Vishnu Offered, Shiva Chosen
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 80
Doha 80 · Movement 1 of 2
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The sages offer an alternative bridegroom: Vishnu, supremely beautiful, pure, gentle, giver of joy, praised by the Vedas, faultless treasury of every virtue, Lord of Lakshmi dwelling in Vaikuntha. They will bring this perfect match if Parvati abandons the ash clad ascetic.
Bhavani smiles. Their praise is true, but her resolve cannot be transferred. The body may fall before the vow leaves her. Gold does not abandon its nature in fire, nor will she abandon Narada's word through the burning force of ridicule.
Forest or palace, fulfilment or apparent ruin, she is not afraid. One who lacks faith in the Guru's teaching cannot attain happiness or spiritual accomplishment even in dream. Her devotion honours Vishnu without using his greatness as a reason to betray Shiva.
Vaikuntha shines in the sages' offer, and Parvati's heart remains upon Kailash.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 80
Uma calmly affirms her trust in Narada's guidance while two representative sages listen; the other five are outside the close view.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 97 · printed pages 95. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-080. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Uma says she will not abandon Narada's words and does not fear whether household prospers or is ruined
- She says those who do not trust the guru's words do not easily attain happiness/accomplishment even in dreams
Artistic choices
- Final trust-in-guru speech selected; no literal ruined/prospering home or earlier body/gold/fire comparisons
- Approved Uma/two representative sages' appearances reused, other five outside crop; Uma gently smiling low speaking palm, sages attentive resting hands, coral field/bough/hills/mats added; poses/ages/faces imaginative
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
अजहूँ मानहु कहा हमारा। हम तुम्ह कहुँ बरु नीक बिचारा।। अति सुंदर सुचि सुखद सुसीला। गावहिं बेद जासु जस लीला।। दूषन रहित सकल गुन रासी। श्रीपति पुर बैकुंठ निवासी।। अस बरु तुम्हहि मिलाउब आनी। सुनत बिहसि कह बचन भवानी।। सत्य कहेहु गिरिभव तनु एहा। हठ न छूट छूटै बरु देहा।। कनकउ पुनि पषान तें होई। जारेहुँ सहजु न परिहर सोई।। नारद बचन न मैं परिहरऊँ। बसउ भवनु उजरउ नहिं डरऊँ।। गुर कें बचन प्रतीति न जेही। सपनेहुँ सुगम न सुख सिधि तेही।।
Even now, heed our words. We have thought of a fine bridegroom for you. Supremely beautiful, pure, delightful, and gentle of nature, whose glory and virtue the Vedas themselves sing.