Faith Places Ram Before Shiva's Bow
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 220
Doha 223 · Movement 1 of 2
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The women agree that Sita's marriage to Ram would bless everyone. Then the obstacle returns: Shiva's bow is unimaginably hard, while the dark youth appears tender. Confusion passes through the group.
A gentle voice restores faith. Great power can remain hidden within a small form. The dust of Ram's lotus feet released Ahalya from the immense burden of her curse. How could that Lord fail before the bow?
The Creator who fashioned Sita has also created this dark bridegroom with thoughtful fitness. The women receive the argument with joy and pray that events unfold exactly so. Devotion sees correspondence where appearances see impossibility.
Before anyone has seen Ram lift the bow, Mithila's women place their faith beneath it.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 220
All8 source couplets read across pages221222; selected one unnamed woman's gentle reassurance in the ongoing conversation.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 221, 222 · printed pages 219, 220. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-220. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Another woman says proposed marriage would greatly benefit all. Another worries SHIVA'S BOW IS HARD while DARK RAMA SINGULAR is tender youthful form; no claim both princes compete, no innocence/bhora epithet from this unit.
- All are uncertain; another speaks softly that some describe the brothers as possessing GREAT POWER although they LOOK SMALL. Power/smallness relation not reversed.
- The woman invokes AHALYA freed by touching dust of his lotusfeet despite many sins, as source theological report; this is reported speech, no liberation reenactment. Will he remain without breaking Shiva's bow? Do not abandon this belief even mistakenly; prospective assurance not already-broken event.
- The Creator who fashioned and adorned Sita considered and created her dark husband. Hearing her words all women rejoice and say softly MAY IT BE SO. All8 retained; primary मृदु vs historical snapshot मुदु retained unchanged.
Artistic choices
- Reuse D222 unnamed adult TEAL/CREAM gold sari model: warmwheat ovalroundface brown eyes black centerpart lowhair maroonbindi smallgoldhoops modest coveredblouse veil. Artist age30, not Sita/Ahalya/Kaushalya/queen or authenticated person.
- Actual one woman faces LEFT toward companions offcrop, own one low openpalm at waist and own other hand on chest. One head two connected ownarms two distinct ownhands, hips/lowerlegsfeet cropped; warm assured openeyes gentle smile. Specific speaker/position/handgesture artistic, full otherwomen's joy retained not census shown.
- Imagined creamgold housewindow plain floral carving/jali distant ivorycity white flowering boughs fine aged-paper E02 goldfloralborder. Exact houseplan/ages/clothes/jewels/time/species artist not source venue. No Shiva bowbreaking, Ahalya liberation, literal gods/wedding/physical bow inventory.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
बोली अपर कहेहु सखि नीका। एहिं बिआह अति हित सबहीं का।। कोउ कह संकर चाप कठोरा। ए स्यामल मृदुगात किसोरा।। सबु असमंजस अहइ सयानी। यह सुनि अपर कहइ मृदु बानी।। सखि इन्ह कहँ कोउ कोउ अस कहहीं। बड़ प्रभाउ देखत लघु अहहीं।। परसि जासु पद पंकज धूरी। तरी अहल्या कृत अघ भूरी।। सो कि रहिहि बिनु सिवधनु तोरें। यह प्रतीति परिहरिअ न भोरें।। जेहिं बिरंचि रचि सीय सँवारी। तेहिं स्यामल बरु रचेउ बिचारी।। तासु बचन सुनि सब हरषानीं। ऐसेइ होउ कहहिं मुदु बानी।।
Another woman spoke: "You say well, dear friend. This marriage would bring great blessing to all." Someone replied: "But Shankara's bow is terribly hard, and these two are so young, so tender, so innocent."