Hanuman giving the lesson of Bhakti to Tulasidas (source- Pinterest)
There’s hardly anyone who does not remember a chaupai or two from Shri Ramcharitmanas. In many homes, evenings are incomplete without the melodious singing of its chaupais. For some, the memory is of elders reciting its verses in the morning; for others, it is the nostalgic sound of the family singing together in the evening, especially during Diwali. These verses fill the home with a sense of divinity and bring us closer to Lord Rama and Mother Sita.
Written by Goswami Tulsidas, the famous North Indian saint and composer of the Hanuman Chalisa, the text is a beautiful reflection of the relationship between humans and God. According to legend, Lord Shiva himself dictated these divine verses to Goswami Tulsidas. When the verses were composed in Awadhi, a vernacular language, the work faced backlash because Sanskrit was the norm for religious texts during that era. However, when the Ramcharitmanas was placed in the temple sanctum alongside other books, one atop another, it was mysteriously found at the top the following morning, receiving what devotees regard as divine approval.
Today, as people become more spiritually aware, they are looking for meaningful ways to introduce their children to their culture and traditions and teach them the fundamental values of this land.
And what better way to do so than through the easy, melodious and divine verses of Shri Ramcharitmanas itself? Here are 10 verses from the Bālakāṇḍa that parents can share with children, along with the values they can help them understand.
Hanuman JI learning the values of bhakti from Lord Rama (Source – Canva)
बंदउँ गुरु पद पदुम परागा।
सुरुचि सुबास सरस अनुरागा॥
Translation: I bow to the pollen at my Guru’s lotus feet, which is filled with sweetness, fragrance and loving devotion.
A teacher’s role is not just to impart knowledge. This verse opens with Tulsidas offering reverence to his Guru, reminding children to approach learning with humility, gratitude and respect for their teachers.
Lesson: Learn with respect, gratitude and humility.
गुरु पद रज मृदु मंजुल अंजन।
नयन अमिअ दृग दोष बिभंजन॥
Translation: The dust of the Guru’s feet is like a gentle, beautiful collyrium that brings clarity to the eyes and removes their imperfections.
Tulsidas compares the dust of the Guru’s feet to a beautiful collyrium that clears the eyes. For children, the verse introduces the idea that good teachers and mentors can help us overcome confusion and understand the world better.
Lesson: Good guidance helps us see situations more clearly.
तेहिं करि बिमल बिबेक बिलोचन।
बरनउँ राम चरित भव मोचन॥
Translation: With that, I cleanse the eyes of discernment and begin narrating the story of Lord Rama, which liberates one from worldly bondage.
With discernment, one can develop a clearer understanding of the world and spiritual truths. Children can learn the importance of thinking carefully, asking questions and trying to distinguish between right and wrong.
Lesson: Develop the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
बंदउँ प्रथम महीसुर चरना।
मोह जनित संसय सब हरना॥
Translation: First, I bow to the feet of learned Brahmins, who dispel all doubts arising from ignorance.
Tulsidas pays homage to learned people, describing their role in dispelling doubts born of ignorance. Whether it is Newton or Einstein, this verse can encourage children to respect knowledgeable people and seek guidance when they do not understand something.
Lesson: Listen to thoughtful guidance that helps resolve doubts.
Shabri inviting Ram into her house (Canva)
सुजन समाज सकल गुन खानी।
करउँ प्रनाम सप्रेम सुबानी॥
Translation: The gathering of virtuous people is a treasure trove of good qualities. I offer them my respectful salutations with loving words.
This verse praises the gathering of virtuous people. It offers an opportunity to explain to children how the people around them can influence their habits, attitudes and behaviour, and why friendships built on kindness and mutual encouragement matter.
Lesson: Spend time with people who encourage good qualities.
साधु चरित सुभ चरित कपासू।
निरस बिसद गुनमय फल जासू॥
Translation: The character of a saintly person resembles cotton, whose qualities are pure and beneficial, though it may seem plain and unassuming.
Tulsidas compares the character of a saintly person to cotton, highlighting its qualities and usefulness. Children can learn that goodness does not need to be loud or showy; a person’s character is reflected in how they treat others.
Lesson: Cultivate purity of character and kindness towards others.
जो सहि दुख परछिद्र दुरावा।
बंदनीय जेहिं जग जस पावा॥
Translation: One who endures hardship to conceal the faults of others earns honour and respect in the world.
The verse praises a person who bears discomfort while keeping others’ faults concealed. Parents can use it to explain why embarrassing someone or spreading their mistakes can be hurtful, and why compassion and discretion matter.
Lesson: A noble person does not expose others’ faults to humiliate them.
मुद मंगलमय संत समाजू।
जो जग जंगम तीरथराजू॥
Translation: The company of saints is filled with joy and auspiciousness, like a sacred pilgrimage site that moves through the world.
Tulsidas describes the company of saints as auspicious and compares it to a living king of pilgrimage sites. Children can learn that spending time with people who encourage kindness, learning and good conduct can be as enriching as visiting a place of spiritual importance.
Lesson: Good company can encourage positive thinking and conduct.
बटु बिस्वास अचल निज धरमा।
तीरथराज समाज सुकरमा॥
Translation: Steadfast faith in one’s principles and righteous actions form part of the sacred gathering that Tulsidas compares to the king of pilgrimage sites.
This passage continues Tulsidas’s description of the virtues that make the gathering of saints comparable to the sacred confluence at Prayag. Children can learn the importance of holding on to their values and putting them into practice through good deeds.
Lesson: Stay committed to your principles and practise good deeds.
सुनि समुझहिं जन मुदित मन मज्जहिं अति अनुराग।
लहहिं चारि फल अछत तनु साधु समाज प्रयाग॥
Translation: Those who listen to and understand the greatness of saintly company, and immerse themselves in it with joy and deep devotion, attain the four fruits of life while still living: dharma (righteousness), artha (prosperity), kama (fulfilment of desires) and moksha (liberation).
Tulsidas describes the spiritual benefits of listening to and understanding the virtues of saintly company. For children, this can become a lesson in listening attentively, reflecting on what they hear and approaching learning with genuine interest.
Lesson: Listen to the wise and learned with an open heart and without prejudice.
You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test
Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.
