“Laughing, the muni said, ‘O Janaka, this form is so beautiful that by remembering it one gets so many good merits that all bad elements caused by illusion get removed.’” (Janaki Mangala, 96) muni hansi kaheu janaka yaha mūrati sohai… Read More ›
tulsidas
As Delicate As Shirisha
“You’re asking for the young prince to look at the bow, but can a piece of a shirisha flower pierce through hard steel?” (Janaki Mangala, 94) so dhanu kahiya bilokana bhūpa kisorahi | bheda ki sirisa sumana kana kulisa kaṭhorahiṃ… Read More ›
Shiva and Parvati
“This bow is as fixed as Parvati’s mind. This bow is from Lord Shiva, who observes the vow to accept only one wife.” (Janaki Mangala, 93) pārabatī mana sarisa acala dhanu cālaka | hahiṃ purāri teu eka nāri brata pālaka… Read More ›
Eliminating the Choice
“O Rama, You should know that just as fish cannot survive when taken out of water, neither Sita nor I can live without You for even a moment.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 53.31) Download this… Read More ›
I Stay Away
“One can change his habit by good or bad association, and one has to become intelligent enough to discriminate between good and bad. The best association is the service of the devotees of the Lord, and by that association one… Read More ›
Requiring God’s Sanction
“Like an arrow Banasura and Ravana came to the bow and then went. Who on this earth is as heroic as them?” (Janaki Mangala, 92) bānu bānu jimi gayau gavahiṃ dasakandharū | ko avanī tala ina sama bīra dhurandharū ||… Read More ›
Questioning the Muni
“O best of munis, your words can shake the mountains and the earth, but this situation requires the right behavior that will be for the good of the people.” (Janaki Mangala, 91) munibara tumhareṃ bacana merū mahi ḍolahin | tadapi… Read More ›
Like the Coldest Winter Chill
“With the people of the town and their families, Janaka was disappointed in the heart at seeing this. It was like a forest of the best lotuses being killed by a frost.” (Janaki Mangala, 89) dekhi sapura parivāra janaka hiya… Read More ›
Immovable
“Some were excited, but the bow was immovable, like the word of a saint. Looking at the bow, their strength and intelligence were forcefully stolen, like with King Nahusha.” (Janaki Mangala, Chand 11.2) eka karahiṃ dāpa na cāpa sajjana bacana… Read More ›
Fear of Failure
“Unable to get the desired result, some made an excuse and stayed where they were, while others went to see the bow. Like a monkey examining a coconut, they each sat back down with their heads hanging down.” (Janaki Mangala,… Read More ›