Brahma Seems to Have Built the Markets by Hand
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 210
Doha 213 · Movement 1 of 2
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Mithila's beauty defeats speech. Wherever the mind turns, another splendour captures it. Markets unfold through extraordinary shops set with precious gems, as though Brahma had personally arranged every surface.
Merchants sit amid varied goods and treasures with the abundance of Kubera. Crossroads and streets are graceful and continually fragrant. Houses appear painted by Kama himself, yet the men and women within them are pure, saintly, wise, righteous, and virtuous.
Most astonishing is Janaka's residence. Even gods would pause before its magnificence. Palace walls, courts, towers, and gathered art seem to contain the beauty of many worlds brought together into one royal dwelling.
Every road enchants the mind until Janaka's palace gathers the beauty of worlds.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 210
All8units read; selected2 gem-built architecturalupperoverhangs ofmarket
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 213, 214 · printed pages 211, 212. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-210. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- CITYbeauty defiesdescription, minddrawnwherevergoes. BeautifulMARKETS andvariedGEMMADE AMBARI: witnesslocal छज्जे fixedarchitecturaloverhangs/balconies asifBRAHMAownhandsadorned, notpalanquins or onlygenericshops. Sourceactualphrase बिचित्र अँबारी notinvented Bikrit.
- WealthyMERCHANTS richasKUBERA sitwithALLkindsofGOODS; beautifulcrossroads/pleasantlanes alwayssprinkledFRAGRANCE. AllHOUSESauspicious paintedasifKAMA lordofRATI, notalltemples orliteralgodpainting.
- CITYMENWOMEN beautifulPURE SAINTLY DHARMIC WISE VIRTUOUS. MostMATCHLESS JANAKresidence, gods stunned/astonishedbysplendor; ROYALENCLOSURE/FORTRAMPARTS objectofmindastonishment asifALLWORLDSbeautyheld, notgenericpalace-onlyreplacement orliteralplanettrap. All8retained selectedarchitecturedetail2only.
Artistic choices
- Approved C209 imaginedVideha/Mithilacreamgoldarch forms andrubyemeraldbluejewelinlaymotifs inspectedandadapted fornewmarketfaçade. Existingartistcitysite continuity nothistorical/geographiccertificate oridenticalpondscene. No namedhumanportraitsintroduced.
- E03 leadedjewelpanels floralglassframe fixedprojectingchhajja attachedbuildingwall/columns, creamgoldarches/grilles, decorativegemtypes/colors architecturalmaterials scale lightingartistunverified. Actual loweredge contains marketgoods withgoldvessels/colorfulfabrics/beads underclothawnings, artisticunverifiedspecificgoods. Merchants/populace outside selectedview notdenied or emptycityclaim. No literalBrahma/Kubera/Kama embodiments.
- Actual distantcreamgoldfortlikeenclosure/ramparts areartistdesign compatible withfullsource7-8, not completeall-worldsbeauty literaldiagram or independentlyauthenticatedJanakresidence geography. Fixed projectingstructures ratherthan genericshops-alone substitute areprincipalvisualdetail.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
बनइ न बरनत नगर निकाई। जहाँ जाइ मन तहँइँ लोभाई।। चारु बजारु बिचित्र अँबारी। मनिमय बिधि जनु स्वकर सँवारी।। धनिक बनिक बर धनद समाना। बैठ सकल बस्तु लै नाना।। चौहट सुंदर गलीं सुहाई। संतत रहहिं सुगंध सिंचाई।। मंगलमय मंदिर सब केरें। चित्रित जनु रतिनाथ चितेरें।। पुर नर नारि सुभग सुचि संता। धरमसील ग्यानी गुनवंता।। अति अनूप जहँ जनक निवासू। बिथकहिं बिबुध बिलोकि बिलासू।। होत चकित चित कोट बिलोकी। सकल भुवन सोभा जनु रोकी।।
The beauty of that city defies all telling; wherever the mind wandered, it was held captive by delight. Lovely bazaars, wondrous palanquins studded with gems, as though Brahma the Creator had fashioned each one with his own hands.