Celestial Processions Above Kailash
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 61
Doha 61 · Movement 1 of 2
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The sky above Kailash fills with aerial chariots. Kinnaras, nagas, siddhas, gandharvas, gods, and their wives travel in radiant processions toward Daksha's sacrifice. Celestial women sing so beautifully that even a sage in meditation might open his eyes to listen.
Sati watches the varied vehicles cross the blue distance and asks where the shining multitude is bound. Shiva explains the yajna at her father's house. A small joy awakens in her, joined immediately by the unspoken pain of estrangement. Perhaps, if Mahesh permits, she may go there for a few days and stand again among the familiar rooms of her birth.
She does not name the wound between herself and Shiva, remembering her own fault. Her request comes clothed in fear, modesty, love, and a tenderness that makes each word difficult.
Songs pass overhead while Sati gathers courage to ask for her father's house.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 61
Shiva explains the yajna at Sati's father's home while Sati listens with restrained interest.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 82, 83 · printed pages 80, 81. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-061. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Sati sees heavenly vehicles, hears celestial women's singing, and asks Shiva about the occasion
- Shiva explains her father's yajna; Sati feels somewhat pleased and hopes to ask permission to visit
- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha were not invited; the selected scene does not show divine guests
Artistic choices
- Select the explanatory conversation, before the permission request or departure
- Conventional imaginative appearances, two facing seated poses, explanatory open hand, separate stone ledges, cream/ochre and pink drapery, beads, serpent, banyan, flowers and mountain scenery added; no assertion earlier vow annulled
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
किंनर नाग सिद्ध गंधर्बा। बधुन्ह समेत चले सुर सर्बा।। बिष्नु बिरंचि महेसु बिहाई। चले सकल सुर जान बनाई।। सतीं बिलोके ब्योम बिमाना। जात चले सुंदर बिधि नाना।। सुर सुंदरी करहिं कल गाना। सुनत श्रवन छूटहिं मुनि ध्याना।। पूछेउ तब सिवँ कहेउ बखानी। पिता जग्य सुनि कछु हरषानी।। जौं महेसु मोहि आयसु देहीं। कुछ दिन जाइ रहौं मिस एहीं।। पति परित्याग हृदय दुखु भारी। कहइ न निज अपराध बिचारी।। बोली सती मनोहर बानी। भय संकोच प्रेम रस सानी।।
Kinnaras, Nagas, Siddhas, and Gandharvas, all the gods set out with their wives. Leaving aside Vishnu, Brahma, and Mahesha, every other god went to the sacrifice.