Maya Trembles Before the Child
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 198
Doha 200 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram, father and mother of the world, dwells in Kosala as giver of happiness. Shiva tells Bhavani that such nearness is the manifest condition of those whose love has settled at Raghunath's feet.
Maya holds all moving and unmoving beings beneath her power, yet she speaks fearfully before the child in Kausalya's palace. A playful movement of his brow makes Maya herself dance. What other refuge could be sought after turning away from such a Lord?
Abandoning cleverness in mind, deed, and speech, the devotee worships and receives Raghurai's grace. Meanwhile Ram performs childhood sports for Ayodhya, rocked in his mother's lap and swung gently in the cradle.
Maya governs the worlds, but one movement of the child's brow makes her dance.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 198
Kaushalya places Rama in a cradle and rocks him
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 201, 202 · printed pages 199, 200. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-198. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- ALL8 RamaWORLDfather/mother givesKosalacityjoy; SHIVA addressesBHAVANI devoteesRaghunathfeet stateknown, notasLord/worldknow. Turnedawaymillionefforts cannotfreeworldbondage. MAYA controls moving/unmoving yetFEARSLORD, He makesherdancebybrowmovement; whomelseworship?
- Abandoncleverness MINDDEEDWORD worshipRaghurayagrace. Lordchildplay allcityjoy. MotherholdsRamaLAProcking ORplacesCRADLEandsways. WitnesslocalHindi identifiesKAUSHALYA. Selected8 CRADLEonly no simultanlapbaby/MAYApicture.
Artistic choices
- Approved C196 Kaushalya warmwheatovalface grey-threadblackcentrepartlowbraid creamMAGENTAGOLDveil sari blouse pearls goldpendantsbangles rubybindi. CurrentC197 RamaBLUEroundbabyface darkcurls browneyes thinWHITEUtilak, yellowjhagulia creamblanket lowerlegsfeetwrapped.
- Mother2ownhands ownchest/nearwoodcradlerail gentlyrock; baby2ownhands chest/blanket total4arms4hands headcreamPILLOW supported awakeclosedmouthgentlesmile upgaze. Lowornatewoodcradle bassinetrails twoCURVEDrockers creamgoldbedding conventionalunauthenticateddesign; no falling/clippedinfant.
- Flowerglassarch terracegardenriver imagined, motherlowerlegsoutsidecrop babyfullinsidecradle. No otherMother/physicalLord4arms ormayaentity, initialchhand021 unapprovedstillseparate.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
एहि बिधि राम जगत पितु माता। कोसलपुर बासिन्ह सुखदाता।। जिन्ह रघुनाथ चरन रति मानी। तिन्ह की यह गति प्रगट भवानी।। रघुपति बिमुख जतन कर कोरी। कवन सकइ भव बंधन छोरी।। जीव चराचर बस कै राखे। सो माया प्रभु सों भय भाखे।। भृकुटि बिलास नचावइ ताही। अस प्रभु छाड़ि भजिअ कहु काही।। मन क्रम बचन छाड़ि चतुराई। भजत कृपा करिहहिं रघुराई।। एहि बिधि सिसुबिनोद प्रभु कीन्हा। सकल नगरबासिन्ह सुख दीन्हा।। लै उछंग कबहुँक हलरावै। कबहुँ पालनें घालि झुलावै।।
In this way Ram, mother and father of the world, giver of joy to all the people of Kosalapura. Those who have cherished love for Raghunath's feet, this is their blessed destiny, as the Lord and the world well know.