Sita Opens Her Eyes to the Lions of Raghu
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 231
Doha 234 · Movement 1 of 2
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One wise companion recovers composure, takes Sita's hand, and tells her to remember Gauri again. Why keep the eyes closed when the prince she longed to behold stands before her?
Sita opens them bashfully and sees both lions of Raghu. Her gaze moves from Ram's crown to his feet, drinking the whole form, until memory of Janaka's vow enters and agitates the joy.
Her friends grow anxious at the depth of her feeling. One laughs inwardly and promises they will return at the same hour tomorrow. Embarrassed by the hidden meaning and afraid her mother will notice the delay, Sita leaves, carrying Ram with great resolve in her heart.
Sita walks home beneath her father's vow with Ram's whole form hidden inside.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 231
Full8 source units preserved, selected representative moment with source subjects and sequence explicit.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 230, 231 · printed pages 228, 229. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-231. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- 1 ONE wiseFRIEND steadiesherself HOLDS SITAHAND andspeaks.
- 2 Invite seePRINCE NOW, GAURI MEDITATION LATER/AGAIN, not returnmeditationnow beforelooking.
- 3 Sita SHYLY OPENS EYES sees BOTH RAGHUPRINCES beforeher; epithet no literallions.
- 4 Seeing RAMA HEADTOFOOT remembers FATHER'S BOWVOW mind GREATLYAGITATED.
- 5 Friends see Sitaovercome anxious MUCHDELAY explicit reasonleave notfearfuturealone.
- 6 Oneinwardlysmilingfriend says RETURN TOMORROW SAME TIME.
- 7 Veiledwords make SitaSHY; elapsedDELAY FEAR MOTHER.
- 8 Greatsteadiness RAMAheldheart remembersherself SUBJECTTOFATHER. Selectedopeneyedmoment3 afterpriorC229closedeyes full8retained.
Artistic choices
- ActualcanonicalD230Sita warmgoldenwheatbrown slenderovalface delicatenose brownalmondeyes blacksidepartlowhair/braid rustcoralGOLDedge sari/veil coveredblouse WHITEearflowercluster pearlstrand smallredbindi hoops bangles, narrativeyoungartistphase no sourcenumericage/historicalportrait; notD229anonymouscompanion.
- Actual1head2connectedownarms2distinctownhands ownchest/coveredwaist, shyalertOPENeyes viewerRIGHT mildconcern/tenderwonder uprightwaistup. Selectsource3 AFTERfriendcounsel, no handcontact drawn, friend/princes/mother/father/Gauri offcropnotdenied. EarlierC229closedeyes THENnowopens retained notblink/fullchronology certificate; headtofootprincebeholding metadata not shownfullprince.
- E10 quietmatte creamochre broadnegativefield naturalsoftfigure simpleolivewhitepinkboughs faintcreamarch/ivorypavilion no ornateframe; exactpose/gaze/time/venue/counts artist. Lowerlegsfeetoutcrop notdenied; no literalRama inchest/bowvowscroll/lions/fan or biologicalmentalstate certificate.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
धरि धीरजु एक आलि सयानी। सीता सन बोली गहि पानी।। बहुरि गौरि कर ध्यान करेहू। भूपकिसोर देखि किन लेहू।। सकुचि सीयँ तब नयन उघारे। सनमुख दोउ रघुसिंघ निहारे।। नख सिख देखि राम कै सोभा। सुमिरि पिता पनु मनु अति छोभा।। परबस सखिन्ह लखी जब सीता। भयउ गहरु सब कहहि सभीता।। पुनि आउब एहि बेरिआँ काली। अस कहि मन बिहसी एक आली।। गूढ़ गिरा सुनि सिय सकुचानी। भयउ बिलंबु मातु भय मानी।। धरि बड़ि धीर रामु उर आने। फिरि अपनपउ पितुबस जाने।।
Gathering her courage, one wise friend took Sita by the hand and spoke gently: "Resume your meditation on Gauri now. But first, look upon the young prince just once more."