The Brothers Stand Before the Bow Pavilion
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 221
Doha 224 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram and Lakshmana reach the eastern quarter where the Dhanush Yagna ground has been prepared. A vast beautiful pavilion rises around a pure platform arranged for the bow.
Golden seating stands on all four sides for gathered kings. Behind it, galleries and further platforms rise for the citizens. White mansions in many colours provide elevated places where women will watch according to their family stations.
Mithila's boys guide the brothers through the plan with sweet respectful speech. Ram beholds the stage on which royal pride, Janaka's vow, Sita's destiny, and Shiva's bow will soon meet, while children explain each seat as part of their city.
Before the empty golden seats, Ram quietly beholds the pavilion built around Shiva's bow.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 221
All8 source couplets read; selected representative child respectfully showing the prepared bow-arena construction.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 222, 223 · printed pages 220, 221. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-221. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Both brothers go EAST OF CITY to ground prepared for BOW SACRIFICE. Very BROAD BEAUTIFULLY PLASTERED GROUND and a pure beautifully arranged ALTAR/PLATFORM are distinct structures; ground not a raisedpavilion.
- Huge GOLDEN SEATING PLATFORMS in FOUR directions for KINGS; behind nearby allaround other beautiful platformtiers somewhat HIGHER for TOWNSPEOPLE. Nearby large beautiful WHITE PALACES decorated in VARIOUS COLORS where WOMEN according family/status sit and watch.
- CITY CHILDREN repeatedly speak SOFT WORDS and respectfully show the CONSTRUCTION to the LORD. All8 retained; seating design does not certify fullactualspectator occupancy, exact plan or onlyonechild.
- No golden-vessel/gem-garland/kanaka-kalasa/manijaree inventory from displaced text accepted as source.
Artistic choices
- Reuse D225 unnamed child: warmmediumwheatbrown roundedovalface brown eyes short blackbrown bobhair plain cream fullsleevekurta teal goldedged narrowwrap, noU/crown/princelyjewels. Age8 artistic; not named Rama/Lakshmana childhood portrait.
- Actual one head two connected ownarms two distinct ownhands, one ownchest and one low openpalm pointing to RIGHT arena; looks upwardRIGHT toward brothers offcrop. Waistup/lowerlegsfeet cropped, otherchildren/bothbrothers offcrop not denied, no forearmtouch/blessing/play.
- Broad matte creamplastered ground, separate LOW RECTANGULAR WHITE ALTAR with decorative coloraccent base, goldseatingtiers and distant white/ivorybuildings with colored archaccents. E10 broadquietcolorfield dominates, child quietly shaded and architecture moredecorative than ref; no frame. Exact four-side geometry/tiers/floorplan/goldmaterial/age/time/pose artistic, source no actual architectural certificate.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
पुर पूरब दिसि गे दोउ भाई। जहँ धनुमख हित भूमि बनाई।। अति बिस्तार चारु गच ढारी। बिमल बेदिका रुचिर सँवारी।। चहुँ दिसि कंचन मंच बिसाला। रचे जहाँ बेठहिं महिपाला।। तेहि पाछें समीप चहुँ पासा। अपर मंच मंडली बिलासा।। कछुक ऊँचि सब भाँति सुहाई। बैठहिं नगर लोग जहँ जाई।। तिन्ह के निकट बिसाल सुहाए। धवल धाम बहुबरन बनाए।। जहँ बैंठैं देखहिं सब नारी। जथा जोगु निज कुल अनुहारी।। पुर बालक कहि कहि मृदु बचना। सादर प्रभुहि देखावहिं रचना।।
The two brothers walked to the eastern quarter of the city, where the ground had been prepared for the bow-sacrifice. It was vast, paved with beautiful plaster, and at every interval stood golden vessels and garlands strung with gems.