Narada Speaks the Names Uma, Ambika, Bhavani
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 67
Doha 67 · Movement 1 of 2
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Narada smiles and speaks words both gentle and profound. The mountain's daughter is a treasury of every virtue, naturally beautiful, gracious, and wise. Her names are Uma, Ambika, and Bhavani, each already larger than the room in which the prophecy is heard.
She will remain beloved of her husband, unwavering in her sacred fidelity, and the source of her parents' fame. The whole world will worship her. For those who serve her, nothing worthy will remain inaccessible. Women remembering her name will find strength upon the most demanding path of devotion.
Then the sage turns the jewel and reveals what sounds like its shadow. Her husband will be without attributes, honour, parents, or worldly attachment, untouched by doubt and indifferent to ordinary concerns. The family hears defects. The deeper prophecy is describing the freedom of Shiva.
The words appear dark to the household, but within every strange quality the form of Shiva is emerging.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 67
Narada gently praises Uma as she and Himavan listen in the mountain king's courtyard.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 87 · printed pages 85. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-067. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Narada smiles and speaks in gentle subtle words, praising the daughter as a store of virtues, beautiful, well-natured and wise, naming her Uma/Ambika/Bhavani
- He foretells enduring marital good fortune and honor for her parents; selected image shows gentle praise before later description of flaws, not the future marriage enacted
Artistic choices
- Reuse conventional imaginative Narada and Himavan appearances; Uma newly imagined as a young adult unmarried woman, chosen age/face/dark braid/pale rose-cream sari veil/earrings/bindi not source-specified or authenticated
- Three selected figures, gentle open explanatory hand, attentive standing poses, resting hands, low cushioned seat, inactive vina placement, courtyard terrace, tree canopy, sprigs and mountain scenery added; no future spouse, literal edge metaphor or actual wedding shown
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
कह मुनि बिहसि गूढ़ मृदु बानी। सुता तुम्हारि सकल गुन खानी।। सुंदर सहज सुसील सयानी। नाम उमा अंबिका भवानी।। सब लच्छन संपन्न कुमारी। होइहि संतत पियहि पिआरी।। सदा अचल एहि कर अहिवाता। एहि तें जसु पैहहिं पितु माता।। होइहि पूज्य सकल जग माहीं। एहि सेवत कछु दुर्लभ नाहीं।। एहि कर नामु सुमिरि संसारा। त्रिय चढ़हहिं पतिब्रत असिधारा।। सैल सुलच्छन सुता तुम्हारी। सुनहु जे अब अवगुन दुइ चारी।। अगुन अमान मातु पितु हीना। उदासीन सब संसय छीना।।
The sage smiled and spoke in gentle, profound words: "Your daughter is a mine of all virtues. She is naturally beautiful, gracious in nature, and wise. Her names are Uma, Ambika, Bhavani."