The Living Ecology of the Manas
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 37
Doha 37 · Movement 1 of 2
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Seven graceful stairways, the seven kandas, descend into a lake visible through the eyes of knowledge. Its depth is the boundless glory of Raghupati. The fame of Sita and Ram fills it as nectar water, and comparisons move across the surface in playful waves. Dense chaupais spread like lotus leaves, while poetic art rests among them as shells and pearls.
Chhands, sorthas, and dohas open as many coloured lotuses. Meaning becomes pollen, language fragrance, and good deeds a murmuring garland of bees. Swans of knowledge, detachment, and reflection glide among fish made of melody, metre, style, and poetic virtue. The four aims of life, insight, the nine rasas, japa, austerity, yoga, and renunciation move as creatures through its inexhaustible water.
Saints who sing the Name gather like bright water birds. Their assemblies shade every shore, and faith arrives as spring. Creepers of devotion, forgiveness, compassion, and self control climb through the groves; restraint and sacred observance flower and fruit into knowledge and love for Hari. Other episodes call from the branches as parrots, cuckoos, and birds of many colours. Nothing in the poem is lifeless ornament. Every form inhabits the same vast ecology of remembrance.
Across the Manas, every leaf, wing, wave, and fragrance carries the story of Sita and Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 37
Multicoloured lotuses and a quiet swan evoke poetic metres and contemplative wisdom in the story-lake.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 61, 62 · printed pages 59, 60. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-037. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Seven kandas as steps; Rama/Sita glory as nectar-water, chaupais as aquatic leaves and chhand/soratha/doha as multicoloured lotuses
- Merit as bees, wisdom/detachment/thought as swans; saint assemblies as mango groves, faith as spring, devotion/compassion/restraint as vines and flowers
Artistic choices
- Select multicoloured-lotus metres and contemplative-swan comparisons; not literal scripture transformation
- Lotus palette and arrangement, swan appearance, pond, grove, reflections, flowers, light and colours artistically arranged; no actual geographical site
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
सप्त प्रबन्ध सुभग सोपाना। ग्यान नयन निरखत मन माना।। रघुपति महिमा अगुन अबाधा। बरनब सोइ बर बारि अगाधा।। राम सीय जस सलिल सुधासम। उपमा बीचि बिलास मनोरम।। पुरइनि सघन चारु चौपाई। जुगुति मंजु मनि सीप सुहाई।। छंद सोरठा सुंदर दोहा। सोइ बहुरंग कमल कुल सोहा।। अरथ अनूप सुमाव सुभासा। सोइ पराग मकरंद सुबासा।। सुकृत पुंज मंजुल अलि माला। ग्यान बिराग बिचार मराला।। धुनि अवरेब कबित गुन जाती। मीन मनोहर ते बहुभाँती।। अरथ धरम कामादिक चारी। कहब ग्यान बिग्यान बिचारी।। नव रस जप तप जोग बिरागा। ते सब जलचर चारु तड़ागा।। सुकृती साधु नाम गुन गाना। ते बिचित्र जल बिहग समाना।। संतसभा चहुँ दिसि अवँराई। श्रद्धा रितु बसंत सम गाई।। भगति निरुपन बिबिध बिधाना। छमा दया दम लता बिताना।। सम जम नियम फूल फल ग्याना। हरि पत रति रस बेद बखाना।। औरउ कथा अनेक प्रसंगा। तेइ सुक पिक बहुबरन बिहंगा।।
The seven cantos are its lovely flights of steps, a sight that delights the eyes of jnana (knowledge). Raghupati's glory is beyond all gunas (qualities), beyond all obstruction; to describe it truly is a poison even to the finest intellect.