1.16- Chaupai
बंदउँ अवध पुरी अति पावनि। सरजू सरि कलि कलुष नसावनि।। प्रनवउँ पुर नर नारि बहोरी। ममता जिन्ह पर प्रभुहि न थोरी।।
I pray to the land of Ayodhya and the Saryu river that wash all sins of Kaliyug. I greet all the residents of Ayodhya , for whom Shri Ram has a lot of mercy and love .
सिय निंदक अघ ओघ नसाए। लोक बिसोक बनाइ बसाए।। बंदउँ कौसल्या दिसि प्राची। कीरति जासु सकल जग माची।।
The people of Ayodhya removed the sins of the Dhobi and his supporters who criticised Sitaji , and settled them in their city . I pray to the east direction, the one like Koushalya , whose glory is spreading in all four directions.
प्रगटेउ जहँ रघुपति ससि चारू। बिस्व सुखद खल कमल तुसारू।। दसरथ राउ सहित सब रानी। सुकृत सुमंगल मूरति मानी।।
Shri Ram incarnated like a moon that destroyed the darkness of evil , that filled entire world with happiness. I pray to Raja Dashrath and his queens , who gave birth to Ram.
करउँ प्रनाम करम मन बानी। करहु कृपा सुत सेवक जानी।।
जिन्हहि बिरचि बड़ भयउ बिधाता। महिमा अवधि राम पितु माता।।
Let them have mercy on me considering me as a servant of their son. Being the parents of Ram, they are the epitome of glory and greatness.
1.16 – Doha
बंदउँ अवध भुआल सत्य प्रेम जेहि राम पद।
बिछुरत दीनदयाल प्रिय तनु तृन इव परिहरेउ।।16।।
I pray to Maharaj Dashrath who had real love for Ram , and who discarded off his body just after getting separated from him.
1.17- Chaupai
प्रनवउँ परिजन सहित बिदेहू। जाहि राम पद गूढ़ सनेहू।।
जोग भोग महँ राखेउ गोई। राम बिलोकत प्रगटेउ सोई।।
I pray to the entire family of Dashrath who had extreme love for Ram , which was hidden. under Yog and Bhog, but became visible on seeing Ram.
प्रनवउँ प्रथम भरत के चरना। जासु नेम ब्रत जाइ न बरना।।
राम चरन पंकज मन जासू। लुबुध मधुप इव तजइ न पासू।।
Among the brothers I would first pray to Bharat ,whose character is indescribable and whose mind revolves around Ram like a bee.
बंदउँ लछिमन पद जलजाता। सीतल सुभग भगत सुख दाता।।
रघुपति कीरति बिमल पताका। दंड समान भयउ जस जाका।।
I pray at the feet of Lakshman who is pleasant, beautiful and bestower of happiness. He is like the flagstaff that carries the victory flag of Rama.
सेष सहस्त्रसीस जग कारन। जो अवतरेउ भूमि भय टारन।।
सदा सो सानुकूल रह मो पर। कृपासिंधु सौमित्रि गुनाकर।।
He ,who has thousand heads (sheshnaag) ,and is the cause of this world, who has incarnated to remove fear , I pray to him ,Shri Sumitranandan Lakshmana. Let him always be merciful on me.
रिपुसूदन पद कमल नमामी। सूर सुसील भरत अनुगामी।।
महावीर बिनवउँ हनुमाना। राम जासु जस आप बखाना।।
I pray to Shatrughan ji who is very brave, humble, and the follower of Bharat. I pray to Mahaveer Hanuman , whose glory is sung by Shri Ram himself.
1.17 – Doha
प्रनवउँ पवनकुमार खल बन पावक ग्यानधन।
जासु हृदय आगार बसहिं राम सर चाप धर।।17।।
I pray to the son of wind,Hanuman ,who is like fire to burn the evil forces in mind, who is an idol of knowledge . In his heart resides Shri Ram bearing a bow and an arrow.
1.18- Chaupai
कपिपति रीछ निसाचर राजा। अंगदादि जे कीस समाजा।।
बंदउँ सब के चरन सुहाए। अधम सरीर राम जिन्ह पाए।।
I pray to the kings of Vaanaras- Sugriva, the king of bears – Jambavan , king of demons- Vibheesan , and Angad and the whole community of Vanaras, who attained Shri Ram , in their mortal form.
रघुपति चरन उपासक जेते। खग मृग सुर नर असुर समेते।।
बंदउँ पद सरोज सब केरे। जे बिनु काम राम के चेरे।।
Animals, birds, humans, Gods ,demons and all those who are the devotees of Shri Ram , I pray to them, who are the selfless servant of Shri Ram.
सुक सनकादि भगत मुनि नारद। जे मुनिबर बिग्यान बिसारद।।
प्रनवउँ सबहिं धरनि धरि सीसा। करहु कृपा जन जानि मुनीसा।।
I pray to Sukadevaji , Naradji , and all other devotees on Earth . I request them to make me their servant.
जनकसुता जग जननि जानकी। अतिसय प्रिय करुना निधान की।।
ताके जुग पद कमल मनावउँ। जासु कृपाँ निरमल मति पावउँ।।
I pray at the feet of the daughter of Janakraj , and the beloved wife of Shri Ram – Mata Janiki. May her grant wisdom to me.
पुनि मन बचन कर्म रघुनायक। चरन कमल बंदउँ सब लायक।।
राजिवनयन धरें धनु सायक। भगत बिपति भंजन सुख दायक।।
Again I pray at the feet of Shri Ram , who has lotus eyes, who has a bow and arrows , who removes every obstacle of his devotees , and is the bestower of happiness.
1.18 – Doha
गिरा अरथ जल बीचि सम कहिअत भिन्न न भिन्न।
बदउँ सीता राम पद जिन्हहि परम प्रिय खिन्न।।18।।
Sri Sita Ramchandra have different names like the sound and its meaning , like the water and waves , but are actually one .
1.19- Chaupai
बंदउँ नाम राम रघुवर को। हेतु कृसानु भानु हिमकर को।।
बिधि हरि हरमय बेद प्रान सो। अगुन अनूपम गुन निधान सो।।
I recite the name of Shri Ram, which is the origin of Agni , Surya, and Chandra (moon). Ram name is the form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He is the soul of Vedas, he is formless, incomparable, and the treasure of qualities.
महामंत्र जोइ जपत महेसू। कासीं मुकुति हेतु उपदेसू।।
महिमा जासु जान गनराउ। प्रथम पूजिअत नाम प्रभाऊ।।
The name of Rama is Mahamantra , recited by Shivaji and Parvatiji. It is the reason of salvation in Kashi, and the glory of Raam-Naam is known by Ganesha , who is worshipped first due to the effect of Raam-naam.
जान आदिकबि नाम प्रतापू। भयउ सुद्ध करि उलटा जापू।।
सहस नाम सम सुनि सिव बानी। जपि जेई पिय संग भवानी।।
Maharishi Valmiki knew the effect of Ram-naam, and he became pure by reciting his name. Shivji says that the recitation of Ram-Naam is equal to recitation of one thousand name of Vishnu.
हरषे हेतु हेरि हर ही को। किय भूषन तिय भूषन ती को।।
नाम प्रभाउ जान सिव नीको। कालकूट फलु दीन्ह अमी को।।
Seeing the devotion of Parvatiji for Ram- Naam , Shviji made her his Ardhangini. The power of Ram naam is known to Shivji. Due to the effect of this name , he drank the Kaalkoot poison just like nectar.
1.19- Doha
बरषा रितु रघुपति भगति तुलसी सालि सुदास।।
राम नाम बर बरन जुग सावन भादव मास।।19।।
Devotion for Shri Raam is like the rainy season. Tulsidas ji says that , devotees are like the crops , and the two letters of Raam- naam are the months of Saavan and Bhadon.
1.20- Chaupai
आखर मधुर मनोहर दोऊ। बरन बिलोचन जन जिय जोऊ।।
सुमिरत सुलभ सुखद सब काहू। लोक लाहु परलोक निबाहू।।
Both letters of Ram , are like the eyes of the body like alphabets. They are easy to recite , and are the cause of good fortune and happiness in this world.
कहत सुनत सुमिरत सुठि नीके। राम लखन सम प्रिय तुलसी के।।
बरनत बरन प्रीति बिलगाती। ब्रह्म जीव सम सहज सँघाती।।
These two letters are so lovely to recite and to hear. Tulsidasji loves them just like Ram-Lakshman.
They are recited separately as ‘Ra’ and ‘Ma’, but are actually same like ‘Jeev’ and ‘Brahma’.
नर नारायन सरिस सुभ्राता। जग पालक बिसेषि जन त्राता।।
भगति सुतिय कल करन बिभूषन। जग हित हेतु बिमल बिधु पूषन ।
These two letters are beutiful brothers like Nar and Narayan, they are the preserver of world and the protector of devotees. They are like jewels of devotion , and like sun and moon for the betterment of world.
स्वाद तोष सम सुगति सुधा के। कमठ सेष सम धर बसुधा के।।
जन मन मंजु कंज मधुकर से। जीह जसोमति हरि हलधर से।।
They are like the taste of nectar, they are the bearer of earth like Kachhap and Sheshnaag. These are like the bees that dwells around the lotus like heart of devotees , and are like Krishna and Balram for human like Yashodaji.
1.20- Doha
एकु छत्रु एकु मुकुटमनि सब बरननि पर जोउ।
तुलसी रघुबर नाम के बरन बिराजत दोउ।।20।।
Tulsidas ji says that both letters of the name of Ram are glorious as they are above others ,र as रेफ , and म as बिंदु (. ), as ‘Anushwaar’.