puranas and Vedas."

There are two critical features of this quatrain (chaupai). The first is that Shri Ram has just revealed His divinity to the citizens but purposely addresses them as brethren so that in awe, some may not lose His message. He then demonstrates his omniscience by exhorting them to listen to Him attentively and internalise His words, emphasising that these words have been sung by Vedas and Puranas as well. In a way, it alludes that since many were unaware of His Divinity and may not have grasped it yet, they needed this anchor of scriptural reference.

Second, earlier, Shri Ram had defined action (karma) as a raft in the form of the human body and knowledge (gyan) as a boat (gyan roopi nauka) to cross this ocean of existence (bhavsagar). Here, he identifies bhakti as a marg (a path or a bridge) to cross this bhavsagar.

Bhakti is simple, unfettered love for Himno complicated regime or elaborate do's and don'ts. Previously, Shri Ram's discourse to Sabari gave us the tenets of the pure and uncomplicated Navadha Bhakti (the nine different forms or paths) that can be pursued to reach Him. Since there are many simple and pleasant ways to follow it, Shri Ram terms the bhakti marg as

sulabh and sukhad! / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-73

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com