Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/404

 THE FOREST. 344 senses and the objects of the senses, as far as the mind can reach, are all a delusion, brother ; understand that. Now learn its divisions: they are two, viz., know- ledge and ignorance; the one utterly badand calamitous, which forces the principle of life down into the pit of transmigration; the other, the power by virtue of which the world is created, being sent by God, and having no strength of itself. Knowledge, in which there is no particle of self-consciousness, sees the supreme spirit equally in all things ; and he, brother, is to be reckoned chief of stoics, who abandons fortune, and the three elements of which the universe is composed, as if of no more aceount than a blade.of grass. Dohá 12. That is to be called soul which through the power of delusion does not re- cognize itself as being really God,' God the giver of bondage and of deliverance, the head of all things, the sender forth of delusion, the one goal. Chaupái. After piety, asceticism; and after ascetic meditation, knowledge; and knowledge, as the Vedas declare, is the giver of salvation. But that at which I melt more quickly, brother, is faith, which is the blessing of my votaries ; it stands by itself without other support, and is above all knowledge whether spirit- ual or profane. Faith, brother, is an incomparable source of happiness, and only to be acquired by the.favour of a saint. But I will explain the means towards it, the easy path by which men may find me. In the first place, an exceeding de- votion to Bráhmans and in every action a close adherence to scriptural prescrip- tion. Secondly, the fruit of this will be detachment from the world, and then will spring up a delight in my worship. The nine kinds of faith as exercised by the ears, &c., will strengthen ; there will be an exceeding love in the soul for my manifestations, a great affection for the lotus feet of the saints, a persistency in prayer-in deed and in heart as well as in tongue-and faithfulness in service done to one's guru, or father and mother, or family, or lords and masters, knowing it to be really done to me. While singing my praises the body quivers, the voice trembles, the eyes flow with tears ; and neither lust, pride nor deceit finds a place in the soul; I am ever, brother, at the command of such a one as this. Dohá 13. I take up my abode for ever in the lotus heart of those who in thought, word and deed make their fervent prayer to my incarnation." 1 Or it may be thus translated ; That is to be called soul, which doubts regarding itself whe- ther it be a delusive manifestation or really God.'