The Banyan Witness
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 52
Doha 52 · Movement 1 of 2
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Shiva gives Sati freedom. If doubt remains so powerful, she may go and test Ram herself. He will wait beneath the shade of a banyan until she returns. She should use whatever discernment she possesses to remove the confusion that his teaching has not dispelled.
Sati walks away, turning over the dangerous question of what form the test should take. Beneath the unmoving tree, Shiva already senses that no good will come to Daksha's daughter. When even his words cannot loosen the doubt and destiny moves adversely, argument only grows more branches.
He releases the outcome into Ram's design. What Ram has ordained will occur. While Sati approaches the abode of bliss, Shiva sits beneath the ancient canopy and begins to repeat Hari's Name.
One figure walks toward the test; beneath the banyan, Shiva enters the Name.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 52
Shiva waits beneath a banyan while Sati departs thoughtfully to test Rama.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 75, 76 · printed pages 73, 74. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-052. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Shiva invites doubtful Sati to test and says he will wait in banyan shade until she returns
- Sati departs pondering; Shiva accepts what Rama has ordained and chants Hari's Name
Artistic choices
- Select Shiva waiting while Sati departs, before her assumed Sita form
- Conventional imaginative appearances, poses, clasped hands, ochre/cream and pink clothes, stylized banyan canopy and aerial roots, path, foliage and coral field added
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
जौं तुम्हरें मन अति संदेहू। तौ किन जाइ परीछा लेहू।। तब लगि बैठ अहउँ बटछाहिं। जब लगि तुम्ह ऐहहु मोहि पाही।। जैसें जाइ मोह भ्रम भारी। करेहु सो जतनु बिबेक बिचारी।। चलीं सती सिव आयसु पाई। करहिं बिचारु करौं का भाई।। इहाँ संभु अस मन अनुमाना। दच्छसुता कहुँ नहिं कल्याना।। मोरेहु कहें न संसय जाहीं। बिधी बिपरीत भलाई नाहीं।। होइहि सोइ जो राम रचि राखा। को करि तर्क बढ़ावै साखा।। अस कहि लगे जपन हरिनामा। गई सती जहँ प्रभु सुखधामा।।
"If your mind harbors such deep doubt, why not go and test Him yourself? I shall sit here in the shade of this banyan until you return to me."