Bhringi Summons the Wild Procession
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 93
Doha 93 · Movement 1 of 3
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Vishnu jokes that a wedding party should resemble its groom, or the gods will become objects of laughter in another's city. The devas smile and move aside with their armies. Shiva smiles inwardly too, for no playful word from beloved Hari escapes him.
Pleased by the jest, Mahesh instructs Bhringi to call every gana. They arrive from strange regions and bow at his lotus feet, then look upon one another and laugh with uninhibited delight.
Some have no face, others many. Some lack arms or feet, while others possess limbs beyond counting. Eyes cover one form and are absent from another. Bodies range from immensely strong to scarcely more than bone. Around Shiva, difference has no need to conceal itself.
The ganas see their own impossible forms and laugh as they gather around their Lord.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 93
Shiva's inward smile at Hari's dear satirical words before summoning ganas
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 109 · printed pages 107. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-093. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Mahesha smiles inwardly at Hari's satirical words; hearing beloved words of his beloved, he subsequently prompts Bhringi to gather ganas
- Image selects private inward smile only, before summons/bowing/dancing or full procession
Artistic choices
- Approved conventional Shiva appearance reused; exact small smile, lowered eyes, resting hands, seated pose/ages/faces imagined unauthenticated
- Adjacent source wedding attire informs serpent coronet/neck snake, ash tone, tiger-pattern lower garment and stylized ivory skull-bead garland; precise decorative forms/cream drape/beads/crescent/terrace/bough/garden/distant structures artist choices
- No literal inner-thought vision or assertion that Hari's affectionate satire contains no criticism
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
बर अनुहारि बरात न भाई। हँसी करैहहु पर पुर जाई।। बिष्नु बचन सुनि सुर मुसकाने। निज निज सेन सहित बिलगाने।। मनहीं मन महेसु मुसुकाहीं। हरि के बिंग्य बचन नहिं जाहीं।। अति प्रिय बचन सुनत प्रिय केरे। भृंगिहि प्रेरि सकल गन टेरे।। सिव अनुसासन सुनि सब आए। प्रभु पद जलज सीस तिन्ह नाए।। नाना बाहन नाना बेषा। बिहसे सिव समाज निज देखा।। कोउ मुखहीन बिपुल मुख काहू। बिनु पद कर कोउ बहु पद बाहू।। बिपुल नयन कोउ नयन बिहीना। रिष्टपुष्ट कोउ अति तनखीना।।
"Brothers, this wedding party does not match the bridegroom! You will become a laughingstock when you arrive at the bride's city." Hearing Vishnu's words, the gods smiled quietly, and each separated out with their own retinue.