Shiva Fills His Eyes with Ram
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 50
Doha 50 · Movement 1 of 2
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Then Shiva sees him. Ram moves through the forest in the sorrow of separation, and extraordinary joy rises in Mahadeva's heart. He fills his eyes with the ocean of beauty, taking in the dark form he had longed to behold. Yet the hour is delicate. Open worship would expose what the Leela keeps concealed.
Shiva offers only a sign of recognition and speaks softly into the forest: glory to Satchidananda, purifier of the world. Then the conqueror of desire continues along the path with Sati, his body thrilled again and again by devotion.
Sati watches the Lord of the universe pass a grieving prince in such inward ecstasy. Gods, sages, and human beings bow to Shiva, yet Shiva has hailed this royal exile as supreme Reality. His love remains unrestrained long after the two figures have passed, and a great doubt begins to form beside him.
Shiva walks on, but his eyes remain filled with the dark prince beneath the trees.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 50
Shiva joins his hands in reverent pranam while beholding Rama outside the frame.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 73, 74 · printed pages 71, 72. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-050. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Shiva sees Rama and rejoices, beholds him without revealing himself at an unsuitable moment
- Shiva praises Saccidananda and offers pranam; subsequent Sati bewilderment is not selected
Artistic choices
- Select Shiva's reverent gaze/pranam; Rama remains outside the frame
- Conventional imaginative Shiva appearance follows approved art; serpent necklace, beads, crescent, forehead marks, ochre drapes, pose, flowering bough, river, hills and distant temple imagined
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
संभु समय तेहि रामहि देखा। उपजा हियँ अति हरपु बिसेषा।। भरि लोचन छबिसिंधु निहारी। कुसमय जानिन कीन्हि चिन्हारी।। जय सच्चिदानंद जग पावन। अस कहि चलेउ मनोज नसावन।। चले जात सिव सती समेता। पुनि पुनि पुलकत कृपानिकेता।। सतीं सो दसा संभु कै देखी। उर उपजा संदेहु बिसेषी।। संकरु जगतबंद्य जगदीसा। सुर नर मुनि सब नावत सीसा।। तिन्ह नृपसुतहि नह परनामा। कहि सच्चिदानंद परधमा।। भए मगन छबि तासु बिलोकी। अजहुँ प्रीति उर रहति न रोकी।।
At that moment Shambhu beheld Ram, and immense joy arose in his heart. He filled his eyes gazing upon that ocean of beauty, yet knowing it was not the right occasion, he did not draw attention to himself.