4 F. S. Grrowse — The Prologue to the Rdmdyana of Tulsi Dds. [No. 1, 



will, ma j pass safely over the ocean of existence. In accord with all the 

 Puranas and different sacred texts and with what has been recorded in the 

 Ramayana (of Yalmiki) and elsewhere, I Tulsi to gratify my own heart's 

 desire have composed these lays of Raghunath in most choice and elegant 

 modern speech. 



Sorathd 1. 



Ganes of the grand elephant head, the mention of whose name en- 

 snres success, be gracious to me, accumulation of wisdom, store-house of all 

 good qualities ! Thou too, by whose favour the dumb becomes eloquent 

 and the lame can climb the vastest mountain, be favourable to me, O thou 

 that consumest as a fire all the impurities of this iron age. Take up 

 thy abode also in my heart, O thou that slumberest on the milky ocean, 

 with body dark as the lotus and eyes bright as the water lily. O spouse 

 of Uma, clear of hue as the jasmine or the moon, home of compassion, who 

 shewest pity to the humble, shew pity upon me, O destroyer of Kamadeva. 

 I reverence the lotus feet of my master, that ocean of benevolence, Hari 

 incarnate, whose words are like a flood of sunlight on the darkness of ig- 

 norance and infatuation.* 



Ohaupdi. 



1 reverence the pollen-like dust of the lotus feet of my master, bright, 

 fragrant, sweet and delicious ; pure extract of the root of ambrosia, potent 

 to disperse all the attendant ills of life ; like the holy ashes on the divine 

 body of Sambhu, beautiful, auspicious, ecstatic. Applied to the forehead as 

 a tilah, it cleanses from defilement the fair mirror of the human mind and 

 enriches it with all the virtues of the Master. By recalling the lustre of 

 the nails of the reverend guru's feet, a divine splendour illumines the 

 soul, dispersing the shades of error with its sun-like glory. How blessed he 

 who takes it to his heart ! the mental vision brightens and expands, the 

 night of the world with its sin and pain fades away • the actions of Eama,f 

 like diamonds and rubies, whether obvious or obscure, all alike become clear, 

 in whichever direction the mine is explored. 



Doha 1. 

 By a PPfy m g this collyrium as it were to the eyes, all good and holy 

 men see and understand his sportive career when on earth, on mountain or in 

 forest, and all the treasures of his grace. 



* The persons addressed in this stanza are Ganes, Sarasvati, Narayan, and the 

 'poet's own spiritual instructor, or guru. 



f The simple actions are compared to rubies, which may be picked up on the sur- 

 face of the ground; the mysterious actions to diamonds, which have to be dug out of 



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