The Lord Accepts the Curse as Truth
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 124
Sortha 124 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hari honours Vrinda's curse, for the compassionate Lord is a treasury of divine play. Jalandhara later becomes Ravana, and Ram meets him in battle, slays him, and grants him the supreme abode. What appeared as enmity and punishment is carried secretly toward release.
Shiva names this as one reason the Lord assumes a human body. The accounts of divine descent are many, sung by poets across the ages, and another current now enters the narration. In one kalpa, Narada's curse also becomes a cause of the incarnation.
Parvati is astonished. Narada is wise and devoted to Vishnu, so what could move him to curse Lakshmi's Lord? What offence could the Lord have committed, and how could delusion seize a sage of such discernment? She turns to the destroyer of Tripura and asks for the wondrous episode.
One curse leads toward Ravana, while Parvati opens the mystery of another.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 124
Uma's surprised question about wiseVishnubhaktaNarada'scurse and delusion inhis mind
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 137, 138 · printed pages 135, 136. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-124. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Uma astonished Narada is Vishnu devotee and wise, asks why sage cursed and whatfault LordofLakshmi made
- She wonders at delusion in sageNarada'smind, not describingreturnofconfusioninherownmind; selected presentquestion only
Artistic choices
- Approvedadultivoryash Shiva blueonlythroat/crescent/Ganga shortsymbolicwave/serpent/rudraksha and rosecream braidedUma reused; exactfaces/ages/robes/jewels/gestures imaginarynotauthenticated
- Artistlowledge/hidecover kneesbent Shivaquietresthands/closedlips, Uma kneelinganatomicalleft upright raisedeyebrows speakingwonder handownupperchest/neck and lowaskingpalm; exactposes artchoices
- Floralglassarch/banyanroots/mountains/flora artsetting notauthenticated, no actualNarada/Vishnu cameo/curse or wifeJalandhar/Ravana battle/reincarnation combined
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
तासु श्राप हरि दीन्ह प्रमाना। कौतुकनिधि कृपाल भगवाना।। तहाँ जलंधर रावन भयऊ। रन हति राम परम पद दयऊ।। एक जनम कर कारन एहा। जेहि लागि राम धरी नरदेहा।। प्रति अवतार कथा प्रभु केरी। सुनु मुनि बरनी कबिन्ह घनेरी।। नारद श्राप दीन्ह एक बारा। कलप एक तेहि लगि अवतारा।। गिरिजा चकित भई सुनि बानी। नारद बिष्नुभगत पुनि ग्यानि।। कारन कवन श्राप मुनि दीन्हा। का अपराध रमापति कीन्हा।। यह प्रसंग मोहि कहहु पुरारी। मुनि मन मोह आचरज भारी।।
Hari honored that curse as truth. The Lord, that treasure of divine play and compassion, fulfilled it. In his third birth, Jalandhara became Ravana. Slaying him in battle, Shri Ram bestowed upon him the supreme abode.