Mithila Offers All Its Merit for Ram
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 252
Doha 255 · Movement 1 of 2
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As Ram moves, the kings' night of hope vanishes and the stars of their boasts give no light. Proud rulers shrink like night flowers at dawn, while deceitful ones hide like owls. Sages and gods rejoice like chakravaka birds and shower blossoms.
Ram bows lovingly at his guru's feet and seeks the sages' permission. Then the Lord of all worlds walks toward the bow with the unforced majesty of a splendid young elephant. Men and women thrill as he passes.
Across Mithila, people bow inwardly to ancestors and gods. They gather every good deed they have ever performed into one prayer: if our merit possesses any power, may Ram break Shiva's bow as lightly as a lotus stem. A whole city places its unseen treasure beneath his approaching feet.
Every household's hidden merit flows toward the single path between Ram and the bow.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 252
All eight couplets retained; select Rama asking sages permission after Guru bow.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 249 · printed pages 247. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-252. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- 1 Kings hope-as-night disappears and boastful words-as-stars fail to shine; metaphor, daytime scene.
- 2 Proud kings as kumud waterlilies close at sunrise; crafty kings as owls hide. Not lotus at dusk.
- 3 Sages and gods chakravaka metaphor sorrowless; shower flowers as service.
- 4 Rama bows lovingly at Guru feet then asks MUNIS permission.
- 5 Lord of worlds walks naturally with graceful intoxicated elephant-like gait; simile, natural human body.
- 6 City men and women thrilled with joy as Rama walks.
- 7 Bow ancestors/gods remember own merit: if any good deeds have force.
- 8 Invoke O LORD GANESHA may RAMA break SHIVA bow like lotus stalk. Invoked deity distinct from actor.
Artistic choices
- PASS one head two connected own arms two natural NAMASTE palms with distinct wrists at chest; actual OPEN eyes RIGHT gentle PARTED lips; waist crop no footcontact or gait certificate.
- Exact pose gaze architecture garments cap wearing-time numerical ages materials ornament counts are artist choices; participants outside crop not denied; no full assembly/feet/whole chronology census certificate. Full source retained and editorial originals untouched.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
नृपन्ह केरि आसा निसि नासी। बचन नखत अवली न प्रकासी।। मानी महिप कुमुद सकुचाने। कपटी भूप उलूक लुकाने।। भए बिसोक कोक मुनि देवा। बरिसहिं सुमन जनावहिं सेवा।। गुर पद बंदि सहित अनुरागा। राम मुनिन्ह सन आयसु मागा।। सहजहिं चले सकल जग स्वामी। मत्त मंजु बर कुंजर गामी।। चलत राम सब पुर नर नारी। पुलक पूरि तन भए सुखारी।। बंदि पितर सुर सुकृत सँभारे। जौं कछु पुन्य प्रभाउ हमारे।। तौ सिवधनु मृनाल की नाईं। तोरहुँ राम गनेस गोसाईं।।
The hopes of the kings perished like the night, and the stars of their boastful words gave no light. The proud monarchs shrank like lotuses at dusk, while the deceitful rulers hid away like owls. The sages and gods rejoiced like chakravaka birds at dawn, showering flowers and offering their devotion. Bowing at his Guru's feet with deep love, Shri Rama humbly sought the sages' permission. The Lord of all the worlds moved forward with natural grace, walking with the majestic gait of a splendid young elephant. As Rama walked, every man and woman in the city felt a thrill of joy course through their bodies. Bowing to their ancestors and the gods, they gathered all their merit, praying: 'If our good deeds hold any power at all, then may Shri Rama, O Lord Ganesha, snap Shiva's bow as easily as a lotus stem.'