Ram Asks Mercy for the Milk-Faced Child
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 274
Doha 277 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram asks Parashurama to show compassion toward an innocent, milk-faced child. Had Lakshmana known the sage's full power, would he have dared to challenge him? Parents and gurus delight even when children attempt something astonishing.
Treat him as a child and servant, Ram pleads. Such mercy befits a sage renowned for virtue, patience, and wisdom. The cool words soften Parashurama until Lakshmana says something more and smiles.
Anger races again from the sage's head to his feet. He calls Lakshmana fair in body but dark within, poison-mouthed rather than milk-mouthed, naturally crooked and unlike his gentle brother. The smile has undone the cooling, revealing how closely Parashurama now watches the youth he claims to despise.
Ram cools the sage with mercy, and one returning smile sets the whole fire alight again.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 274
All eight retained; selected renewed Lakshmana smile sourceportion5.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 267 · printed pages 265. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-274. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- 1 Rama asksmercy BOYsimplemilkmouth noanger metaphor notactualbaby.
- 2 IfboyknewPOWER wouldnotcontestequal.
- 3 CHILD MISCHIEF guruFATHER MOTHERJOY notwonders/brightskills.
- 4 MercyCHILDSERVANT steadyWISEmuni.
- 5 Rama words PARTLYCOOL then Lakshmana sayssomething SMILESAGAIN.
- 6 SeeingSMILE Parashurama fullbodyanger renewed saysRama brothersinful.
- 7 FairBODY darkMIND poisonMOUTH notmilk CHARACTERINSULT not skinIMPURITY/physicalappearancecurse.
- 8 Naturallycrooked doesntTAKEAFTER RAMA notobedience; doesntseeMEASDEATH notsuperiority/lowliness replacement.
Artistic choices
- PASS one FAIRtanLakshmana head TWOconnectedownarms TWOownhands ownRIGHTchest ownLEFTdownSIDE. OPENeyes actualUPLEFT confidentraisedbrows PARTEDwrySMILE. Yellowcapfeather whiteUred pearlsGREEN TULSI noRamaVictoryloop. ZEROotherfigures physicalpoisonmilkbody/skinimpurity/Deathentity. Full8 retains partialcooling thenrenewedanger, no stableanger-controlvirtuecert. E03 leadglass figurebackground.
- Exact poses/gazes/numericalages/clothes/ornamentcounts/geargeometryfastening/materials/spatialframing artistchoices not history or wholeparticipant/anatomy/motion/audible/emotionmotive census. Fullsourceoffcrop facts retained noabsenceinference/corpuscorrection/inventedHindi/publishing. Source comparisons/characterinsults/threats not physicaltransformations/violentevents.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
नाथ करहु बालक पर छोहू। सूध दूधमुख करिअ न कोहू।। जौं पै प्रभु प्रभाउ कछु जाना। तौ कि बराबरि करत अयाना।। जौं लरिका कछु अचगरि करहीं। गुर पितु मातु मोद मन भरहीं।। करिअ कृपा सिसु सेवक जानी। तुम्ह सम सील धीर मुनि ग्यानी।। राम बचन सुनि कछुक जुड़ाने। कहि कछु लखनु बहुरि मुसकाने।। हँसत देखि नख सिख रिस ब्यापी। राम तोर भ्राता बड़ पापी।। गौर सरीर स्याम मन माहीं। कालकूटमुख पयमुख नाहीं।। सहज टेढ़ अनुहरइ न तोही। नीचु मीचु सम देख न मौहीं।।
O Lord, show kindness to this child. He is innocent and milk-faced; do not be angry with him. Had he known even a little of your divine power, would this foolish boy have dared to challenge you? When children do something remarkable, their guru, father, and mother only feel delight in their hearts. Show your grace, knowing him to be a child and your servant. You are a sage of great virtue, patience, and wisdom. Hearing Rama's words, Parashurama (Parashuraama) was somewhat cooled. But then Lakshmana (Lakshman) said something and smiled once more. Seeing him smile, fury spread through Parashurama from head to toe. 'Rama, your brother is a great sinner!' Fair of body, yet dark within his heart. His is a poison-mouth (kaalakootamukh), not a milk-mouth. Naturally crooked, he does not follow you. The wretch does not see me as death itself standing before him.'