The Garland Passes Narada
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 135
Doha 135 · Movement 1 of 2
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Whenever the princess approaches the direction where Narada sits swollen with hope, she turns her gaze away as though that portion of the hall has vanished. The sage cranes forward again and again, restless for recognition, while Shiva's attendants watch his agitation with smiles.
Then the compassionate Lord appears in the body of a king. The princess brightens and places the victory garland around his neck. Lakshmi's Lord departs with the bride, leaving the assembled rulers dejected and Narada bereft of composure, like a precious jewel slipping unnoticed from a loosened knot.
The ganas tell him to look upon his own face and flee in fear. Narada bends over water and sees the reflection. Humiliation flashes into rage. Before pursuing the Lord who designed the lesson, he hurls a terrible curse after those who laughed.
Lotus petals settle upon Hari while Narada's monkey face breaks the surface of the water.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 135
CompassionateHari assumeskingbody; princessjoyfullyplacesvictorygarland onHim
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 146, 147 · printed pages 144, 145. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-135. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- PrincessdoesnotlooktowardNaradaevenbymistake, he restless/attendantsSMILE notmerelystare
- CompassionateHari assumesKINGBODY, princessjoyfullygarlandsHim; nextLordofLakshmitakesbride andassemblydisappointed, NOTShiva
- Narada distressed/lostwisdomunderDELUSION notmeregrief; gemslippingknotcomparisonnotactualgemloss; attendants askmirrorbutheACTUALLYseesfaceinWATER, thenangercurses; laterphasesoutsideimage
Artistic choices
- Lord Hari kingform usesapprovedimaginedNarayanaface/blue-lotusCOLORCONVENTION longdarkcurls goldcrown/Vaishnavmark creamgoldroyalrobe emeraldshawl jewels; EXACTtwo-human-armformconvention forkingbody, nofourarmconchdisc orShivaattributes; color/likeness/agewardrobe notauthenticated
- Approvedadult25+ warmbrownPrincessVishvamohini plumcreamveilsari longbraid jewels/hairflowers retained; exactfaceagegarments imagined, not automaticallyidentifiedLakshmi fromlaterseparatecompanions
- PrincessbothhandsplacesmixedwhitepinkflowergarlandaroundLordneck, Lordslightlyinclineshead armownbody/partiallyoccludedother, naturalstandingpostures; exactgesturefloweridentity/floweredcreamcourtarchitecture artistchoices unauthenticatedsite
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
जेहि दिसि बैठे नारद फूली। सो दिसि देहि न बिलोकी भूली।। पुनि पुनि मुनि उकसहिं अकुलाहीं। देखि दसा हर गन मुसकाहीं।। धरि नृपतनु तहँ गयउ कृपाला। कुअँरि हरषि मेलेउ जयमाला।। दुलहिनि लै गे लच्छिनिवासा। नृपसमाज सब भयउ निरासा।। मुनि अति बिकल मोंहँ मति नाठी। मनि गिरि गई छूटि जनु गाँठी।। तब हर गन बोले मुसुकाई। निज मुख मुकुर बिलोकहु जाई।। अस कहि दोउ भागे भयँ भारी। बदन दीख मुनि बारि निहारी।। बेषु बिलोकि क्रोध अति बाढ़ा। तिन्हहि सराप दीन्ह अति गाढ़ा।।
The direction where Narada sat, puffed up with pride, she did not even glance that way, not even by mistake. Again and again the sage craned his neck and grew restless. Seeing his state, Shiva's messengers smiled.