The Lord Who Frightens Fear Returns Late to His Guru
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 222
Doha 225 · Movement 1 of 2
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Knowing Ram conquered by affection, each child describes a home and calls the brothers according to personal delight. Ram and Lakshmana go lovingly, while the elder points out Mithila's creations in sweet enchanting words.
At the command of his brow, Maya makes worlds in less than a moment. Yet for devotion's sake, the compassionate Lord gazes with wonder at the bow pavilion as though seeing a marvel outside himself.
Delay suddenly becomes clear. The brothers return to Vishwamitra with fear in their hearts. He before whom Fear trembles displays the power of bhakti by worrying about the guru's time. The sage blesses and gently dismisses the children who followed them.
The Lord who terrifies Fear hurries back because he has kept his guru waiting.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 222
All8 source couplets and preceding arena context read; selected Rama gently explaining the arena's construction to Lakshmana.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 223, 224 · printed pages 221, 222. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-222. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- RAMA recognizes ALL CHILDREN as LOVE-BOUND and lovingly PRAISES THE ARENA'S PLACES; not children as knower, not visiting their homes/families, no omniscience display. At each child's invitation BOTH BROTHERS GO WITH LOVE; actual action not merely natural love.
- RAMA SHOWS THE CONSTRUCTION TO HIS YOUNGER BROTHER with soft sweet lovely words. MAYA creates many worlds in an instant at his command; that compassionate LORD gazes in wonder at BOWARENA for devotion, no literal cosmos pictured.
- After beholding the spectacle they go toward GURU, apprehensive of DELAY. LORD whose fear frightens even fear shows devotion's influence; he speaks softly/sweetly and INSISTS reluctant CHILDREN TAKE LEAVE. RAMA is speaker/dismissal agent, not Guru blessing/dismissing them.
- Selected explaining to Lakshmana before later departure; all8 facts retained, otherchildren/Guru offcrop not denied.
Artistic choices
- Current C216 youngerphase Rama bluegrey and Lakshmana fairwarmtan brown eyes black shoulder curls, creamgold folded fourcorner fabriccaps distinct whiteU/red-detail foreheadmarks, both yellowcreamgold garments gempearl greenred necklaces smallhoops. Ages15/14 artistic not biography; exact tinyredgeometry convention artist.
- Actual twoheads fourconnectedownarms four distinct ownhands: Rama oneownchest hand and oneopenpalm gesturingRIGHT in front of brother; bluegrey forearm/hand remains clearly separate from Lakshmana tan abdomen arm/hand. Lakshmana oneownabdomen hand and other oncreamcourtedge. Lowerlegsfeet/gear cropped not declared absent.
- Quiet E17 warmmatte gouache agedpaper olivewhiteflowerboughs; broad creamplastered arena separate lowwhitealtar behind, goldtier planes/ivory buildings, foregroundcreamcourtedge. Exact layout/handgesture/venue/time/props artist, no source fullplan/census or literal worldcreation; no children's home/literal Guru blessing.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
सिसु सब राम प्रेमबस जाने। प्रीति समेत निकेत बखाने।। निज निज रुचि सब लेंहिं बोलाई। सहित सनेह जाहिं दोउ भाई।। राम देखावहिं अनुजहि रचना। कहि मृदु मधुर मनोहर बचना।। लव निमेष महँ भुवन निकाया। रचइ जासु अनुसासन माया।। भगति हेतु सोइ दीनदयाला। चितवत चकित धनुष मखसाला।। कौतुक देखि चले गुरु पाहीं। जानि बिलंबु त्रास मन माहीं।। जासु त्रास डर कहुँ डर होई। भजन प्रभाउ देखावत सोई।। कहि बातें मृदु मधुर सुहाईं। किए बिदा बालक बरिआई।।
Shri Rama knew that all the children were bound by love. With great affection, He spoke of each one's home and family. Each child called out to Him according to their own fancy, and His natural love (sahaja sneha) for every one of them was immense.