The Supreme Glory of Lord Rama’s Divine Name
In these three profound verses from the Kavitavali, Tulsidas Ji demonstrates extraordinary humility while simultaneously revealing the infinite power of Ram Naam (Lord Rama’s holy name). Through vivid self-deprecation and honest acknowledgment of his limitations, the saint-poet illuminates a universal truth: that divine grace transcends all human shortcomings, and the Lord’s name possesses power even greater than the Lord Himself.
These verses represent the pinnacle of devotional surrender, where Tulsidas confesses his complete unworthiness while simultaneously placing absolute faith in the redemptive power of chanting Rama’s name. This paradox,of being utterly helpless yet completely secure, forms the very essence of true bhakti (devotion).
Verse 7/69 (पद ७/६९)
सब अंग हीन, सब साधन बिहीन मन-
बचन मलीन, हीन कुल करतूति हौं।
बुधि-बल-हीन, भाव-भगति-बिहीन, हीन
गुन, ग्यानहीन, हीन भाग हूँ बिभूति हौं॥
तुलसी गरीब की गई-बहोर रामनामु,
जाहि जपि जीहँ रामहू को बैठो धूति हौं।
प्रीति रामनामसों प्रतीति रामनामकी,
प्रसाद रामनामकें पसारि पाय सूतिहौं
Sab ang heen, sab saadhan biheen man-
Bachan maleen, heen kul karatuti haun.
Budhi-bal-heen, bhaav-bhagati-biheen, heen
Gun, gyaanheen, heen bhaag hoon vibhooti haun.
Tulasi gareeb ki gai-bahor Raamnamu,
Jaahi japi jeehan Raamhu ko baitho dhooti haun.
Preeti Raamnamsoan prateeti Raamnaamki,
Prasaad Raamnaamken pasaari paay sootihaun.
Complete Surrender Through Self-Negation
Tulsidas ji begins with a devastating self-assessment that strips away all pretense. He declares himself deficient in every aspect, lacking the eightfold disciplines of Yoga, devoid of all resources and means necessary for worldly comfort or spiritual liberation. His mind is impure, his speech is tainted, and he considers himself born into lowly circumstances with equally dishonorable deeds.
The litany of deficiencies continues: no intelligence, no strength, no genuine emotions of love, no true devotion, no virtuous qualities, no real knowledge, no good fortune, and no glory or fame. In painting this portrait of utter inadequacy, Tulsidas ji establishes the complete absence of conventional qualifications that Dharmic traditions typically demand.
The Radical Declaration: Yet despite, or rather, because of, this total unworthiness, Tulsidas ji proclaims that only Lord Ram’s sacred name can be the refuge for such a wretch. The supreme irony he reveals is that through constant repetition of this divine name, he has managed to “deceive” even Lord Ram himself!
What does this “deception” mean? Tulsidas ji suggests that by continuously chanting Ram Naam, the world perceives him as a great devotee and wise spiritual teacher, whereas, by his own admission, he possesses none of the traditional qualifications. The Lord’s name has created a reputation that far exceeds his actual merit.
The verse concludes with a beautiful affirmation: “I have love for only Ram’s name, faith in only Ram’s name, and by the grace of Ram’s name alone, I sleep peacefully with outstretched legs, without a care in the world.” This image of sleeping blissfully represents complete freedom from anxiety, the ultimate fruit of divine grace.
The Eightfold Path of Yoga
Tulsidas ji references the classical Ashtanga Yoga system, which includes:
- Yama – Ethical restraints and moral disciplines
- Niyama – Observances and spiritual practices
- Asana – Physical postures for meditation
- Pranayama – Breath control techniques
- Pratyahara – Withdrawal and mastery of senses
- Dharana – Unwavering concentration and focus
- Dhyana – Sustained meditation and contemplation
- Samadhi – Complete absorption in divine consciousness
His claim to lack all these reveals the depth of his humility, and paradoxically, the height of his devotion.
Verse 70 (पद ७०)
मेरें जान जबतें हौं जीव ह्वै जनम्यो जग,
तबतें बेसाह्यो दाम लोह, कोह, कामको।
मन तिन्हीकी सेवा,तिन्हि सों भाउ निको,
बचन बनाइ कहौं ‘हौं गुलामु रामको’
नाथहूँ न अपनायो, लोक झूठी ह्वै परी, पै
प्रभुहू तें प्रबल प्रतापु प्रभूनामको।
आपनीं भलाई भलो कीजै तौ भलाई, न तौ
तुलसीको खुलैगो खजानो खोटे दामको
Meren jaan jabten haun jeev hvai janmyo jag,
Tabten besaahyo daam loh, koh, kaamko.
Man tinhee ki sevaa, tinhi son bhaau niko,
Bachan banaai kahaun ‘haun gulaamu Raamko’
Naathhun na apnaayo, lok jhoothi hvai paree, pai
Prabhuhoo ten prabal pratapu Prabhunaamko.
Aapneen bhalaai bhalo keejai tau bhalaai, na tau
Tulsiko khulaigo khazaano khote daamko.
The Bondage of Inner Demons
In this verse, Tulsidas ji makes a brutally honest confession about his spiritual condition. From the very moment of his birth into this world, he acknowledges being enslaved by the human weaknesses: greed (lobha), anger (krodha), and lust (kama). These aren’t occasional visitors but constant masters who have held him captive throughout his entire existence.
The confession deepens: his mind actively serves these negative forces. It doesn’t merely tolerate them; it genuinely loves and cherishes them. This is the most painful admission for any spiritual aspirant: that the mind has become so conditioned that it actually finds pleasure in its own bondage.
“When I proclaim myself to be a servant of Lord Rama, I am merely putting on a show, crafting empty words. For how can one claim to serve Rama when the mind is actually engaged in serving the desires of the material world?“
This creates a painful paradox: whenever unfulfilled desires arise, anger follows naturally. The mind chases after worldly pleasures constantly, and when thwarted, erupts in frustration. How then can such a mind claim devotion to the Divine?
The Divine Paradox: Tulsidas ji then reveals an extraordinary spiritual truth, even the Lord has not accepted him due to his unworthiness, yet the world falsely believes him to be a great devotee because he constantly repeats the Lord’s name. But here’s the miracle: the power of the Lord’s name exceeds even the power of the Lord Himself!
This statement contains profound mystical significance. The Lord may reject an unworthy devotee, but the Lord’s name cannot discriminate; it works its magic on anyone who repeats it, regardless of their qualification or spiritual state.
The verse concludes with a clever challenge to the Lord: “If You, in Your compassionate nature, choose to do good for me, wonderful! But if You don’t, then my cunning and deceitful nature will be exposed to the world.”
What audacity! Tulsidas ji is essentially saying: “Lord, if You don’t save me despite my taking Your name constantly, then people will say Your name is powerless. Your own reputation is at stake!” This represents the pinnacle of devotional boldness, using the glory of the Lord’s name itself as leverage for salvation.
Verse 71 (पद ७१)
जोग न बिरागु, जप, जाग, तप, त्यागु, ब्रत,
तीरथ न धर्म जानौं,बेदबिधि किमि है।
तुलसी-सो पोच न भयो है, नहि व्हेहै कहूँ,
सोचैं सब, याके अघ कैसे प्रभु छमिहैं ॥
मेरें तो न डरु, रघुबीर! सुनौ, साँची कहौं,
खल अनखैहैं तुम्हैं,सज्जन न गमिहैं।
भले सुकृतीके संग मिहि तुलाँ तौलिए तौ,
नामकें प्रसाद भारू मेरी ओर नमिहैं॥
Jog na biraagu, jap, jaag, tap, tyaagu, brat,
Teerath na dharm jaanaun, vedvidhi kimi hai.
Tulsi-so poch na bhayo hai, nahi vhehai kahoon,
Sochaen sab, yaake agh kaise Prabhu chhamihaen.
Meren to na daru, Raghubeer! Sunaun, saanchi kahaun,
Khal anakhaenhaen tumhaen, sajjan na gamihaen.
Bhale sukritee ke sang mihi tulaan taulie tau,
Naamken prasaad bhaaru meri or namihaen.
The Ultimate Refuge
In this climactic verse, Tulsidas ji presents a comprehensive catalogue of spiritual practices he has failed to master. He knows nothing of Yoga’s disciplines, renunciation’s freedom, the power of mantras, meditation’s depths, penance’s rigors, detachment from worldly objects, rituals, fasts, sacred pilgrimages, or the intricate laws of righteousness (Dharma). Even the fundamental principles enshrined in the Vedas remain beyond his grasp.
Then comes an astonishing declaration: “No one has ever been as degraded and fallen as I am, nor shall anyone ever be in the future.” This isn’t false modesty, it’s the complete abandonment of all spiritual pretense. Tulsidas ji claims the absolute lowest position in the hierarchy of spiritual aspirants.
He acknowledges that people wonder in amazement: “How will such a person’s sins ever be forgiven? How can someone so completely lacking in qualifications ever hope for redemption?” The question hangs in the air, seemingly unanswerable.
Fearless Faith: But then Tulsidas ji addresses Lord Rama directly with stunning boldness: “O Raghubir! Listen, I speak the absolute truth, I am not afraid. Not even slightly concerned!”
Why this fearlessness? Because he understands the divine dynamics at play. If the Lord forgives him despite his unworthiness, the wicked will be displeased, their expectations of his damnation will be thwarted, and their cynical worldview challenged. But the virtuous and saintly will rejoice, for they expect nothing less than such magnificent compassion from the Divine.
The verse reaches its crescendo with a brilliant metaphor: “If you place me on a scale opposite someone who has performed countless noble deeds and great spiritual practices, the scale will tilt in my favor, not because of my merit, but because I carry Your holy name with me!”
This is the ultimate statement of faith: that the Lord’s name outweighs all accumulated virtues, all yogic attainments, all scriptural knowledge, and all spiritual accomplishments combined. One who has Ram Naam needs nothing else.
🌟 The Revolutionary Message 🌟
Through these three verses, Goswami Tulsidas delivers a message that revolutionizes our understanding of spiritual attainment. Traditional religion often creates hierarchies: the pure versus the impure, the knowledgeable versus the ignorant, the disciplined versus the wayward. It erects walls of qualification that keep most people at a distance from the Divine.
But Tulsidas ji demolishes these walls. He shows that divine grace doesn’t depend on human qualification. The Lord’s name is a universal solvent that dissolves all barriers. It works not because we are worthy, but because it is powerful.
Moreover, these verses reveal the psychology of genuine devotion. True bhakti begins not with pride in one’s spiritual accomplishments but with honest recognition of one’s limitations. The path opens not through self- glorification but through self-emptying.
Finally, Tulsidas ji teaches us the audacity of faith. He doesn’t meekly beg for mercy; he confidently reminds the Lord that the reputation of Ram Naam itself is at stake! This holy boldness, born from complete surrender, represents the highest form of devotion.
🙏 “The glory of Ram’s name is infinite and beyond measure” 🙏
