Forty Verses in Praise of Sri Ramana

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Forty Verses in Praise of Sri Ramana

By Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni

Translated by Dr. Anil K. Sharma

verses transcribed into Itrans. By J. Kalianandaswami

taken from multi editions of "The Maharshi"

1. The great devotion of the seer-poet Ganapati Muni to his guru Sri

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi is well known. Bhagavan reciprocated the

Muni's veneration by continuously shedding his grace on him and

leading him to Self-abidance. The story of the genesis of

Ganapati's "Forty Verses in Praise of Sri Ramana" (Sri Ramana

Chatvarimsat) has been wonderfully described by Sri K. Natesan in

the Mountain Path (Jayanti Issue, 2000).

"Forty Verses," which is daily recited before the Maharshi's tomb,

is a heartfelt outpouring of devotion from a disciple of the highest

order, to his guru, Sri Ramana. It is hoped that this word-by-word

translation will enable devotees to gain a deeper insight into the

Divine manifestation of the Maharshi as proclaimed by a unique seer

of the 20th Century.

vande shri ramaNarSher aacaaryasya padaabjam |

yo me'darshayadiisham bhaantaM dvaantamatiitya ||

 

vande - I bow,

sri ramanarser - of Rishi Sri Ramana ,

acharyasya - of the spiritual teacher,

padabjam - lotus feet,

yah- who,

me - me,

adarsayad - showed,

isam - Lord,

bhantam - shining,

dhvantam - darkness,

atitya - transcending

 

 

I bow to the lotus feet of the spiritual teacher, Rishi Sri Ramana,

who showed me the Lord, shining, transcending darkness.

kathayaa nijayaa kaluShaM harataa

karuNaa nidhinaa runashaila juShaa |

khaga vaahana bhaaShita tattvavidaa

vRRiSha vaahana mauna rahasya bhRRitaa ||1||

 

 

kathaya - story,

nijaya - own,

kalusham - impurity,

harata - removes,

karuna - compassion,

nidhina - ocean,

runa - red,

shaila - mountain,

jusha - takes delight in, resorts to,

khaga - bird,

vahana - mount,

bhashita - spoken,

tatva - truth,

vidha - knowing,

vrsha - bull,

vahana - mount,

mauna - silence,

rahasya - mystery,

bhrta - bearing, carrying

 

 

The story of his own life removes impurities. He is an ocean of

compassion, taking delight in the red mountain (Arunachala).

He knows the truth spoken by the bird-borne Vishnu, and bears the

mystery of the silence of the bull-borne Siva.

 

 

gaNaraanmukha suurisabhaaguruNaa

guNasa~nchaya ratnamahodadhinaa |

ghanaguuDhasahasra kareNa yathaa

tanuka~ncuka guptamahaamahasaa ||2||

 

ganaran - Ganapati,

mukha - beginning with,

suri - learned men,

sabha - assembly,

guruna - guru,

guna - virtues,

sanchaya - heap,

ratna - wealth,

mahodadhina - great repository,

ghana - cloud,

gudha - concealed,

sahasra - one thousand,

karena - ray (of light),

yatha - as,

tanu - body,

kanchuka - garb,

gupta - hidden,

mahamahasa - true greatness

 

 

 

He is the guru of an assembly of learned men, beginning with

Ganapati. He is a great repository of a wealth of virtues.

Just as the thousand-rayed one (the sun) is hidden by a cloud, his

true greatness is hidden by the garb of the body.

 

 

 

catureNa calendriyanigrahaNe

paTunaa parakiiyaguNagrahaNe |

chalavarjita maunasamaadhijuShaa

balatarjita bhiikarakaamaruShaa ||3||

 

 

 

chaturena - ingenious,

chalendriya - roving senses,

nigrahane - in defeating,

patuna - skillful,

para - others,

kiya - belonging to,

guna - virtues,

grahane - in mentioning with praise,

chala - deceit,

varjita - without,

mauna - silence,

samadhi - peace,

jusha - delighting in,

bala - strong,

tarjita - reviled,

bhikara - fear-causing,

kama - desires,

rusha - slayer

 

 

Ingenious at defeating the roving senses, he is skillful in praising

the merits of others.

He delights in the peace of silence which is without deceit, and is

the the slayer of the strong, reviled, frightening passions.

 

 

 

jaTharam samaye paripuurayataa

kaThinaM vrata madritaTe carataa |

jhaShaketana shastra duraapahRRidaa

kRRiShimaatma vibodha vidhau dadhataa ||4||

 

 

jatharam - stomach,

samaye - at a (proper) time,

paripurayata - filling,

kathinam - hard, inflexible,

vratam - vow,

adri - mountain,

tate - slope, side,

charata - living,

jhashaketana - Lord of Love (Cupid),

sastra - weapon,

durapa - hard to obtain,

hrda - heart,

krshim - leading,

atma - self,

vibodha - knowledge,

vidhau - in the method,

dadhata - giving

 

 

 

He fills his stomach only at the proper time. Undertaking inflexible

vows, he lives on the slope of the mountain (Arunachala). His heart

is unable to be obtained by the arrows of the God of Love. He is

leading, giving the method for Self-knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

bhavabhiikara vaarinidhiM tarataa

kara taamara sena supaatra vataa |

svadRRishaa'dhika shiitala kaanti bhRRitaa

bhayamaNghri saroja juShaaM harataa ||5||

 

 

bhava - wordly existence,

bhikara - fear producing, varinidhim - ocean,

tarata - crossing, kara - hand,

tamarasena - with lotus,

supatra - bowl,

vata - having,

svadrs - own gaze,

adika - unsurpassed,

sitala - calming,

kanti - bright,

bhrta - to have, keep,

bhaya - fear,

manghri - foot,

saroja - lotus,

jusham - resort to,

harata - removing

 

 

 

He has crossed the fear-producing ocean of wordly life. He has hands

as delicate as a lotus, which serve him as a bowl. His own gaze is

unsurpassed in calmness and brightness, and he removes the fear of

those who resort to his lotus feet.

 

 

 

 

 

namataamatibhktimataaM nidhinaa

ghana taapa vidhuunanasannidhinaa |

yati dharma tatiM paripaalayataa

paritashca tamo vinivaarayataa ||6||

 

 

namatam - of adoring,

atibhaktimatam - of true devotees,

nidhina - treasure,

ghana - dense,

tapa - misery,

vidhunana - destroying,

sannidhina - presence,

yati - ascetic,

dharma - duty,

tatim - mass, group,

paripalayata - maintaining,

paritas - everywhere,

cha - and,

tamo - darkness,

vinivarayta - preventing

 

 

 

The Treasure of adoring true devotees, his presence destroys dense

misery. He maintains the duties of the ascetic, and he is preventing

darkness all around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

phaNinaayaka varNya guNaughabhRRitaa

bhaNitiiH priya satyahitaa bhaNataa |

bahumaanavashaadayataa sukhitaam

avamaana tatera viduuna vataa ||7||

 

 

 

phaninayaka - leader of the serpents (sesah),

varnya - able to be described,

gunaugha - flood of virtues,

bhrta - having,

bhanitih - speech, words,

priya - pleasing,

satya - true,

hita - beneficial, wholesome,

bhanata - speaking,

bahumana - much respect,

honour, vasad - (by) influence,

ayata - not governed,

sukhitam - happiness

avamana - dishonour, disrespect,

tater - from the crowd,

aviduna - without distress,

vata - having

 

 

Having a flood of virtues able to be described only by Sesha, the

leader of the serpents, he speaks words that are pleasing,

beneficial and true. He is not governed by that happiness influenced

by respect and honor (from others), nor does he have distress due to

dishonour (from others).

 

 

 

yatinaamadhipena kushaagralasan

matinaa dhRRitinaasita citta bhuvaa |

lahariiM pramadasya sadaavahataa

nihataantara shaatrava saMhatinaa ||8||

 

 

yatinam - of ascetics,

adhipena - lord,

kusagra - sharp (as kusha grass),

lasan - shining,

matina - intelligent,

dhrti - firmness,

nasita - destroyed,

chitta - ego,

bhuva - being,

laharim - wave,

pramadasya - of joy,

sada - always,

vahata - bearing,

nihata - killed,

antara - inner,

satrava - enemies,

samhatina - collection, array.

 

 

 

He is the Lord of Ascetics. With his sharp and brilliant intellect,

he has with firmness destroyed the ego. He is always bearing a wave

of joy, and he has killed the array of inner enemies (the six

passions).

 

 

 

bhagavat pada manya janaasulabham

svaguNairadhigatya paraM jayataa |

mamataa rahitena hitena sataaM

nihitena gaNa prabhuNaa hRRidaye ||9||

 

 

 

bhagavatpadam - the feet of the Lord,

anyajana - other people,

asulabham - not easily obtained,

svagunair - by his own merits,

adhigatya - transcending,

param - supreme,

jayata - winning,

mamata - the feeling of "mine",

rahitena - free from,

hitena - friend,

satam - of the virtuous,

nihitena - treasured,

ganaprabhuna - by the Lord of the gunas (Ganapati),

hrdaye - at heart.

 

 

 

 

Having transcended all by his own merits, he wins the supreme feet

of the Lord, (which are) not easily accessable by others. He is free

from the feeling of "mine" and is the friend of the virtuous. He is

treasured at heart by the Lord of the gunas, Ganapati.

 

 

 

 

dharaNiidhara jaaNkamapi tyajataa

dharaNiitalavaasita modhutaye |

naraveSha bhRRitaa nagarandhra kRRitaa

ramaNena sanaathamidaM bhuvanam ||10||

 

 

 

dharanidhara - mountain,

ja - born from,

ankam - lap,

api - even,

tyajata - giving up,

dharani - earth,

tala - surface,

vasi - dwells,

tamo - darkness,

dhutaye - for removing

nara - man,

vesha - appearance,

bhrta - having,

nagarandhrakrta - mountain-splitter= Lord Skanda,

ramanena - Ramana,

sanatham - with Lord,

idam - this,

bhuvanam - world.

 

 

 

Abandoning the lap of his Mother Parvati, he dwells on earth for the

removal of darkness. He is Skanda, having the appearance of a man.

This world has found a Lord in Ramana!

 

 

paradeshineva dhavalena vaasasaH

shakalena veShTita kaTii vishobhinaa|

varadeshikena nara veSha dhaarinaa

shikhi vaahanena guru majjagad bhavet||11||

 

 

 

paradesin - ascetic,

eva - only,

dhavalena - with white,

vasasah - cloth,

sakalena - piece,

veshtita - wrapped,

kati - buttocks,

visobhina - adorned by, vara - best, most excellent,

desikena - guru,

nara - man,

vesha - appearance, guise,

dharina - wearing,

sikhi - peacock,

vahanena - with the mount, (Skanda,)

gurumaj - (has a) Master,

jagad - world,

bhavet - is

 

 

He is an ascetic, wearing only a white piece of cloth adorning his

buttocks. He is the Supreme guru, he is the peacock-mounted Skanda,

wearing the guise of a man. In him the world has a Master!

 

 

 

atiita guNa jaalaaya naiShThika brahmacaarine

namo maayaa manuShyaaya gurave taarakaaraye ||12||

 

 

 

atita - having transcended,

guna - property, quality,

jalaya - multitude,

naishtika - highest, perfect,

brahmacharine - (to) brahmachari,

namo - prostrations,

mayamanushyaya - to the mortal by Maya,

gurave - to the guru,

tarakaraye - to the enemy of Taraka (Skanda)

 

 

 

 

Prostrations to him who has transcended the multitude of gunas and

is the perfect brahmachari! To him who is mortal by the workings of

Maya, to the Guru, the enemy of Taraka (Skanda), prostrations!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yaanaayaatra na kekinaaN-kulapatiH snaanaaya na svarNadii

paanaaya kShitibhRRin-mahendra-duhitur na stanya-dugdhaamRRitam |

gaanaaya pramatheshvaraas-savayaso naivaatra-viiNaabhRRito

vaasaM shoNagirau karoShi bhagavan krau~ncaadri-bhettaH kutaH ||13||

 

yanaya - for riding,

atra - here,

na - not,

kekinam - of peacocks,

kulapatih - leader of the family,

snanaya - for bathing,

na - not,

svarnadi - celestial river,

panaya - for drinking,

kshitibhrn - mountain,

mahendra - great lord,

duhitur - daughter,

na - not,

stanya - mother's,

dugdhamrtam - nectar of milk,

ganaya - for singing,

pramatheshvaras - the divine attendants of Siva,

savayaso - contemporaries,

naivatra - not even here,

vinabhrto - vina playing,

vasam - dwelling, home,

sonagirau - on Arunachala,

karoshi - you do, make,

bhagavan - O Bhagavan,

kraunchadri-bhettah - pounder of Krauncha hill*,

kutah - how?

 

Here there is no king of the peacocks for riding, nor a celestial

river for bathing, nor is there the nectar of milk from the breast

of the daughter of the Mountain-Lord (Parvati). The divine vina-

playing attendents, who are your comtemporaries, are not even here

to sing to thee! How is it then, O Bhagavan, pounder of Krauncha

Hill,* that you make your dwelling upon Arunachala?

 

 

 

 

ekaM vaktram umaa~Nka-vaasa-virahaH paanau na shaktyaayudhaM

martyatvaM na pataakinii ca prtanaa paarshvadvaye naakinaam |

veSho'laM punareSha mugdha-nayana prachchhaadane bhuajuShaam

antardhaanam-upaiShi taaraka-ripo kva stanyadaayaadataH ||14||

 

ekam - one,

vaktram - face,

umanka - Mother's lap, vasa - seat,

virahah - separated,

panau - in hand,

na - not,

shaktyayudham - spear weapon,

martyatvam - mortal,

na - not,

patakini - with flags,

cha - and,

prtana - army,

parshvadvaye - on either side,

nakinam - of the gods (nakin),

vesh - disguise,

alam - enough,

punar - though,

esha - this,

mugdha - foolish, unwary,

nayana - eyes,

prachchhadane - for covering,

bhujusham - delighting in the world,

antardhanam - escape notice, pass out of sight,

upaishi - you go,

taraka - Taraka,

ripo - enemy,

kva - where,

stanyadayadatah - from your brother (suckled at the same breast)

 

You have one face, you are separated from Mother Uma's lap! You do

not have a spear in your hand. You are mortal, and there are no flag-

bearing armies of the gods on either side! This disguise is enough

to cover the eyes of those unwary ones who delight in the world, but

how will you, O Enemy of Taraka (Skanda), escape the notice your

brother (Ganapati)?

A demon took the form of the Krauncha Hill and Lord Subramanya

pounded it to pieces.

 

 

 

 

kechidyogavidaaM puraHsara iti praj~nani buddhyaa pare

saadhuH kashciditiitare gurudhiyaa ke'pya~Nghri padmaM tava |

sevante ramaNaabhidhaana manjua-kShemaaya jaata kShitau

dvitraastvaaM girijaa~NkapiTthanilayaM jaananti devaM guham ||15||

 

kechid - some,

yogavidam - of the knowers of yoga,

puras - foremost, sara - going,

iti - indicates quotations (""),

prajnani - gyaani,

buddhya - with thought, idea,

apare - others, sadhus - sadhu,

kaschid - some,

iti - idicates quotations,

itare - another,

gurudhiya - with idea of Guru,

ke'py - some also,

anghripadmam - lotus feet,

tava - your,

sevante - they worship,

ramanabhidhana - named Ramana,

manuja - born of Manu, man,

kshemaya - for peace,

jata - born,

kshitau - on earth,

dvitras - two or three,

tvam - you,

girijanka - Mother's lap,

pitha - seat,

nilayam - resting place,

jananti - they know,

devam - Lord,

guham - Skanda

 

Some (know you) as "the foremost of the knowers of yoga," others

as "gyaani," some others as "sadhu," while some, thinking of you

as "guru," worship your lotus feet. Ramana, born on earth for the

peace of men, (only) two or three know you as Lord Skanda, resting

on the lap of Girija, the Divine Mother.

 

 

 

 

omkaaraartham-upaadisho bhagavate vaaNimanohaariNe

taataayaapy-upadeShTum-udyatamabhuut ki~ncit-tvadiiyaM mukham |

jyeShThasyaadya sahodarasya gurutaaM praaptosi dhii-gauravaat

subrahmaNya kaniShThataamapi gataH sarvaadhikas-tvaM gunaiH ||16||

 

omkarartham - the meaning of OM,

upadiso - explained,

bhagavate - to Lord,

vani-mano-harine - the stealer of Vani's (Saraswati's) mind, Brahma,

tataya - to father (Shiva),

apyupadeshtum - even to explain,

udyatam - undertaken, commenced,

abhut - had,

kincit - something,

tvadiyam - your,

mukham - mouth,

jyeshthasya - of the eldest,

adya - now,

sahodarasya - of brother,

gurutam - state of being guru,

praptosi - you obtained,

dhi - intellect, wisdom,

gauravat - from the weight Subrahmanya, O Subramanya!,

kanishthatam - state of youngest,

api - though,

gatah - gone,

sarvadhikas - greater than all,

tvam - you,

gunaih - by merits.

 

 

The meaning of OM was explained (by you) to Lord Brahma. (Opening)

your mouth, you had undertaken to explain something to even your

father (Shiva). O Subramanya, even though you are the youngest, by

your merits you have become greater than all! By the weight of your

wisdom, you have obtained the state of guru to your eldest brother

(Ganapati.)

 

yat-puurvam shruti-paaradarshidhiShaNo dvaipaayano'dhyaaruhat

pashcaad bodha-kalavidhuuta-timiraH sha~Nkapahash-sha~NkaraH |

tat-sampratya-khilaavanii-talajuShaam aacaarya-siMhaasanaM

deva tvaam prativiikShate naratano giirvaiNa-senaapate||17||

 

yat - which,

purvam - before,

sruti - Vedas,

para - fullest extent,

darsi - seeing,

dhishano - wise, intellegent,

dvaipayano - Vyasa,

adhyaruhat - mounted,

pascad - after,

bodha - knowledge,

kala - a single portion (one-sixteenth),

vidhuta - dispelled,

timiras - darkness,

sanka - fear,

apahas - removing,

sankarah - Sankara,

tat - that,

samprati - now,

akhila - whole,

avani - world,

tala - surface,

jusham - suffering in,

acarya - teacher,

simhasanam - lion's throne (seat of honor),

deva O Lord!, tvam - you,

prativikshate - (it) awaits,

naratano - embodied as man,

girvana - gods,

senapate - O army chief!

 

That Lion's seat of honor which was previously mounted by the wise

Vyasa, who saw the fullest extent of the Vedas, was afterwards

occupied by fear-destroying Sankara, who with a single portion of

his knowledge dispelled the darkness (of ignorance). Now that throne

of Acharya, (to save) those who are suffering in the world awaits

thee, O Lord embodied as man, O Army Chief of the Gods (Skanda)!

 

 

 

 

dharme nashamupaagate tribhuvane paryaakule paapataH

praj~naane parito giraaM pathi mudhaa sa~ncaaryamaaNe janaiH |

sadbhaave parameshvarasya cha pituha sandehaDolaaM gate

dviipaH kaitavamartya kekituraga tvaamantaraa kassataam ||18||

 

dharme - when dharma,

nasam - destroyed,

upagate - when has been,

tribhuvane - when the three worlds,

paryakule - bewildered, confused,

apataha - from wrong-doing,

prajnane - when true knowledge,

parito - everywhere,

giram - of words,

pathi - way, course,

mudha - in vain,

sancharyamane - being brought together, collected,

janaiha - by men,

sadbhave - when true existence,

paramesvarasya - of the supreme Lord,

cha - and,

pituha - of the Father,

sandeha - doubt,

dolam - swing, gate - has gone,

dvipaha - protector, refuge,

kaitava - deceit,

martya - mortal,

kekituraga - peacock as a mount,

tvam - you,

antara - except,

kas - who,

satam - of the good

 

When dharma has been destroyed, when the three worlds are bewildered

by wrong doing, when scholars everywhere declare words (polemics) as

true knowledge, when the true existence of the supreme Lord the

Father is doubted, who but you is the refuge of the good, O peacock-

mounted one, disguised as a man (Skanda)?

 

 

 

 

vairaagyaM tava vittamastu karunaam shaknoShi haatuM kathaM

duuShyasthe'stu samudyamaH pitrapadadhyaanaM ca kiM taadRRiusham |

kaamaste'stu vigarhito vinamataam rakShaa ca kim garhitaa

skanda cchadmamanuShya kinnu samayaM ka~nchit samudviikShase ||19||

 

vairagyam - dispassion,

tava - yours,

vittam - accquistion, wealth,

astu - maybe,

karunam - compassion,

saknoshi - you can,

hatum - to fosake,

katham - how,

dushyas - vile, reprehensible,

te - to you,

astu - may be,

samudyamaha - great effort,

pitr - Father,

pada - feet,

dhyanam - meditation,

ca - and,

kim - is,

tadrusam - of that kind,

kamas - desire,

te - to you,

astu - maybe,

vigarhito - prohibited,

vinamatam - of those bowing (devotees)

raksha - protection, cha - and,

kim - is,

garhita - forbidden, denied,

skanda - O Skanda,

cchadma - disguise,

manushya - man,

kinnu - do,

samayam - occasion, opportunity,

kanchit - some,

samudvikshase - await

 

Dispassion may be your weatlh, but how can you forsake compassion?

Great effort may seem reprehensibile, but what of meditation on the

feet of the Father? Desire may be prohibited by you, but is

protection denied to your devotees? O Skanda, in the disguise of a

man, do you await a proper opportunity?

 

duuram yahi kuvaada dharmavRRiSha te netaH paraM pa~Ngutaa

durbhraante buvanaM jahiihi parito vardhasva saMsatsataam |

sodaryeNa samanvito bhuvamimaaM praapto gurugraamaNii

shuuraantaH puranetra vibhramaharo devo bhavaaniisutaH ||20||

duram - far, at a distance,

yahi - go,

kuvada - detracting,

dharmavrsha - bull of dharma,

te - your,

netaha (na itaha) - from here,

param - afterwards,

panguta - lameness,

durbhrante - O confusion,

buvanam - world,

jahihi - leave,

parito - everywhere,

vardhasva - may increase, prosper,

samsat - association,

satam - of virtuous,

sodaryena - with brother,

samanvito - associated with,

bhuvam - world,

imam - this,

prapto - obtained,

guru - guru,

gramaniha - leader, chief,

sura - the demon Shura,

antahapura - females, wives of Shura,

netra - eyes,

vibhrama - amorous,

haro - destroyer,

devo - Lord,

bhavani - Parvati,

sutaha - son

 

O detraction, go far away! Bull of dharma, henceforth you will not

be lame! Leave the world, O confusion. May association with the

virtuous increase everywhere! In association with his brother

(Ganapati), this world has obtained the chief of gurus (Ramana). He

is the destroyer of the demon Sura and of the amorous passions,

Lord, son of the Divine Mother Parvati.

 

 

 

janmasthaanamavaapya guptamahamo yo bhedamaadhuutavaan

bhuutanaaM carataaM pRRithagvidhadhiyaam aatmaiva yo bhaasate |

deham sarvam idam jagacca vibhavaadaakramya yaH prollasa-

tyekastaM gurumurtimaanamata re lambodarabhraataram ||21||

 

janmasthaanam - place of birth,

avaapya - having

obtained,

gupta - secret,

mahamo - great,

yo - who,

bhedam - dualism,

aadhuutavaan - shook off,

bhuutanaaM - of beings,

carataaM - (of) moving,

pRRithag - several, different,

vidha - kind, sort,

dhiyaam - in the intellect,

aatmaiva - very self,

yo - who,

bhaasate - shines,

deham - body,

sarvam - all,

idam - this,

jagat - world,

ca - and,

vibhavaad - with might, glory,

aakramya - having pervaded,

yaH - who,

prollasaty - shines,

ekastaM -that one,

gurumurtim - form of the guru,

aanamata - salute,

re - oh!,

lambodarabhraataram - brother of Lambodara (Ganapati)

 

He who has shaken off all duality, having obtained the great secret

of the place of birth (of the `I - thought'), and who shines as the

very Self in the various intellects of sentient beings, he who

having pervaded the world and all bodies, shines forth with his

glory, oh men! salute that one, in the form of the Guru, the brother

of Ganapati!

 

 

 

 

antaryashca bahirvidhuutatimiraM jyotirmayam shaashvataM

sthaanaM praapya viraajate vinamataam aj~naanam unmuulayan |

pashyanvishvam apiidam ullasati yo vishvasya paare paraH

tasmai shrii ramaNaaya lokagurave shokasyahantre namaH ||22||

 

antar - inside,

yash - who,

ca - and,

bahir - outside,

vidhuuta - removes,

timiraM - darkness,

jyotirmayam - made of light,

shaashvataM - eternal,

sthaanaM - state,

praapya - having obtained,

viraajate - shines,

vinamataam - of devotees,

aj~naanam - ignorance,

unmuulayan - uprooting, destroying,

pashyan seeing,

vishvaM - universe,

api - also, even,

idam - this,

ullasati - sports,

yo - who,

vishvasya - of the universe,

paare paraH - higher than, beyond,

tasmai - to him,

shrii ramaNaaya - Sri Ramana,

lokagurave - to the Guru of the world,

shokasya hantre - the destroyer of sorrow,

namaH -salutations

 

 

He who removes the darkness from within and without, having obtained

that eternal state made of light, who uproots the ignorance of his

devotees, who though seeing and sporting in this universe is beyond

the universe, to him, Sri Ramana, the Guru of the world and

destroyer of sorrow, salutations!

 

 

 

 

prasarataaditaH shubhavilokitam |

ramaNa te sakRRitphalatu me kRRitam ||23||

 

 

prasarataaditaH - by the flowing forth,

itaH - now,

shubha - splendid,

vilokitam - gaze,

ramaNa - O Ramana,

te - your,

sakRRit - at once, immediately,

phalatu - may it bear fruit, may it bless,

me - me,

kRRitam - done

 

 

O Ramana, now, by the flowing forth of your splendid gaze, may I at

once be blessed!

 

 

 

 

ramaNa janminaamayi bhavaanguruH |

abhida aashayastava mahaanuruH ||24||

 

 

ramaNa - O Ramana,

janminaam - of men,

ayi - O,

bhavaan - you,

guruH - Guru,

abhidaa - non-difference,

aashayas - heart,

tava - your,

mahaan - very,

uruH - great, infinite

 

 

O Ramana, you are the Guru of men. Infinite is your heart, in which

there is no differentiation.

 

 

 

 

jagadahaM paraH sphurati me trayam |

adabhida giraa tava visaMsayam ||25||

 

 

jagad - the world,

ahaM - `I',

paraH - the Supreme,

sphurati - destroys,

me - for me,

trayam - the triad,

sad -the reality,

abhidam - without differentiation,

giraa - speech, word,

tava - your,

visaMsayam - without doubt

 

 

 

Your word destroys for me the triad of `world', `I', and `the

Supreme', (and there remains) the one reality without

differentiation, without doubt.

 

 

tvadupadeshato galati saMvidaa |

mayi niranyayaa sadahamorbhidaa ||26||

 

 

tvadupadeshato - from your teaching,

galati - dropped, lost,

saMvidaa - by knowledge,

mayi - to me,

niranyayaa - not other, inseparable,

sadahamor - between the reality and the ego,

bhidaa - difference

 

 

>From your teaching, by knowledge inseparable from me, the difference

between the reality and the ego is lost.

 

 

 

ahami yo'ntaras tamamalam hRRidi |

anubhavema bhos tava kRRipaa yadi ||27||

 

 

ahami - ego,

yo - which,

antaras - Supreme Self,

tam - that,

amalam - pure,

hRRidi - in the Heart,

anubhavema - we could experience,

bhos - Oh,

tava - your,

kRRipaa - grace, compassion,

yadi - if

 

 

Oh (Ramana), if your grace (extends to us), we could experience the

Supreme Self in the pure heart, hidden within the ego.

 

 

 

 

na karunaa gunastava vidaampate |

hRRidayatejasaH sahajabhaiva te ||28||

 

 

na - not,

karunaa - compassion,

gunas - quality,

tava - yours,

vidaaM - of the wise,

pate - Oh Lord,

hRRidaya - heart,

tejasaH - brilliance,

sahajabhaiva - only natural ,

te - your

 

 

Oh Lord of the wise! Compassion is not just a quality of yours. It

is natural for you, as the effulgence of your Heart.

 

 

 

 

 

tava tanurjvalatyanagha vidyutaa |

tava dRRigaatataa lasati bhaasvataam ||29||

 

 

tava - your,

tanur - body,

jvalati - blazes,

anagha - Oh

spotless one,

vidyutaa, as lightning,

tava - your,

dRRig - look,

aatataa - pervasive, extended,

lasati - shines,

bhaasvataa - bright

 

 

Oh spotless one, your body blazes like lightning. Bright and

pervasive is your look.

 

 

 

kabalitaM maastava vibho hRRidaa |

tvamasi santataM vilasito mudaa ||30||

 

 

kabalitaà - weakened, dissolved,

manas - mind,

tava - your,

vibho - Oh Lord,

hRRidaa - by the heart,

tvam - you,

asi - are,

santataM - eternally,

vilasito - gleaming, shining,

mudä - with bliss

 

 

Your mind has been dissolved by the heart, oh Lord! You are

eternally shining with bliss.

 

 

 

 

bhuvanabhuupater bhagavataH kRRite |

bhavasi paacako yamavataaM pate ||31||

 

 

bhuvana - mankind,

bhuu - universe,

pater -of the Lord,

bhagavataH - Bhagavan,

kRRite - for, on the account of,

bhavasi - you are,

paacako - the cook,

yamavataaM - of the self-controlled,

pate - Oh Lord

 

 

 

For the Universal Lord of mankind, you are the cook,oh Lord of the

self-controlled!

 

 

 

 

 

narapashuunimaan ahami taaDayan |

parashivaudanaM vitanuShe pacan ||32||

 

 

nara - man,

pashuun - beasts,

imaan - these,

ahami - ego

taaDayan - slaying,

parashivaudanaM - food for Supreme Shiva,

vitanuShe - you prepare, make ready,

pacan - cooking

 

 

Slaying the ego of these man-beasts (humans steeped in ignorance),

and cooking them, you prepare food for the supreme Shiva.

 

 

 

timiraaNi na kevalaà vacobhiH

karuNaapaa~Ngavilokitaish ca nRRiNaam |

hRRidaye prasaranti mardayantaM

bhagavantaM ramaNaM guruM namaami ||33||

 

 

timiraaNi - darkness,

na - not, kevalaà - only,

vacobhiH - by words,

karuNaa - grace, compassion,

apaa~Nga - from the corner of the eye,

vilokitaish - by glances,

ca - and,

nRRiNaam - of men,

hRRidaye - in the heart,

prasaranti - prevails,

mardayantaM - destroying,

bhagavantaM - Bhagavan,

ramaNaM - Ramana,

guruM - to Guru,

namaami - I bow

 

 

I bow to the guru Bhagavan Ramana, who destroys the darkness

prevailing in the hearts of men, not only by his words, but by his

sidelong glances of grace and compassion.

 

 

 

bhavajalanidhiM gaahaM gaahaM ciraadalasaalasaan

padajalaruhadvandva-dviipaM shritaaMstava samprati|

ramaNabhagavan kalyaaNaanaaM niketana paahi naH

sadaya dayayaa siktair bhaktaan apaa~NgavilokitaiH ||34||

 

bhava - world,

jalanidhià - ocean,

gaahaM gaahaM - diving into again and again,

ciraad - a long time,

alasaalasaan - extremely tired,

pada - foot,

jalaruha - lotus,

dvandva - two, pair,

dviipaM - island,

shritaaMs - approached for refuge,

tava - your,

samprati - now, at this moment,

ramaNabhagavan - Oh Bhagavan Ramana,

kalyaaNaanaaM - of virtues,

niketana - abode,

paahi - protect,

naH - us,

sadaya - merciful,

dayayaa - with grace,

siktair - with pouring out,

bhaktaan - to the devotees,

apaa~Nga - from the corner of the eye,

vilokitaiH - by glances

 

 

Oh Bhagavan Ramana, diving again and again into the ocean of the

world, we are extremely tired. Now, at this moment, we approach the

island of your lotus feet for refuge. You, the merciful abode of

virtues, please protect us with the grace that pours out through

your eyes to your devotees .

 

 

yadi na jananii stanyaM dadyaac chishor bata kaa gatiH

yadi pashupathiH krodhaM kuryaat pashor avanaM kuta |

yadi padajuShaam aacaarya tvaM nihaMsi na saMshayaM

bhramashataparaabhuuta ete tarantu bhavaM kathaM ||35||

 

 

yadi - if,

na - not,

jananii - mother,

stanyaM -milk,

dadyaac - would give,

chishor - of the child,

bata - oh!, alas,

kaa - what,

gatiH -the fate,

yadi - if,

pashupathiH - cowherd, or Lord of creatures,

krodhaM - anger,

kuryaat - would be, (would make),

pashor - of the cow,

avanaM - preservation, protection,

kutaH - where,

adi - if,

pada - feet,

juShaam - resorting to, taking delight in,

aacaarya - Teacher,

tvaM - you,

nihaMsi - dispel,

na - not,

saMshayaM - doubt,

bhrama - confusion,

sshata - hundred, multiple,

paraabhuutaa - overcome,

ete - these,

tarantu - may cross over,

bhavaM - worldly existence,

kathaM - how?

 

 

If the mother will not give milk, alas, what will be the fate of the

child? If the cowherd be angry, how will the cows be protected?

If you, Teacher, do not dispel the doubts of those resorting to your

feet, how will those overcome by many confusions cross over this

worldy existence?

 

 

 

vishadahasite puurNaashaantiH sudhaakarasodare

sthirapRRithulayoH puurNaa shaktir dRRishor atulaarcishoH |

hRRidayakamale nityaa niShtaa bahishca saratprabhe

ramaNa bhagavan ko vaa maunii samastava bhuutale ||36||

 

 

vishada - bright, splendid,

hasite - (in) smile,

puurNaashaantiH - full of peace,

sudhaakara - moon,

sodare - related to, kin,

sthira - firm, steady,

pRRithulayoH - (in) broad, large,

puurNaashaktir - full of power,

dRRishor - (in) eyes,

atula - unequalled,

arcishoH - (in) luster,

hRRidaya - heart,

kamale - in the lotus,

nityaa - eternal,

niShtaa - abidance,

bahish - outwards,

ca - and,

sarat - flowing,

prabhe - splendor, radiance,

ramaNa - Ramana,

bhagavan - Oh Bhagavan,

ko - who,

vaa - possibly, perhaps,

maunii - Muni, Sage,

samas - equal,

tava - your,

bhuutale - on the earth

 

 

In your moon-like splendid smile peace reigns. Your large broad eyes

are steady and unequaled in luster. You are eternally abiding in the

lotus of the Heart with your splendor outwardly flowing. Oh Bhagavan

Ramana! What Sage on earth is possibly your equal?

 

 

 

devii shaktiriyaM dRRishoH shritajanadhvaantakShayaadhaayinii

devii shriiriyam ambujaakShamahiShii vaktre sahasracchade |

devii brahmavidhuur iyaM vijayate vyaahaaraguuDhaa paraa

vishvaacaarya mahaanubhaava ramaNa tvaaM stautu kaH praakRRitaH

||37||

 

devii - Devi, Mother,

shaktir - shakti, power,

iyaM - here,

dRRishoH - in (two) eyes,

shrita - attached to,

jana - man,

dhvaanta - darkness, ignorance,

kShaya - to put an end to,

aadhaayinii - effecting,

devii - Devi,

shriir - Lakshmi,

iyaM - here,

ambu - water,

jaa - born in,

akSha - eye,

mahiShii - wife,

vaktre - (in) face,

sahasra - one thousand,

chade - cover, veil,

devii - Devi,

brahmavidhuur - wife of Brahma, Saraswati,

iyaM - here,

vijayate - victory-causing,

vyaahaara - utterance,

guuDhaa - concealed,

paraa - supreme,

vishva - universe,

acaarya - teacher,

mahaa - great,

anubhaava - experience,

ramaNa - O Ramana!

tvaaM - you,

stautu - may praise,

kaH - who?,

praakRRitaH - ordinary

 

 

In your eyes is Devi Shakti, effecting the end of man's ignorance.

In your face of a thousand expressions is Lakshmi, the wife of the

lotus-eyed Vishnu. Concealed in your utterance is victory-causing

Saraswati, supreme. Oh universal teacher Ramana of great experience

(of Being)! What ordinary man could praise you?

 

 

 

 

sohaM jaato ramaNabhagavan paadayoste daviShTho

yadyapyasmin mahati samaye shaktilaasye pravRRite |

suuryasyeva jvalatimahaso duuragaaM naatha shaktiM

vishvasyaagryaaM tava mama mano viitaduHkhaM tathaapi ||38||

 

 

sohaM - I that very person, myself,

jaato - happened, become,

ramaNabhagavan - Oh Bhagavan Ramana,

paadayos - from (two) feet,

te - your,

daviShTho - very far away,

yadyapyasmin - even though in this,

mahati - great,

samaye - occasion, time,

shakti - Shakti, power,

laasye - dance,

pravRRite - begins,

suuryasyeva - as of the sun,

jvalati - blazing,

mahaso - knowledge,

duuragaaM - being far, remote,

na - not,

atha - now,

shaktiM - Shakti,

vishvasya of the universe,

agryaaM - topmost,

tava - your,

mama - mine,

mano - mind,

viita - vanished,

duHkhaM - sorrow,

tathaapi - even though

 

 

Even though I myself am very far away from your holy feet, Oh

Bhagavan Ramana, when on this great occasion the dance of Shakti

commences, the knowledge that your power, blazing as the sun and

foremost in the universe, is not remote from me, and has caused the

sorrow of my mind to vanish.

 

tadbhaagadheyam asamaanam anekamauni-

vaasaarjitaM kshitibhRRitaH khalu lohitasya |

a~Ngiicakaara bhagavan ramaNo maharShir

anyeShu satsu yad imaM bahuShu sthaleShu ||39||

 

tad - that,

bhaaga - good fortune,

dheyam - giving,

asamaanam - unequalled,

aneka - many,

mauni - saints,

vaasa - dwelling,

arjitaM - earned, accquired,

kshiti - mountain,

bhRRitaH - borne, acquired,

khalu - indeed, verily,

lohitasya - of the red-coloured,

a~Ngiicakaara - chose,

bhagavaan - Bhagavan,

ramaNo - Ramana,

maharShir - Maharshi,

anyeShu among others,

satsu - good, holy,

yad - because, since,

imaM - this,

bahuShu - among many,

sthaleShu - places

 

 

Verily, that good fortune accquired by the red colored mountain

(Arunachala), gained by the dwelling there of many sages, is now

unequaled, because Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi has chosen this

(dwelling) from among other holy places.

Shaantir nitaantam adhikaa paramaasya shaktir

vairaagyam adbhutatamaM karuNaa tu saandraa |

j~NaanaM nirastakuhanaM madhuraM ca vRRittaM

nRRINaaM nidarshanam ayaM ramaNo maharShiH ||40||

 

shaantir - peace,

nitaantaM - extraordinary,

adhikaa - surpassing, superior,

paramaa - chief, highest,

asya - of him,

shaktir - power,

vairaagyam - dispassion, renunciation,

adbhutatamaM - most extraordinary,

karuNaa - compassion,

tu - used as exclamation,

saandraa - strong, intense,

j~NaanaM - knowledge,

nirasta - banished,

kuhanaM - hypocrisy,

madhuraà - sweet, pleasant,

ca - and,

vRRittaM - conduct,

nRRINaaM - for, of men, mankind,

nidarshanam - pointed to, indicated,

ayaM - this,

ramaNo - Ramana,

maharShiH - Maharshi

 

 

For his extraordinary peace, supreme power, most extraordinary

dispassion, intense compassion, for knowledge that has banished

hypocrisy and for his sweet conduct, Ramana Maharshi is indicated

(as the ideal) for mankind.

 

naarasiMhirgaNapatir vaasiShTho ramaNëaM gurum |

catvaariMshanmitaiH padyaiH skandaaMshaM stutavaanRRiShim ||

 

 

naarasiMhir - son of Narasimha,

gaNapatir - Ganapati,

vaasiShTho - Vasishta,

ramaNaMà gurum - Guru Ramana

catvaariMshan - forty,

mitaiH - by measured,

padyaiH - verses,

skanda - Skanda,

aMshaM - incarnation,

stutavaan - praised,

RRiShim - Rishi

 

 

Vasishta Ganapati, son of Narasimha, has praised with forty measured

verses the Rishi, the incarnation of Skanda, Guru Ramana.

 

 

om tat sat