The Brothers Enter the Gardens of Videha
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 209
Doha 212 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram and Lakshmana travel with Vishwamitra to the sacred Ganga. The sage tells how the celestial river descended to earth, then the Lord bathes with the ascetics and gives many gifts to brahmins.
The company moves joyfully toward Videha. At the first sight of the city, delight rises in both brothers. Wells, tanks, rivers, and lakes hold water pure as nectar, with jeweled steps descending into their clear depths.
Bees hum in intoxicated circles, many coloured birds answer one another, and gardens open in every hue. Three gentle kinds of breeze move continually through blossom, water, and shade, welcoming the princes before Mithila knows who has arrived.
Ram first beholds Mithila through jeweled water, birdsong, blossom, and a threefold breeze.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 209
All8 units read; selected final6-8 citypond jeweledsteps varied-colorLOTUSES birds bees
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 212, 213 · printed pages 210, 211. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-209. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- RAMA LAKSHMANA go with MUNI to WORLDpurifyingGANGA. GADHISON Vishvamitra tellswhole account howheavenlyrivercametoEARTH. LORD batheswith RISHIS, BRAHMINS receivevariousGIFTS.
- JOYFUL depart accompanied by BANDofsages soonnearVIDEHAcity. Rama seeingcitybeauty greatlyrejoiceswithyoungerbrother. Not selectedGanga-descentflashback orstillatprevioushermitage.
- Varied steppedponds wells rivers lakes WATERlikeNECTAR with JEWELEDSTEPS. Nectar-drunkBEES humsweetly, MANYCOLOREDBIRDS sing; variedcolored LOTUSES bloom primary बनजाता localHindi कमल, notgenericgardenflowerssubstitution. Threefoldbreeze continuallycomforts, localcoolgentlefragrant. All8 retained, selectedfinal6-8 detailonly.
Artistic choices
- No namedhumanportraits or priorcityarchitecture model reused. Approved-ledger source/alt name search found no earlier depictedVidehaarchitecture; new imagined citypond andterrace distantcreamgoldarches areartist convention notgeographical/historiccertificate. Travelingparty outsidecrop not denied.
- E10 broad colorplanes matte environmental adaptation, jewel colors/inlaypattern lotus/bird/bee species andnumbers positions scale lighting vegetation artistic. Coolgentlefragrant comfort expressed byleaf/ripplecue notsound/chemicalproof orliteralwindgods.
- Actual scene includes two clearlyperchedbirds and two bees; foldedwings andpartlyoccludedperchfeet, not everyhiddenfoot/wing/beeleg certified. Lotuscolors pinkwhite redvioletgold are stylized artistvarieties, not botanicalspecies certificate. Jeweledsteps geometricinlay/distantcitygeometry reflectsourcewords withunverifieddesign; no audible hum/birdsong or actual nectar chemistry claim.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
चले राम लछिमन मुनि संगा। गए जहाँ जग पावनि गंगा।। गाधिसूनु सब कथा सुनाई। जेहि प्रकार सुरसरि महि आई।। तब प्रभु रिषिन्ह समेत नहाए। बिबिध दान महिदेवन्हि पाए।। हरषि चले मुनि बृंद सहाया। बेगि बिदेह नगर निअराया।। पुर रम्यता राम जब देखी। हरषे अनुज समेत बिसेषी।। बापीं कूप सरित सर नाना। सलिल सुधासम मनि सोपाना।। गुंजत मंजु मत्त रस भृंगा। कूजत कल बहुबरन बिहंगा।। बरन बरन बिकसे बन जाता। त्रिबिध समीर सदा सुखदाता।।
Ram, Lakshmana, and the sage walked onward together, and came to where the world-purifying Ganga flows. The son of Gadhi (Vishwamitra) told the whole story of how the heavenly river descended to earth.