The Feast Where Gods Are Teased
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 99
Doha 99 · Movement 1 of 3
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Maina and Himavan rejoice and bow repeatedly at Parvati's feet. Women, men, children, youth, and elders fill the city with happiness. Auspicious songs return, golden vessels shine, and cooks prepare innumerable dishes according to tradition and sacred rule.
How can anyone describe a feast in the house where Bhavani dwells? Vishnu, Brahma, and gods of every order sit in long rows while skilled servers move among them with food.
The women of the bride's household begin the affectionate wedding custom of teasing the guests through song. Celestial rank offers no protection from their wit. Heaven eats in Himavan's house while human playfulness makes the divine assembly feel like family.
Brahma and Vishnu sit among the diners while the women of the mountain sing teasing songs.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 99
Skilled cook serving two representative deva guests in one cropped feast row
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 115 · printed pages 113. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-099. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- All wedding guests including Vishnu, Brahma and gods are respectfully invited, seated in varied rows; skilled cooks serve
- Selected one cook serving one row, other cooks/rows and named gods outside crop; later wedding rites not yet depicted
Artistic choices
- Two unnamed deva appearances from approved D083 reused, brown adult green/cream darkbearded and blue/cream clean-shaven goldcrowned, one ordinary adult cook cream/rust turban and drape; exact count/ages/faces/poses and cook identity invented unauthenticated
- Gold plates/bowl/spoon, rice/lentil/vegetable choices and serving gesture added ritual-feast details, one plate receives clear spoonful while other already served; source no precise food/dish types
- Mats/terrace/floral bough/mountain vista/coral field artist scenery; source varied rows crop not claim total two gods
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
तब मयना हिमवंतु अनंदे। पुनि पुनि पारबती पद बंदे।। नारि पुरुष सिसु जुबा सयाने। नगर लोग सब अति हरषाने।। लगे होन पुर मंगलगाना। सजे सबहि हाटक घट नाना।। भाँति अनेक भई जेवराना। सूपसास्त्र जस कछु ब्यवहारा।। सो जेवनार कि जाइ बखानी। बसहिं भवन जेहिं मातु भवानी।। सादर बोले सकल बराती। बिष्नु बिरंचि देव सब जाती।। बिबिधि पाँति बैठी जेवनारा। लागे परुसन निपुन सुआरा।। नारिबृंद सुर जेवँत जानी। लगीं देन गारीं मृदु बानी।।
Then Maina and Himavant were filled with joy. Again and again they bowed at Parvati's feet. Women and men, children, youth, and elders, all the people of the city were supremely delighted.