RAMACHARITMANAS

||om tat sat||

संसार अपार के पार को सुगम रूप नौका लये।
कलि कुटिल जीव निस्तारहित बाल्मीकि तुलसी भये॥
In order to cross with ease the boundless ocean of this Samsara (Worldliness), Tulasi has, as it were supplied a boat in the form of (Rāmacharitmānas).
Verily, for the redemption of Man in this perverse Kali Yuga, Valmiki has been reborn as Tulasi.

Bhakti Sadhanas in the Rāmacharitmānas
Maharishi Valmiki's Advice to Sri Rama

Tulasidasji's Poetry is unparalleled in its Depth, Grandeur & Originality.
दो0-पूँछेहु मोहि कि रहौं कहँ मैं पूँछत सकुचाउँ।
जहँ न होहु तहँ देहु कहि तुम्हहि देखावौं ठाउँ।।127।।
"You ask me: 'Where should I take up my residence?'
But I ask You with Diffidence: tell me first the place where You are not; then alone I can show You a Suitable place." (127)

When Sri Rama meets Maharishi Valmiki in the forest and asks him to suggest a place where he can build a hut and live with Sita & Lakshmana, the Maharishi metaphorically suggests Fourteen Homes before advising that Sri Rama should live in Chitrakoota.
These fourteen blissful abodes or habitats for the Lord are the Purified Hearts of Fourteen Types of Bhaktas.
Bhakti (Devotion) purifies the heart of the Bhakta (Devotee) and thus his Deity is enshrined in the heart of the Devotee.
The purpose of Valmiki's Metaphorical reply to Sri Rama's question is to inculcate in us (Sadhakas/Aspirants) a high sense of devotion and dedication to the cause of divinity.

II.128; 2-3 to II.131
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सुनि मुनि बचन प्रेम रस साने। सकुचि राम मन महुँ मुसुकाने।।

On hearing the sage's words, imbued as they were with love, Sri Rama felt abashed and smiled within Him Self.

बालमीकि हँसि कहहिं बहोरी। बानी मधुर अमिअ रस बोरी।।

Valmiki too smiled and spoke to Him again in words as sweet as though they were steeped in nectar:

सुनहु राम अब कहउँ निकेता। जहाँ बसहु सिय लखन समेता।।

"Listen, Rama: I tell You now the places where You should abide with Sita and Lakshmana.

जिन्ह के श्रवन समुद्र समाना। कथा तुम्हारि सुभग सरि नाना।।
भरहिं निरंतर होहिं न पूरे। तिन्ह के हिय तुम्ह कहुँ गृह रूरे।।

The heart of those whose ears are like the ocean, constantly replenished with a Number of lovely streams in the shape of Your stories but know no surfeit, shall be Your charming abode.

लोचन चातक जिन्ह करि राखे। रहहिं दरस जलधर अभिलाषे।।
निदरहिं सरित सिंधु सर भारी। रूप बिंदु जल होहिं सुखारी।।

Just as cataka always longs to see the rain clouds, disdaining all big rivers, oceans and lakes and prefers only drops of rain clouds.

तिन्ह के हृदय सदन सुखदायक। बसहु बंधु सिय सह रघुनायक।।

Similarly those whose eyes are always laying for your beautiful vision disdain all worldly comforts and always lay for a glimpse of your beauty in their hearts there it is comfortable for you to live in along with Lakshmana and Sita. (1 — 4)

दो0-जसु तुम्हार मानस बिमल हंसिनि जीहा जासु।
मुकुताहल गुन गन चुनइ राम बसहु हियँ तासु।।128।।

"Nay, You should dwell in the heart of him whose swan-like tongue picks up pearls in the shape of Your virtues in the holy Manasarovara lake of Your fame." (128)

प्रभु प्रसाद सुचि सुभग सुबासा। सादर जासु लहइ नित नासा।।
तुम्हहि निबेदित भोजन करहीं। प्रभु प्रसाद पट भूषन धरहीं।।

"Abide, O Rama, in the mind of those whose nose devoutly inhales every daythe Fragrance of sacred and lovely offerings (in the shape of flowers, sandal-paste, etc.,) made to their Lord (Yourself),

सीस नवहिं सुर गुरु द्विज देखी। प्रीति सहित करि बिनय बिसेषी।।
कर नित करहिं राम पद पूजा। राम भरोस हृदयँ नहि दूजा।।
चरन राम तीरथ चलि जाहीं। राम बसहु तिन्ह के मन माहीं।।

Whose heads bow down most submissively and lovingly at the sight of a God, Preceptor or Brahmana, whose hands adore Sri Rama's feet every day, who cherish in Their heart faith in Rama and none else, and whose feet take
them to holy places Sacred to Rama.
मंत्रराजु नित जपहिं तुम्हारा। पूजहिं तुम्हहि सहित परिवारा।।
Again those who are ever engaged in muttering the Rama-Mantra, the king of all sacred chants, and worship You along with Your associates;
तरपन होम करहिं बिधि नाना। बिप्र जेवाँइ देहिं बहु दाना।।
तुम्ह तें अधिक गुरहि जियँ जानी। सकल भायँ सेवहिं सनमानी।।

Who offer water to the manes and pour oblations into the sacred fire in diverse Ways, who feed the Brahmanas and bestow liberal gifts on them andwho look upon their preceptor as greater than Yourself and wait upon him with due honour and total devotion" (1 — 4)

दो0-सबु करि मागहिं एक फलु राम चरन रति होउ।
तिन्ह कें मन मंदिर बसहु सिय रघुनंदन दोउ।।129।।
And who having done all this ask only one boon as their reward:
"Let me have Devotion to Sri Rama's feet!" — enthrone Your Self in the temple of their heart, both Sita and the Delighter of Raghus (Yourself). (129)
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काम कोह मद मान न मोहा। लोभ न छोभ न राग न द्रोहा।।
जिन्ह कें कपट दंभ नहिं माया। तिन्ह कें हृदय बसहु रघुराया।।

"Those who have no lust, anger, arrogance, pride or infatuation, are without greed, excitement, attraction or aversion and who are free from fraud, hypocrisy and deceit — it is in their heart that You should abide, O Chief of Raghus.

सब के प्रिय सब के हितकारी। दुख सुख सरिस प्रसंसा गारी।।
कहहिं सत्य प्रिय बचन बिचारी। जागत सोवत सरन तुम्हारी।।
तुम्हहि छाड़ि गति दूसरि नाहीं। राम बसहु तिन्ह के मन माहीं।।

Again, those who are beloved of all and friendly to all, to whom joy and sorrow, applause and abuse are alike and who scrupulously utter truthful and polite words, nay, who are resigned to You whether awake or asleep and who have no support other than Yourself — it is in their mind, O Rama, that You should dwell.
जननी सम जानहिं परनारी। धनु पराव बिष तें बिष भारी।।
जे हरषहिं पर संपति देखी। दुखित होहिं पर बिपति बिसेषी।।
जिन्हहि राम तुम्ह प्रानपिआरे। तिन्ह के मन सुभ सदन तुम्हारे।।

Again, those who look upon another's wife as their own mother and to whom another's wealth is the deadliest of all poisons, who rejoice to see others' prosperity and are particularly grieved to see another's distress,
and to whom, O Rama, You are dear as their own life — their minds are Your blessed abodes." (1 — 4)

दो0-स्वामि सखा पितु मातु गुर जिन्ह के सब तुम्ह तात।

मन मंदिर तिन्ह कें बसहु सीय सहित दोउ भ्रात।।130।।
"Nay, those to whom, my dear, You are at once master and companion, father and mother, preceptor and everything else — it is in the temple of their mind that Sita and You two brothers should reside." (130)

अवगुन तजि सब के गुन गहहीं। बिप्र धेनु हित संकट सहहीं।।
नीति निपुन जिन्ह कइ जग लीका। घर तुम्हार तिन्ह कर मनु नीका।।

"Those who overlook others' faults and pick out their virtues and endure hardships for the sake of the Brahmanas and cows, nay, who have established their reputation in the world as well-versed in the laws of propriety — their mind is Your excellent abode.

गुन तुम्हार समुझइ निज दोसा। जेहि सब भाँति तुम्हार भरोसा।।
राम भगत प्रिय लागहिं जेही। तेहि उर बसहु सहित बैदेही।।

Again, he who attributes his virtues to You and holds himself responsible
for his faults, nay, who entirely depends on You and loves Sri Rama's
(Your) devotees — it is in his heart that You should stay along with
Videha's Daughter (Sita).

जाति पाँति धनु धरम बड़ाई। प्रिय परिवार सदन सुखदाई।।
सब तजि तुम्हहि रहइ उर लाई। तेहि के हृदयँ रहहु रघुराई।।
सरगु नरकु अपबरगु समाना। जहँ तहँ देख धरें धनु बाना।।
करम बचन मन राउर चेरा। राम करहु तेहि कें उर डेरा।।

He who, renouncing his caste and kinsmen, wealth, faith and glory, his near and dear ones, his happy home and everything else, cherishes You in his bosom — in his heart You should take up Your residence, O Lord of Raghus.

Again, he to whom heaven and hell and even freedom from birth and death are the same in as much as he beholds You armed with a bow and arrow here, there and everywhere, and who is Your servant in thought, word and deed — make his heart, O Rama, Your permanent abode." (1 — 4)

दो0-जाहि न चाहिअ कबहुँ कछु तुम्ह सन सहज सनेहु।
बसहु निरंतर तासु मन सो राउर निज गेहु।।131।।
"Lastly, he who never wants anything and bears natural affinity to You — Incessantly dwell in his mind; for that is Your own home." (131)

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The eminent sage (Valmiki) thus showed Him many a dwelling place and his loving words gladdened Sri Rama's soul.

"Listen, O Lord of the solar race," the sage continued,
"I now tell You a retreat that will be delightful in the existing circumstances.
Take up Your abode on the Citrakuta hill: there You will have all facilities.
Charming is the hill and lovely the forest, which is the haunt of elephants, lions and deer as well as of birds.
It has a holy river glorified in the Puranas, which was brought by the sage Atri's wife by dint of her penance.
It is a side stream of the Gariga and is known by the name of Mandakini — which is quick to destroy sins even as a witch strangles infants.
Many great sages like Atri dwell there practising Yoga and muttering sacred chants and subjecting their bodies to penance.
Wend Your way thither, Rama, and reward the labours of all, conferring dignity on this great mountain as well."

||om tat sat||
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Reference:
Sri Ramacaritamanasa
With Hindi Text and English Translation
(A Romanized Edition)
Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India.