Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/418

 358 THE FOREST. nine kinds of faith, hearken attentively and lay them up in your mind. The first step in faith is communion with the saints; the second a love for the legends relating to me; Dohá 30. The third,-an incalculable step-devotion to the lotus feet of the guru; the fourth, singing my praises with a guileless purpose. Chaupái. The fifth, as the Vedas have expounded, prayer and the repetition, with an assured confidence, of my mystic spells; the sixth, self-governance, kindness, detachment from the world and in every action a loving and persevering piety; the seventh, seeing the whole world full of me, and holding the saints in yet greater account than myself; the eighth, contentment with what one has, without ever a thought of spying out fault in others; the ninth, a guileless simplicity towards all, and a hearty confidence in me without either exultation or dejection. Verily, lady, whoever possesses any one of these, whether he be man or woman, rational or irrational, is my friend ; and you have them all in the highest degree. The heavenly prize, which the greatest ascetics scarcely win, is to-day within your easy reach. The result of seeing me is something most marvellous; every creature at once attains its proper consummation. But lady, have you any tidings of Jánaki; tell me, fair dame, all that you know." " Go, Raghurái, to the lake Pampá; there make friends with Sugríva ; he will tell you all. You know it already my god Raghubír, yet have the patience to ask him." After again and again bowing her head at the Lord's feet, she lovingly repeated the whole story. Chhand 10. After repeating the whole story, as she gazed on Hari's face and imprinted his lotus feet on her heart, she left her body in the sacrificial fire and became absorbed in Hari's feet beyond return. O men, abandon all your religious observances, which are unrighteousness, and your many sects, which yield only sorrow, and with all confidence (says Tulsi Dás) lovingly embrace the feet of Ráma. Dohá 31. He gave salvation to a woman of such low descent and so altogether born in sin as even this Savari was : foolish indeed are they who desire peace of mind after forgetting such a lord. 1 According to the Sanskrit Rámáyana it was not Savari, but Kabandha, who directed Ráma to apply to Sugríva.