Mithila Hopes Ram Will Become Sita's Groom
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 219
Doha 222 · Movement 1 of 2
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At the windows, one woman says Ram is the fitting bridegroom for Janaki. Surely if Janaka sees the princes he will cast aside the vow and insist upon the marriage.
Another knows the king has already honoured the sage and recognized the youths, yet doubts he will abandon his word. Fate seems to have bound a wise ruler to a stubborn condition that no tender prince could meet.
Hope answers fear. If the Creator gives fitting fruit, Sita will certainly receive this groom. Such a union would fulfil the whole city. Anxiety turns every woman toward the same question: when will these princes enter Mithila not as visitors, but as relations?
From window to window, Mithila begins to call Ram the bridegroom of Sita.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 219
Full8 source couplets read; selected women's hopeful conversation about a possible Rama-Janaki union and resulting visits.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 221 · printed pages 219. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-219. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Seeing Rama's beauty one woman says this is a suitable husband for JANAKI. Another supposes if king saw him he might abandon vow and insist on marriage; hypothetical talk, not actual abandonment or performed wedding.
- Another says the KING HAS RECOGNIZED and HONORED THE PRINCES with SAGE, yet does not abandon vow and under fate persists in lackofdiscernment. King is agent, princes recipients not described as kings.
- Another hopes benevolent CREATOR reputed to grant APPROPRIATE FRUITS TO ALL will give this husband to Janaki; not only to those who hear. No doubt as woman's hope/assertion not event certified.
- If fate arranges such union all would be fulfilled. Women greatly long that this FAMILY RELATIONSHIP brings future VISITS; no princes' promise, priorwedding or fixed visitation schedule. Full8 retained; source anonymous voices not fixed historical speakers.
Artistic choices
- Reuse D222 unnamed adult women with positions exchanged: TEAL/CREAM gold sari warmwheat ovalround face brown eyes black centerpart lowhair maroonbindi tinygoldhoops LEFT; CORALORANGE/GOLD sari mediumbrown ovalface brown eyes black sidepart lowhair deepredbindi pearls goldhoops RIGHT. Artist ages30/25; neither Sita/Ahalya/Kaushalya/queen.
- Actual teal speaker own one open lowpalm at waist other ownhand on windowledge; coral listener own one hand at chest other ownhand at covered waist. Two heads four connected ownarms four distinct ownhands, no overlaps/contact; lowerlegsfeet outcrop no footmechanics certificate.
- Imagined creamgold housewindow arch, distant ivorycity, white flowering boughs E03 luminous amber/coral/emerald/blue glass leadwork border; specific window/time/ages/garment/position/voiceassignment artist not source-census/venue certificate. No literal wedding, gods, king, promises or princes visible.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
देखि राम छबि कोउ एक कहई। जोगु जानकिहि यह बरु अहई।। जौ सखि इन्हहि देख नरनाहू। पन परिहरि हठि करइ बिबाहू।। कोउ कह ए भूपति पहिचाने। मुनि समेत सादर सनमाने।। सखि परंतु पनु राउ न तजई। बिधि बस हठि अबिबेकहि भजई।। कोउ कह जौं भल अहइ बिधाता। सब कहँ सुनिअ उचित फलदाता।। तौ जानकिहि मिलिहि बरु एहू। नाहिन आलि इहाँ संदेहू।। जौ बिधि बस अस बनै सँजोगू। तौ कृतकृत्य होइ सब लोगू।। सखि हमरें आरति अति तातें। कबहुँक ए आवहिं एहि नातें।।
Seeing Ram's beauty, someone says: "This groom alone is worthy of Janaki." "O sakhi, if the king beholds them, he will surely abandon his vow. Of this there is no doubt."