The poetry of Goswami Tulsidas (गोस्वामी तुलसीदास) in Avadhi and Braja is like the manifestation of the Nirguna Brahma into Saguna. This simile is also picked up from his own work - when Raama describes the autumn season (शरद ऋतु) to Lakshmana

फूलें कमल सोह सर कैसा | निर्गुन ब्रह्म सगुन भएँ जैसा |      

 (रामचरितमानस ४.१६.१)

In other words, his poetry is the expression of the inexpressible, the description of undescribable, the manifestation of the unmanifest. As one mahatma said, it is like the wish-granting cow, Kamadhenu (कामधेनु) - one who sings or listens to his poetry, gets whatever they wish - be it Dharma, Artha, Kaama or Moksha; be it Bhakti, Jnaana or Yoga; be it Neeti, Vairagya or Samataa.

Each Chaupai, each Doha, each Sorathaa and each Harigitika is like a mantra from the Guru (मन्त्रमूलं गुरुवाक्यं). Through these simple metres, Goswami Tulsidas elevates poetry to its most sublime state. The varnas, the alankaaras, and the nine rasas dance effortlessly to his tunes, competing with each other to achieve their very purpose of existence - to be used by a poet like Tulsi in his poetry.

A translation of his lesser known works in Awadhi and Braja to English is being attempted. Apart from the main purpose of author's own internal happiness (स्वान्तःसुखाय), this effort is aimed to make available freely (free as in freedom) on the Internet the lesser known works of Tulsidas, with English language translations. The translations are totally free without any copyright or copyleft whatsoever.

This page will be updated frequently and more and more documents will be added as and when they are completed.

The works of Goswami Tulsidas

 1. Raamacaritamaanasa (रामचरितमानस)

This is his magnum opus, and most widely known composition. Lord Shiva (शिव), the master of काशी, himself attested to it, and inscribed the words सत्यं शिवं सुन्दरं on a copy. One of the best English translations is available freely (of course) for personal use at the Gita Press site [click here]. Here is the link to Raamacaritamaanasa at Stutimandal. Among the numerous singers who have recently sung the Maanasa, Pandit Channulal Mishraof Benares stands without an equal - his technique is so perfect and his भाव (emotion) so intense that only on hearing him one can savour the अमृत (nectar) in his singing. Three of his CDs - Ramcharitmanas, Shiv Vivah and Sundar Kand are the delight of any Manas lover and devotee of Raama.

2. Vinayapatrikaa (विनयपत्रिका) 

This is a letter of request or petition sent in the court of Raama. This petition was attested to by Lord Rama himself, as Goswamiji sings in the last pada of Vinayapatrikaa. For more information on the legal case of Vinayapatrika, click here. Also see Vinayapatrikaa at Stutimandal. This is currently being translated and can be downloaded here - Vinayapatrikaa PDF [1.3 MB]. Status: 161 padas (out of 279) translated as on January 27, 2009 (Translation started in July 2008).

3. Dohaavalii (दोहावली) 

This is a collection of 573 couplets - dohas (दोहा) and sorathaas (सोरठा) on a wide range of topics like  devotion, true knowledge, dispassion, righteous conduct, love and tact. Some of these couplets are also in the रामचरितमानस, and many couplets are famous as adages among the speakers of Avadhi, Braj and Hindi. Most of the couplets bear the signature (भणित) "तुलसी" of Goswamiji. The original can be downloaded here - Dohaavalii PDF [162 KB]. Translation will be started after completion of Vinayapatrikaa.

Note on the metres: Both दोहा and सोरठा are मात्रिक छंद, metres characterized by मात्राs (pronunciation times of syllables). A दोहा has the मात्रा sequence 13-11, 13-11 - usually one words does not span two quarters. The quarters are further broken down as 6-4-3, 6-4-1, 6-4-3, 6-4-1. The rhyme (तुक) occurs at the end of second and fourth quarters, and consists of a long syllable (गुरु) followed by a short (लघु) one. The सोरठा is the mirror image of the दोहा, with the मात्रा sequence 11-13, 11-13 broken down as 6-4-1, 6-4-3, 6-4-1, 6-4-3. The rhyme is at the end of first and third quarters, and like the दोहा consists of one long (गुरु) and then one short (लघु) syllable.

More of Gosvamiji's works will be added later, including

4. Barvai Raamayana

5. Vairaagya Sandeepanii

6. Jaanakii Mangala

7. Parvati Mangala

8. Ramalala Nahachhu

9. Kavitaavali

10. Shri Krishna Geetaavali

11. Hanumanabahuka

12. Raamajna Prashna