The Mountain Bears Grass upon Its Head
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 167
Doha 167 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Ekatanu says many methods exist, though all are difficult. One remedy is easy and lies within his power, but he cannot enter Pratapbhanu's city. Since the day he first came into being, he claims, he has never gone to another's village or house.
Without his presence the plan cannot succeed, so the false sage presents himself as trapped between spiritual discipline and affection for the king. Pratapbhanu answers with images from the Vedas, pleading that greatness naturally bears what is small.
Mountains carry grass upon their heads. The unfathomable ocean supports foam upon its surface, and the patient earth continually bears dust. In the same way, a great ascetic may stoop to hardship for one helpless devotee without losing his height.
Pratapbhanu points to grass on the mountain and begs greatness to bend toward him.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 167
False ascetic describes one easy method and practical obstacle of city visit
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 172, 173 · printed pages 170, 171. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-167. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- All8 read: many methods hard may or may not work; ONE easy method ONE practical obstacle, says CANNOT GO YOUR CITY not merely never went. Claims since birth never any home/village, dilemma not going king harm; claims not real Saint biography.
- King then gentle Vedic-policy speech6-8 great love little: mountains grasses on heads, ocean foam, serpent head earth dust are analogical comparisons not actual scene. No universal easiest/hardest paradox or invented brother.
Artistic choices
- Approved C158 false former king imagined portrait robe age; one low open hand explanatory other own knee artist speech gesture.
- Night hut moon botanical arch rocks actualsite unverified; no literal analogical serpent mountains ocean in selected first5.
- Output speaker faces viewer right toward offscreen King, not source fixed geography. Small oil lamp on shelf unverified artist prop, not new source event.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
सुनु नृप बिबिध जतन जग माहीं। कष्टसाध्य पुनि होहिं कि नाहीं।। अहइ एक अति सुगम उपाई। तहाँ परंतु एक कठिनाई।। मम आधीन जुगुति नृप सोई। मोर जाब तव नगर न होई।। आजु लगें अरु जब तें भयऊँ। काहू के गृह ग्राम न गयऊँ।। जौं न जाउँ तव होइ अकाजू। बना आइ असमंजस आजू।। सुनि महीस बोलेउ मृदु बानी। नाथ निगम असि नीति बखानी।। बड़े सनेह लघुन्ह पर करहीं। गिरि निज सिरनि सदा तृन धरहीं।। जलधि अगाध मौलि बह फेनू। संतत धरनि धरत सिर रेनू।।
"Listen, O king. Many are the methods in this world, yet they are hard to practise and may or may not bear fruit. There is, however, one exceedingly simple remedy. And yet, dear brother, nothing in all the world is harder."