Which Ram Does Shiva Remember?
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 46
Doha 46 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Bharadvaja names his confusion without disguise. Saints, Puranas, and Upanishads proclaim the immeasurable power of Ram's Name. Shiva, imperishable ocean of knowledge and virtue, repeats it constantly. In Kashi, he gives its glory to dying beings of every mode of birth, and through his compassionate instruction they attain the supreme state.
The sage then places the question before Yajnavalkya. Who is this Ram? One Ram is known everywhere as the prince of Ayodhya, son of Dasharatha. He walked the human earth, suffered immeasurably in separation from his wife, burned with resolve, and killed Ravana in battle.
How does that visible life meet the boundless Name upon Shiva's lips? Bharadvaja is not dismissing the prince, nor dividing the Divine. He has reached the threshold where saguna Leela and supreme Reality must be seen together, and he asks the treasure of mercy to make the identity clear.
Between the forest prince and Shiva's eternal mantra, Bharadvaja waits for the veil to lift.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 46
An iconic image of Shiva in inward devotion evokes the passage’s statement that he continually chants Rama’s Name.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 70 · printed pages 68. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-046. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Bharadvaja discloses ignorance, asks about immeasurable Rama Name power, says Shiva continually chants and compassionately teaches
- He asks which Rama is meant and mentions the son of Dasharatha; the answer has not yet been given in this passage
Artistic choices
- Select iconic Shiva in Name-contemplation only, without supplying identity-question answer or depicting Kashi death episode
- Shiva appearance follows approved conventional artwork; blue-grey complexion, black hair knot, crescent, third eye and ash lines, beads, drapes, prayer pose, trident, mat, flowering grove, lotus pond and hills are artistic attributes and setting
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
अस बिचारि प्रगटउँ निज मोहू। हरहु नाथ करि जन पर छोहू।। राम नाम कर अमित प्रभावा। संत पुरान उपनिषद गावा।। संतत जपत संभु अबिनासी। सिव भगवान ग्यान गुन रासी।। आकर चारि जीव जग अहहीं। कासीं मरत परम पद लहहीं।। सोपि राम महिमा मुनिराया। सिव उपदेसु करत करि दाया।। रामु कवन प्रभु पूछउँ तोही। कहिअ बुझाइ कृपानिधि मोही।। एक राम अवधेस कुमारा। तिन्ह कर चरित बिदित संसारा।। नारि बिरहँ दुखु लहेउ अपारा। भयहु रोषु रन रावनु मारा।।
Thinking thus, I reveal my own delusion. Remove it, O Lord, and show compassion to your servant. I hear the saints constantly speaking of the infinite power of Ram's Name, and it sounds ever sweet.