The Voice That Restores a Body of Bones
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 145
Doha 145 · Movement 1 of 2
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For ten thousand more years Manu abandons even the support of air and stands firm upon both feet. Brahma and Vishnu approach many times, inviting him to ask for boons, but no lesser fulfilment can move the vow. Flesh disappears until the king's body is little more than bones, yet the mind feels no pain.
The all knowing Lord recognizes the single mindedness of his devotee. Then a heavenly voice enters the austerity: ask, ask for a boon. Its sound is profound and filled with the nectar of compassion, beautiful enough to revive what has fallen lifeless.
The words pass through Manu's ears into his heart. Strength, health, and beauty return at once, as naturally as though he had just risen from rest in his own home. The body consumed by ages of tapasya blossoms beneath one utterance of grace.
Ask for a boon, the heavens say, and living beauty covers Manu's bones again.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 145
After heavenlyvoice both devotees regain healthy robust bodies, asif justfromhome; no physicalhome-return
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 154, 155 · printed pages 152, 153. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-145. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Earlier BOTH stoodONEFOOTEACH; primary namesBRAHMA/VISHNU/SHIVA repeatedvisits though snapshotomitsHAR, remainunpictured.
- KingANDqueen jointlyexclusiveLordrefuge, notqueenaddressee. Lorddeepgracefulheavenlyvoice asksboon; wordsenterears/hearts.
- Finalbothbodieshealthyrobustbeautiful ASIFjustfromhome, actualrestoredstate selected not before/aftertransformation or home-return.
Artistic choices
- Approved imagined matureManu/Shatarupa humanfacegreyhair/beard simplecreamtealrustwardrobe retained fromD144; exactfacesagesrobes unauthenticated.
- Standingownchestnamaste joyfulupwardgaze artistposture responseaftervoice; coloredglassforesthermitage inventedsetting, voiceunembodied no rays/talkingcloud/Trinityfigures.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
बरष सहस दस त्यागेउ सोऊ। ठाढ़े रहे एक पद दोऊ।। बिधि हरि तप देखि अपारा। मनु समीप आए बहु बारा।। मागहु बर बहु भाँति लोभाए। परम धीर नहिं चलहिं चलाए।। अस्थिमात्र होइ रहे सरीरा। तदपि मनाग मनहिं नहिं पीरा।। प्रभु सर्बग्य दास निज जानी। गति अनन्य तापस नृप रानी।। मागु मागु बरु भै नभ बानी। परम गभीर कृपामृत सानी।। मृतक जिआवनि गिरा सुहाई। श्रबन रंध्र होइ उर जब आई।। ह्रष्टपुष्ट तन भए सुहाए। मानहुँ अबहिं भवन ते आए।।
For ten thousand years they gave up even that, both standing on one foot alone. Seeing their boundless tapas, Brahma and a host of gods drew near.