The Procession of Those Carried by the Name
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 26
Doha 26 · Movement 1 of 2
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Shiva comes first, imperishable beneath his matted locks, clothed in ash, serpents, and the emblems of the cremation ground. What appears inauspicious upon another becomes a treasury of auspiciousness upon him, for the Name resounds within that terrible beauty. Shuka, the childlike Sanaka and his brothers, perfected sages, and silent yogis follow, each tasting the bliss of Brahman through the same grace.
Narada crosses the worlds with vina in hand, knowing the Name's power and beloved alike of Hari and Hara. Prahlada stands untouched at the centre of persecution because chanting has drawn the Lord's protection around him. Dhruva, wounded by rejection, repeats Hari's Name until the turning heavens give him an immovable and incomparable place.
Hanuman remembers the purifying sound and binds Ram with no chain but devotion. Ajamila rises from degradation. The elephant is released from mortal peril. The courtesan steps beyond the life that had confined her. The procession extends past the horizon until Tulsidas lowers his voice. Even Ram, he says, cannot reach the end of his own Name's glory.
The liberated pass beyond sight, and the song of the Name still has no final verse.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 26
An iconic portrait of Narada with a stringed instrument evokes the passage's praise of his devotion.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 49, 50 · printed pages 47, 48. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-026. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Group praises grace of the Name through Shiva, sages, Narada, Prahlada, Dhruva, Hanuman, Ajamila, elephant and courtesan
- Narada knows Name's power and is dear to Hari and Hara
Artistic choices
- Single iconic Narada selects one named example; no actual performance, meeting or liberation tableau
- Age, face, topknot, tilak, robes, prayer beads, vina-like instrument, seated pose, platform, garden and glass frame conventional/imagined
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
नाम प्रसाद संभु अबिनासी। साजु अमंगल मंगल रासी।। सुक सनकादि सिद्ध मुनि जोगी। नाम प्रसाद ब्रह्मसुख भोगी।। नारद जानेउ नाम प्रतापू। जग प्रिय हरि हरि हर प्रिय आपू।। नामु जपत प्रभु कीन्ह प्रसादू। भगत सिरोमनि भे प्रहलादू।। ध्रुवँ सगलानि जपेउ हरि नाऊँ। पायउ अचल अनूपम ठाऊँ।। सुमिरि पवनसुत पावन नामू। अपने बस करि राखे रामू।। अपतु अजामिलु गजु गनिकाऊ। भए मुकुत हरि नाम प्रभाऊ।। कहौं कहाँ लगि नाम बड़ाई। रामु न सकहिं नाम गुन गाई।।
By the grace of the Name, Shambhu is imperishable. Though his ornaments seem inauspicious, he is the very treasure of all that is auspicious. Shuka, Sanakadi, the perfected sages, and the yogis all savour the bliss of Brahman by the grace of the Name alone.