In the Dohawali, Goswami Tulsidas pauses to reflect on the divine love that Sita, Lakshman, and Bharat held for Lord Rama. This love transcends ordinary human emotion; it represents the pinnacle of devotion, selflessness, and spiritual connection. In these verses (Dohas 202-204), Tulsidas ji humbly acknowledges that such love is beyond description, yet he cannot help but attempt to capture its essence.
Doha 202: Beyond Words, Beyond Understanding
सीय सुमित्रा सुवन गति भरत सनेह सुभाउ।
कहिबे को सारद सरस जनिबे को रघुराउ॥
Sīya sumitrā suvan gati bharat saneh subhāu |
Kahibe ko sārad saras janibe ko raghurāu ||
The exclusive love and devotion of Sita and Lakshman (son of Sumitra), and the love and nature of Bharat, only Goddess Saraswati (the deity of eloquence) is capable of describing them, and only Lord Ram Himself is capable of truly knowing them.
This verse establishes a profound truth: the depth of love that Sita, Lakshman, and Bharat have for Rama is beyond human comprehension and expression. Tulsidas ji makes two crucial points:
- Only Saraswati can describe it: Even the goddess of speech, learning, and eloquence finds this love at the edge of what can be articulated. If the divine embodiment of expression itself is needed to describe this love, what hope do ordinary mortals have?
- Only Rama can know it: The recipient of this love, Lord Rama Himself, is the only one who can truly fathom its depths. This is because divine love operates on a plane beyond intellectual understanding; it can only be experienced and known by the Divine.
This sets up a beautiful paradox: Tulsidas ji is about to attempt describing something that he has just declared indescribable. This tension between the ineffable nature of divine love and the devotee’s irrepressible urge to express it is at the heart of bhakti poetry.
Doha 203: The Poet’s Humble Confession
जानि राम न कहि सके भरत लखन सिय प्रीति।
सो सुनि गुनि तुलसी कहत हठ सठता की रीति॥
Jāni rām na kahi sake bharat lakhan siya prīti |
So suni guni tulsī kahat haṭh saṭhatā kī rīti ||
Even Lord Rama, though He knew the love of Bharat, Lakshman, and Sita, could not describe it in words. Having heard this and pondered upon it, Tulsidas still stubbornly attempts to describe their love; this is surely a sign of his foolishness and ignorance.
This verse reveals Goswami Tulsidas’s extraordinary humility and self-awareness. He presents a remarkable admission:
The Divine Paradox:
- Shri Ram knows this love completely (being its recipient and being omniscient)
- Yet even Lord Ram cannot adequately express it in words
- If God Himself cannot describe it, what can a mortal poet do?
Tulsidas’s “Foolish” Courage:
Despite recognizing this impossibility, Tulsidas ji confesses he will attempt it anyway. He calls his own endeavor:
- Haṭh (stubbornness, obstinacy)
- Saṭhatā (foolishness, stupidity)
But here’s the beautiful irony: This “foolishness” is actually the hallmark of true devotion. A devotee cannot help but speak of what they love, even when they know words will fall short. This is not arrogance; it’s the overflow of a heart filled with divine love.
The Poet’s Dilemma:
Tulsidas ji stands at the intersection of two truths:
- Divine love is indescribable
- The devotee’s heart compels expression
He chooses expression, fully aware of its inadequacy, and in doing so, he captures the very essence of devotional poetry, the beautiful futility of trying to contain the infinite in finite words.
204: Shri Ram’s Perfect Understanding
सब बिधि समरथ सकल कह सहि साँसति दिन राति।
भलो निबाहेउ सुनि समुझि स्वामिधर्म सब भाँति॥
Sab bidhi samarath sakal kah sahi sāṁsati din rāti |
Bhalo nibāheu suni samujhi svāmidharma sab bhāṁti ||
Everyone says that Lord Ram alone is capable in every way of understanding and fulfilling the essence of love. Accordingly, having heard and understood everything, He endured suffering day and night and perfectly fulfilled His duty as master in every respect.
This verse shifts our attention from the lovers (Sita, Lakshman, Bharat) to the Beloved (Ram ji) and reveals how He honored their love:
Shri Ram’s Unique Capability:
The verse opens by establishing that Lord Ram is sab bidhi samarath, capable in every way. This capability has two dimensions:
- Understanding love (samajhana): Ram alone could comprehend the true depth of the love directed toward Him
- Honoring that love (nibhāna): Ram alone could adequately reciprocate and fulfill that love
How Shri Ram Honored Their Love:
The verse gives specific examples of how Shri Ram demonstrated His understanding and reciprocation:
- For Sita: He wandered through forests searching for Her, calling Her name in anguish. He didn’t rest until She was found and rescued.
- For Lakshman: When Lakshman fell unconscious from Indrajit’s weapon, Shri Ram’s lamentation was so profound that it moved the universe.
- For Bharat: Ram ji never let Bharat leave His thoughts. He constantly praised Bharat’s virtues and dharma. Their reunion after fourteen years is one of the most emotionally charged moments in the entire epic.
The Price of Love:
The phrase “sahi sāṁsati din rāti” (enduring suffering day and night) is crucial. Shri Ram’s reciprocation of love wasn’t passive; it involved:
- Constant concern for those who loved Him
- Deep emotional pain when they suffered
- Active efforts to protect and honor them
- Sleepless nights worrying about their wellbeing
Svāmidharma
The term svāmidharma literally means “the dharma of a master,” but here it takes on a deeper meaning, the duty of the Beloved toward those who love Him. Ram fulfilled this duty “sab bhāṁti” (in every way):
- He listened to their concerns
- He understood their hearts
- He suffered when they suffered
- He acted to honor their devotion
- He never forgot them, even for a moment
These three verses together create a complete picture of divine love:
(Doha 202)
The love between devotee and Divine operates on a plane beyond language. Only the goddess of speech can attempt to describe it, and only God can truly know it.
(Doha 203)
Despite its ineffability, love must be expressed. The devotee cannot remain silent, even knowing that words will fail. This “foolish stubbornness” is the essence of bhakti.
(Doha 204)
Divine love is not one-sided. God not only receives love but actively reciprocates it, honoring the devotee’s feelings through His actions and suffering.
Sita: The Love of the Eternal Companion
Mata Sita’s love for Ram represents the soul’s love for God. She chose exile over comfort, suffering over ease, captivity over compromise. Her love was not conditional on circumstances; it remained constant whether Ram was a prince or an exile, whether she was in the palace or prison.
Unwavering constancy through all conditions
Lakshman: The Love of Selfless Service
Lakshman’s love represents the path of seva (service). He gave up his own family life, his comforts, even his sleep to serve Rama. His love asked for nothing in return; his entire fulfillment came from being in service to his beloved.
Complete self-effacement in service
Bharat: The Love of Separation
Bharat’s love embodies the ultimate expression of viraha (love in separation). He ruled the kingdom but lived as an ascetic. He kept Lord Ram’s sandals on the throne and considered himself merely a regent. His every breath was a prayer for Ram’s return.
Sustained devotion through separation
For in that beautiful futility lies the essence of devotion, the loving attempt to reach toward the unreachable, to speak the unspeakable, to love the One who is beyond all, yet contains all love.
श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम
