The Close
Closing · Verses 58 to 62
Rama’s final word. Who this knowledge may be given to, and who must never receive it.
Now Rama draws his teaching to a close. Having spoken the whole science of Brahman, he turns to Lakshmana, and a note of warning enters his voice. This is the highest secret, my son, and it is not placed in just anyone’s hands. Only the worthy one who carries faith within and whose heart is full of devotion is entrusted with this knowledge.
Verse 58
यावन्न पश्येदखिलं मदात्मकं तावन्मदाराधनतत्परो भवेत्।
श्रद्धालुरत्यूर्जितभक्तिलक्षणो यस्तस्य दृश्योऽहमहर्निशं हृदि॥58॥
Then Rama opens the glory of this teaching. This is the essence of shruti, my son, and we have told it to you with full conviction. The wise one who reflects on it is freed in a single moment from whole masses of sin. And then he sets down a plain truth: brother, this entire world that appears before you is only maya. Let it go from your mind, purify your mind in devotion to us, and then you will be happy, made of pure bliss, and beyond every sickness and sorrow.
Verses 59 · 60
रहस्यमेतच्छ्रुतिसारसङ्ग्रहं मया विनिश्चित्य तवोदितं प्रिय।
यस्त्वेतदालोचयतीह बुद्धिमान् स मुच्यते पातकराशिभिः क्षणात्॥59॥
भ्रातर्यदीदं परिदृश्यते जगन्मायैव सर्वं परिहृत्य चेतसा।
मद्भावनाभावितशुद्धमानसः सुखी भवानन्दमयो निरामयः॥60॥
Then Rama declares the glory of the devotee. Whoever worships us, whether in the formless aspect that lies beyond all qualities, or at times in the aspect with form and qualities, that person’s very touch makes others pure. Rama says, whomever we touch with the dust of our feet purifies the three worlds the way the sun does with its light. And with this the story comes to its end. This whole science, the single essence of shruti, was sung by Rama himself by the authority of the Vedanta and the Veda. Whoever reads it with faith, steeped in devotion to the guru, and holds bhakti toward Rama’s words, attains Rama’s very form. Here knowledge and devotion walk together, and without the one the other stays incomplete. One question, one answer, and the door of liberation stood open before the disciple.
Verses 61 · 62
यः सेवते मामगुणं गुणात्परं हृदा कदा वा यदि वा गुणात्मकम्।
सोऽहं स्वपादाञ्चितरेणुभिः स्पृशन् पुनाति लोकत्रितयं यथा रविः॥61॥
विज्ञानमेतदखिलं श्रुतिसारमेकं वेदान्तवेदचरणेन मयैव गीतम्।
यः श्रद्धया परिपठेद्गुरुभक्तियुक्तो मद्रूपमेति यदि मद्वचनेषु भक्तिः॥62॥