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राम
Leela Scene

Vishwamitra Chooses a Grove Outside Mithila

Bala Kanda, Chaupai 211

Doha 214 · Movement 1 of 2

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Diamond studded doors shine at the city gates. Kings have arrived with actors, bards, genealogists, and large retinues. Stables hold horses and elephants, quarters overflow with chariots, and commanders live in residences resembling palaces.

Beyond the walls, visiting rulers encamp near lakes and rivers wherever space permits. Vishwamitra sees a beautiful grove, well placed and pleasant in every respect, and asks Ram whether the company should stay there.

The compassionate Lord agrees and alights with the sages. As the hermitage camp settles beneath the trees, news reaches Janaka that the great Kaushika has arrived. The king of Mithila prepares to receive him.

Among royal camps and jewelled gates, Ram chooses the quiet shade of a grove.

Read the passage from the Manas
Vishvamitra says the mango grove pleases him and asks Rama to stay there.

AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 211

All8units read; selected6 Vishvamitra pleasedmangogrove asksRagh uvir stay

Source reference and artistic choices

Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 214 · printed pages 212. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-211. Printed numbering may differ.

Source facts

  • Citysplendid doors KULIS/VAJRA doorleaves localHindi मजबूत अथवा हीरोंसेचमकते alternatives strong/diamondglittering, notindependentlycertifiedsoliddiamond. Kingsperformers/dancers MAGADH/BHAT bards crowd. VAST HORSE/ELEPHANTSTABLES filled HORSES ELEPHANTS CHARIOTS ALLTIMES temporal सबकाला notallquarters/fromwesttoeast/uncountability.
  • ManybraveWARRIORS MINISTERS GENERALS withroyalpalace-likeresidences; outsideCITY nearPONDSRIVERS MANYKINGS encampwherever. Sees ONE exquisite MANGOGROVE withallsuitability/facilities delightfulinallways.
  • KAUSHIKA VISHVAMITRA saysthispleasesMYMIND, askswiseRAGHUVIR LETUSSTAYHERE, notifyouagreeconditional. LORDcompassion answersVerywellMASTER andsettlesWITHBANDofMUNIS. MITHILAKING hearsNEWSgreatMuniVishvamitra arrived. All8retained selected6requestonly.

Artistic choices

  • ApprovedD210 Vishvamitra brown angularaquilinenose browneyes darkbrown-graybeard blackgrayhighmattedknot shoulderstrands Burgundycreamwoodbeads unmarkedforehead retained artistage~60 nothistoriccertificate, narrowgoldtrim artist detail.
  • Oneupperhip/thighMuni twoownhands chest/openlowpalm towardgroverestspace pleasedexpression/lipposition/gesture sourceunspecified artistic. Mango leaf/elongatedgoldfruitspecies season/treegeometry shadedearth/restspace artistunverified; requested optionalblankmat notpresent, no facilityobject certified. No reusedAhalyahut/stone or claimedphysicalresidents/solitarytraveler. Rama/L andmunigroup outsidecrop notdenied, selectedspeech beforeanswersettlement.
  • Actual lips subdued/slightgap under moustache, no audible speech certificate; sourcecontext andopenpalmgesture convey request. Narrowgoldshawltrim artistadornment retained. Elongatedgoldmango-likefruit differsfromD213orange-likegardenfruit, actualseasonunverified.

An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.

सुभग द्वार सब कुलिस कपाटा। भूप भीर नट मागध भाटा।। बनी बिसाल बाजि गज साला। हय गय रथ संकुल सब काला।। सूर सचिव सेनप बहुतेरे। नृपगृह सरिस सदन सब केरे।। पुर बाहेर सर सारित समीपा। उतरे जहँ तहँ बिपुल महीपा।। देखि अनूप एक अँवराई। सब सुपास सब भाँति सुहाई।। कौसिक कहेउ मोर मनु माना। इहाँ रहिअ रघुबीर सुजाना।। भलेहिं नाथ कहि कृपानिकेता। उतरे तहँ मुनिबृंद समेता।। बिस्वामित्र महामुनि आए। समाचार मिथिलापति पाए।।

Splendid gateways fitted with doors hard as vajra-diamond. Throngs of kings, dancers, bards, and minstrels filled the courtyards. Vast stables stretched wide for horses and elephants. Horses, elephants, and chariots stood beyond all counting.