A Ramcharitmanas Story of Pure Bhakti
At dawn, Shri Ram, Sita ji, and Lakshman ji reached the Ganga river’s banks. They had changed into plain clothes, leaving behind their royal attire. The pain of leaving Ayodhya was still fresh in their hearts. The entire kingdom had mourned the departure of their beloved prince into exile.
जासु बियोग बिकल पसु ऐसें। प्रजा मातु पितु जिइहहिं कैसें॥
बरबस राम सुमंत्रु पठाए। सुरसरि तीर आपु तब आए॥
Whose absence caused even the animals to grieve, how could the citizens, His Mother, and Father survive without Him? Shri Ram resolutely sent Sumantra ji back and then hurried to the sacred banks of the heavenly river Ganga.
The Meeting at the River
When Shri Ram requested a boat to take them across, a humble boatman from the Kevat tribe showed up. Instead of quickly moving with his boat, he stood still, looking at the Lord with a unique blend of devotion and resolve.
“I know Your secret, my Lord,” Kevat said, his voice shaking not from fear but from love. “People talk about the miraculous dust from Your lotus feet, how it brings life to stone, how it gives consciousness to the lifeless.”
छुअत सिला भइ नारि सुहाई। पाहन तें न काठ कठिनाई॥
तरनिउ मुनि घरिनी होइ जाई। बाट परइ मोरि नाव उड़ाई॥
Just by touching Your feet, even a rock became a beautiful woman. My boat is made of wood, much weaker than stone. If it turns into the sage’s wife by Your touch, it could soar into the sky(like Sage Gautam’s wife Ahalya)! Then You wouldn’t be able to cross the river, and I would be left without my only way to earn a living.
The Wisdom in Innocence
What deep wisdom was concealed in the boatman’s simple words! He was a man of modest means, yet he held the greatest treasure of all—pure, sincere devotion. His concern stemmed not from ignorance but from a deep desire to serve his Lord, to touch those divine feet that sages meditate on for ages.
“This boat supports my whole family,” Kevat said, his hands together in respect. “I know no other profession, my Lord. If You truly want to cross, then please—allow me the honor of washing Your feet first.”
पद कमल धोइ चढ़ाइ नाव न नाथ उतराई चहौं।
मोहि राम राउरि आन दसरथसपथ सब साची कहौं॥
O’ Lord, I will wash Your feet first, only then will I let You board my boat, and I ask for no payment in return. O’ Ram ji, I swear by King Dashrath, I speak the truth.
Even when Lakshman ji moved forward, perhaps to reason with the boatman, Kevat stood firm. “Even if Lakshman ji were to strike me with his arrow,” he stated with gentle resolve, “I will not take You across until I have washed Your feet.”
When God Smiled
सुनि केवट के बैन प्रेम लपेटे अटपटे।
बिहसे करुनाऐन चितइ जानकी लखन तन॥
Hearing the heartfelt and simple words from Kevat, the ocean of compassion, Shri Ram laughed joyfully and turned to Shri Lakshman and Sita ji.
In that divine laughter was the essence of the Lord’s being, He who rules the three worlds was touched by the true love of a modest boatman. The Supreme Being, before whom powerful kings bow, now smiled at the devotion of one who had nothing but a wooden boat. “Then do what your heart wishes,” Shri Ram said with endless warmth. “Hurry and bring water to wash My feet. It’s getting late, brother, and you must take us across.”
The Contradiction of Sacred Mercy
जासु नाम सुमिरत एक बारा। उतरहिं नर भवसिंधु अपारा॥
सोइ कृपालु केवटहि निहोरा। जेहिं जगु किय तिहु पगहु ते थोरा॥
He, whose name, contemplated even once, transports souls across the infinite sea of worldly life, He who made the expansive three worlds appear minor in His Vaman Avatar by measuring them in merely three strides, that same compassionate Lord now modestly requests a favor from an ordinary boatman.
This represents the magnificence of genuine bhakti—it can cause God Himself to submit. It can change the bond between the Infinite and the finite into one of sheer love, where every distinction vanishes.
Kevat lovingly washes the lotus feet of the Lord
Kevat fetched water in a wooden vessel, his hands trembling with divine ecstasy. As he started to wash the Lord’s feet, tears of joy mixed with the sacred water. Every touch was a prayer, and every moment felt like an eternity of bliss.
अति आनंद उमगि अनुरागा। चरन सरोज पखारन लागा॥
बरषि सुमन सुर सकल सिहाहीं। एहि सम पुन्यपुंज कोउ नाहीं॥
With great joy and love, Kevat began to tenderly wash the lotus feet of the Lord. The heavenly beings, envious of his fortune, rained down flowers from above and declared, “There is no greater treasure of virtues than Kevat, the humble boatman.”
The Gods in heaven looked on with desire. What austerity, what penance, what meditation could bring such a blessing? Here was just a simple boatman, receiving it solely through love!
पद पखारि जलु पान करि आपु सहित परिवार।
पितर पारु करि प्रभुहि पुनि मुदित गयउ लेइ पार॥
After washing the Lord’s feet and drinking the sacred water with his family, Kevat uplifted not only himself but also freed his ancestors from the cycle of worldly existence. With a heart full of joy, he then ferried Ramji across the river in his boat.
The Inestimable Reward
Upon reaching the other side, Sita ji, sensing Her Lord’s feelings, took off Her jeweled ring. Shri Ram gave it to Kevat as payment for the ferry ride.
But the boatman fell at His feet, his voice filled with emotion-
नाथ आजु मैं काह न पावा। मिटे दोष दुख दारिद दावा॥
बहुत काल मैं कीन्हि मजूरी। आजु दीन्ह बिधि बनि भलि भूरी॥
“O Lord, what is it that I have not received today? The fierce fire of all my sins, sorrows, and suffering has been put out. I have worked hard for a long time, and today, the Creator has blessed me with a reward beyond my imagination.”
“I want nothing else,” Kevat said, his words coming from a heart full of happiness. “When You come back from exile, whatever You decide to give me then, I will accept with joy. But today, I feel fulfilled.”
बहुत कीन्ह प्रभु लखन सियँ नहिं कछु केवटु लेइ।
बिदा कीन्ह करुनायतन भगति बिमल बरु देइ॥
Shri Ram ji, Lakshman ji and Sita ji insisted greatly, but Kevat would accept nothing material. Then the merciful Lord blessed him with the gift of pure, unwavering devotion and sent him back with a heart fulfilled.
True devotion does not require learning, rituals, or social rank. Kevat was unfamiliar with scriptures and did not engage in grand ceremonies. His love was pure, straightforward, and whole.
He who possesses everything asks for just one thing from us, true love.
In the world of divine grace, the highest wealth is not what we offer to God but what we receive, the ability to serve, to love, and to merge our individuality in devotion.
