Parashurama Threatens to Overturn Janaka's Kingdom
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 267
Doha 270 · Movement 1 of 2
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Janaka recounts why the kings assembled. Parashurama turns and finds the two pieces of Shiva's bow cast upon the earth. The sight releases harsh words. Who broke it? Show him at once, or the sage will overturn the land as far as Videha's rule extends.
Fear leaves Janaka unable to answer. The scheming kings rejoice inwardly, hoping another's wrath will accomplish what their strength could not. Gods, sages, nagas, citizens, and palace women fall into heavy anxiety.
Sunayana feels fate has ruined what it had just brought to fulfilment. Sita knows the terrible nature of Bhrigupati, and each half-moment lengthens again into a cosmic age. The broken bow that ended one ordeal now seems to have opened a more dangerous one.
Joy withdraws from the hall as Parashurama's threat spreads over Videha like a storm.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 267
All eight retained; selected Sita mother inwardregret sourceportion7.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 261, 262 · printed pages 259, 260. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-267. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- 1 JANAKA explainswhyallkingsgathered.
- 2 PARASHURAMA SINGULAR turnslooks TWO BOWFRAGMENTS ONGROUND notpluralthey.
- 3 PARASHURAMA SINGULAR angryhardwords asksJANAKA who brokeBow.
- 4 Showquickly or SINGULARI threatens overturnearth throughoutJANAKADOMAIN; THREAT not actualdisaster.
- 5 Janakaafraid noanswer; CROOKEDKINGS inwardhappy.
- 6 DevaMuniNaga townmenwomen ALLheavyfear.
- 7 SITAMOTHER inwardREGRET FATEspoiledhappymatter, NOTSIN/moralwrongdoing.
- 8 SitahearsParashuramanature HALFINSTANT feelsKALPA cosmicAGE notDAY.
Artistic choices
- PASS ONEQueen head TWOconnectedownarms TWOownhands overOWNCHEST distinctwrists naturalfingers slightlyoverlapping no mergedextraarm. OPENeyesDOWNLEFT furrowCLOSEDlips worried inwardregret; greyblackhair MAUVEgoldveil ivory pearlsbindihoops currentmaturemother noheadgarlandearflower. ActualSEATED lowerdrape artistchoice no sourceposture/privatebedroom certificate. ZEROotherfigures/animals, no actualearthdisaster/capture/sinpunishment.
- Exact poses/gazes/numericalages/ornaments/gearcountsfastening/architecture/materials spatialframing artistchoices not historicalparticipant/anatomy/motion/cosmic census. Full source retained offcrop noabsenceinference, no corpus corrections/missingHindi invented or publishing.
- Current source-describedParashurama C265 artistmodel retained wherevisible; currentPOSTC261Rama VictoryflowerCHESTgarland GREENTULSI PEARLS separate, Sitaheadgarlandearflower ownhandsEMPTY ifdepicted; Janaka correctGREENcrown silvertemplechin notDasharatha; motherGREYhair MAUVE model no locallysourceproperSunayana. SourceTHREATS not actualcapture/earthdestruction no textualthoughtbubbles.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
समाचार कहि जनक सुनाए। जेहि कारन महीप सब आए।। सुनत बचन फिरि अनत निहारे। देखे चापखंड महि डारे।। अति रिस बोले बचन कठोरा। कहु जड़ जनक धनुष कै तोरा।। बेगि देखाउ मूढ़ न त आजू। उलटउँ महि जहँ लहि तव राजू।। अति डरु उतरु देत नृपु नाहीं। कुटिल भूप हरषे मन माहीं।। सुर मुनि नाग नगर नर नारी।।सोचहिं सकल त्रास उर भारी।। मन पछिताति सीय महतारी। बिधि अब सँवरी बात बिगारी।। भृगुपति कर सुभाउ सुनि सीता। अरध निमेष कलप सम बीता।।
Janaka recounted the full story, explaining why all the kings had gathered. Hearing his words, Parashurama looked around and saw the broken fragments of the bow lying on the ground. In towering rage he spoke harsh words: 'Tell me, foolish Janaka, who broke this bow? Show me at once, you fool, or today I shall overturn the earth as far as your kingdom reaches!' Overcome with dread, the king gave no reply, while the scheming kings quietly rejoiced. Gods, sages, nagas, and all the men and women of the city grieved, heavy fear weighing on every heart. Sita's mother lamented within herself: 'Fate has now spoiled what was going so well.' When Sita heard of Bhrigupati's fierce nature, each half-moment felt to her like a whole kalpa.