The Cursed Ganas Ask for Mercy
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 139
Doha 139 · Movement 1 of 2
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The two attendants of Shiva see Narada travelling onward, his mind freed from delusion and filled with joy. Fearful of the curse he pronounced, they approach, seize his feet, and confess that their offence has borne a terrible consequence. They ask the lord of sages to bend punishment into blessing.
Compassion returns naturally to Narada. The ganas must still become demons, but they will possess immense prosperity, brilliance, and strength. Their arms will conquer the world until Vishnu himself assumes a human form to meet them.
Death will come in battle from Hari's hand, and with it liberation from which there is no return to worldly birth. The attendants bow and depart. In time they enter rakshasa bodies, carrying both the force of the curse and the hidden promise of release.
Narada cannot cancel the rakshasa birth, so he places liberation inside its death.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 139
Two Rudra attendants observe joyful delusion-free Narada going on the path, before approaching and clasping his feet
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 149, 150 · printed pages 147, 148. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-139. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Two Rudra attendants see Narada going on path; NARADA delusion-free and very joyful, not attendants liberated by Shiva grace.
- Later attendants approach afraid clasp feet, admit they are Shiva's attendants NOT BRAHMINS, request curse mitigation.
- Narada speaks future demon births, might, human Vishnu incarnation and liberation by Hari in battle; they depart bowing, become demons IN DUE TIME not immediately.
Artistic choices
- Approved restored HUMAN Narada face/hair creamochrerose Vaishnavmark darkbeads, two Rudra attendants ordinarybrahmin-disguise creamteal/rust distinct faces retained; exactageappearance unverified, not Jaya/Vijaya.
- Narada walking with customaryvina, attendants standing watching worried without currentfootclasp, exacthands/gaze/body spacing artistchoices from selected firstpart; minimalrustochrecream patharch sparsefloralcorners imaginarysetting.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
हर गन मुनिहि जात पथ देखी। बिगतमोह मन हरष बिसेषी।। अति सभीत नारद पहिं आए। गहि पद आरत बचन सुनाए।। हर गन हम न बिप्र मुनिराया। बड़ अपराध कीन्ह फल पाया।। श्राप अनुग्रह करहु कृपाला। बोले नारद दीनदयाला।। निसिचर जाइ होहु तुम्ह दोऊ। बैभव बिपुल तेज बल होऊ।। भुजबल बिस्व जितब तुम्ह जहिआ। धरिहहिं बिष्नु मनुज तनु तहिआ। समर मरन हरि हाथ तुम्हारा। होइहहु मुकुत न पुनि संसारा।। चले जुगल मुनि पद सिर नाई। भए निसाचर कालहि पाई।।
Seeing the sage walking along the path, Shiva's ganas, now free of delusion and filled with great joy, came to Narada trembling with fear. They clasped his feet and spoke words full of distress.