Endless fun time with family now gone,

Because of life’s days passing on.

Everyone so busy, we hardly see each other,

Separated in distance from sister and brother.

Yet lament not, O lonely heart,

There is one friend who will never depart.

His name is Shri Rama, of Raghu’s clan.

Always smiling and carrying a bow in His hand.

He is your father, mother and friend.

Your ears to His katha lend.

Hear of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita,

And don’t forget Hanuman, destroyer of Lanka.

Their image in your heart you can own,

Remember them daily and you’ll never be alone.

Shri Rama always wears a smile on His face,

For eyes of the distressed a most charming resting place.

Rama is always so happy, but why is it so?

What does He see, can one even know?

Perhaps it is the charming grace of Sita, His wife,

Who knows no other except Rama, the love of her life.

Perhaps it is the loyal Lakshmana always standing by,

Who from the side of his brother no one can pry.

Perhaps it is the brave Hanuman always willing to serve,

For his service to Rama supreme honor he does deserve.

These friends of Rama do surely give a clue,

Into the cause for His happiness, for His never feeling blue.

Rama’s smile is augmented by His beautiful body, of bluish hue,

May I always delight in that image, for a smile it brings to me too.

During chanting, the name I try to hear,

Blocks away every stray thought and fear.

With Rama’s name comes His sweet smile,

Enchanting in the transcendental style.

With Rama’s name comes Sita His wife,

Image of their marriage the most pleasant sight.

With Rama’s name comes Lakshmana the brave,

Example of fearlessness and steady devotion he gave.

With Rama’s name comes Hanuman the dedicated,

Crossed the vast ocean, city of Lanka he devastated.

With Rama’s name comes Valmiki the sage,

Whose Ramayana is filled with beauty on every page.

Just by hearing the name all of this you will see,

So chant it every day and happy you will be.

In this world about God no one wants to hear,

If He exists at all then He is someone to fear.

Would rather talk about sports and watch the news,

Listen to music, drink beer and sing the blues.

But for me none of this does matter,

All unnecessary noise, nothing but clatter.

Whether or not the entire world in hearing about God gets bored,

To me no concern, for my lifeline is Shri Rama, Koshala’s Lord.

He is the Supreme Godhead, known as Shri Krishna too,

Body is of the shyama color, like the raincloud that is blue.

If devotion to Rama keeps me without friends, I will still live,

For chanting His name daily, my heart to Him I give.

That no one else is interested to hear about Him I do not care,

Besides Rama I have no other love in life, this with you I share.

“Who is this Rama to whom you always pray?

He is God, the Supreme Lord of all you say?

But what proof do you have for your claim?

Just that He is celebrated and has great fame?”

Though there is much evidence revealing His position,

Not difficult for me to reach my decision.

Like Lakshmana in goodness you will find no other,

Rama is his Lord for life, his elder brother.

The most beautiful woman is Rama’s wife,

Sita Devi, dedicated to her husband for life.

Search far and wide and you will find none like Hanuman,

He is full of glory, and to him Rama is the only Bhagavan.

Who Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman do say,

Is God, the Lord of all, to Him I will always pray.

My faith in Rama as God no one can bust,

For the words of His friends I do forever trust.

The time period of quarrel and hypocrisy,

People filled with anger and jealousy.

In this horrible age of Kali,

Principles of dharma to sully.

Yet for those looking for ways to cope,

There is only one remedy, just one hope.

To remove your fears and get rid of your grief,

Chant the name of Shri Rama with firm belief.

A long time back a demon king havoc he did wreak,

Named Hiranyakashipu, had no mercy on the weak.

Even his own five-year old son Prahlada he did attack,

With deadliest weapons his devotion to God he hoped to sack.

But Prahlada did not die, protected was he from every attempt and every trap,

Until finally Narahari came and killed Hiranyakashipu on His lap.

In similar fashion, Shri Rama’s name attacks Kali Yuga’s influence,

Just like Prahlada, chant it with faith and full confidence.

Dasharatha, of Ayodhya he was king,

In old age tormented by just one thing.

No son to carry on the family name, to deliver him from hell,

To the scene came Rama, aside Dasharatha’s worries fell.

Sugriva, the king of monkeys, never could attain peace of mind,

Fearing that Vali, his brother, would a way to kill him find,

Though in fighting prowess no one was Vali’s match,

Defeat him did Rama with arrows from bow He did dispatch.

Ravana, king of Lanka, with his ghastly vision everyone would scare,

Vibhishana, given to piety, his brother’s sins no longer could bear.

To the Lord’s camp he went, savior of the fallen he found,

Surrendering to Shri Rama, king of Lanka he was crowned.

My mind filled with torments, doubts and fears,

My call for help I hope Shri Rama hears.

A surrendered soul Rama never turns away,

So within my heart may He always stay.

In this age of technological advancement,

Envy over others wealth breeds only resentment.

Families spread far apart to earn a living,

See each other only on Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Work hard all day and relax all night,

But what is it for, is it worth the fight?

Over the tiniest issues the families feud,

"How dare they not call us, oh how so rude!"

Influence of Kali, iron age to gleam,

In this day quarrel and hypocrisy do beam.

I am bewildered, can make sense of nothing,

Therefore Shri Rama’s name I’m firmly holding.

In this painful world full of strife,

He is the Truth, my soul and my life.

In solitude, in the lotus position your seat,

The line of "I am God" you do repeat.

The sacred words of the Vedas you twist,

For this error, the fruit of existence you’ll miss.

This entire universe and its planets did you create?

Your presence the rivers and mountains does permeate?

14,000 demons can you singlehandedly defeat?

The desires of every person the world over can you meet?

Shri Ramachandra with monkeys built a bridge to Lanka,

In marriage He won the hand of the princess of Videha.

With your meditation can these abilities you imitate?

With an exhalation this world and its creatures can you create?

Therefore stop your madness and fake scholarship,

And instead with full faith and love Shri Rama worship.

For those who die in city of Kashi there is no fear,

Because Lord Shiva chants Rama’s name in their ear.

In this world many lives have been spent,

Space in bodies of cats and dogs the soul did rent.

Release from the cycle of birth and death is life’s aim,

Yet not from yoga, karma or jnana will freedom one attain.

Not even the demigods can distribute the fruit of mukti,

Nor can meditation do the trick, not even a siddhi.

For the Truth we search far and wide,

Yet within the heart He does reside.

Only the sound of His name one need take,

With love for it alone can rebirth one forsake.

Since Rama grants liberation, He is known as Mukunda,

But out of love only I worship my Lord, Shri Ramachandra.