Like a Fish Without Water
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 151
Doha 151 · Movement 1 of 2
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The ocean of mercy answers Shatarupa in gentle, profound words. Every desire within her mind is granted without doubt, and by his grace her extraordinary wisdom will never fade. The future mother's intimacy will remain joined to clear knowledge.
Manu bows and adds one request. Let his love for the promised son be devotion to the Lord's feet, so that no one could call him foolish for mistaking divine grace as mere worldly attachment. His life depends upon Hari as a serpent depends upon its jewel and a fish upon water.
He grasps the Lord's feet and remains there until the compassionate One says, so be it. Then a command opens the next stage: the couple must go and dwell for a time in Amaravati, the capital of Indra.
Manu clings like a fish to water, asking never to live outside devotion to his divine son.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 151
Lord gently assures Shatarupa allgranted nodoubt and extraordinarydiscernment neverlost byHisgrace
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 159, 160 · printed pages 157, 158. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-151. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Lord hearsShatarupa'ssoft profoundrequest says ALLGRANTED NO DOUBT, notrhetoricalwhy-say-otherwise/fabricatedKahaukinNahin.
- CallsShatarupa MOTHER andher extraordinarydiscernment neverlostbyHisgrace, sourceaddress/speech notphysicalLordchild.
- LaterManu asks paternalLOVE towardLordasSON evenanyonecallsHIMfool notsonlovingGod/noonecallhimfool; snakegem/fishwater similes thenfeetclasp andIndraCITYinstruction separate.
Artistic choices
- Approved currentRama bluebodydarkcurls goldcrown yellowrobes/garland jewels TWO humanarms retainedD149, exactagefaceornaments unverified.
- Gentlespeech ownchest/openlowpalm gesture towardoffframeShatarupa, botanicalglassforestgarden imaginedpose/site; no literalgiftobjects/miracles or physicalchild.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
सुनु मृदु गूढ़ रुचिर बर रचना। कृपासिंधु बोले मृदु बचना।। जो कछु रुचि तुम्हेर मन माहीं। मैं सो दीन्ह सब संसय नाहीं।। मातु बिबेक अलोकिक तोरें। कबहुँ न मिटिहि अनुग्रह मोरें । बंदि चरन मनु कहेउ बहोरी। अवर एक बिनति प्रभु मोरी।। सुत बिषइक तव पद रति होऊ। मोहि बड़ मूढ़ कहै किन कोऊ।। मनि बिनु फनि जिमि जल बिनु मीना। मम जीवन तिमि तुम्हहि अधीना।। अस बरु मागि चरन गहि रहेऊ। एवमस्तु करुनानिधि कहेऊ।। अब तुम्ह मम अनुसासन मानी। बसहु जाइ सुरपति रजधानी।।
"Listen to this gentle, profound, and beautiful shaping of the boon." The Ocean of Mercy spoke soft words: "Whatever desire lives in your heart, I have already given it. Why should I say otherwise?"