Life Returns to Dasharatha's Embrace
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 305
Doha 308 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha first prostrates before Vishwamitra, placing the sage's foot dust upon his head again and again. Kaushika raises and embraces him, offers blessing, and asks after his welfare.
Ram and Lakshmana bow. The king draws both sons against his heart, and the unbearable sorrow of separation vanishes like life returning to a lifeless body. They honour Vasishtha and the assembled Brahmins, receiving embraces and blessings.
Bharata and Shatrughna bow before Ram, who raises them into his arms. Lakshmana meets them with a body overflowing in love. Guru, father, sons, brothers, and Brahmins form widening circles of reverence and embrace, each relationship restored in its proper sweetness.
Dasharatha clasps his sons, and the body of Ayodhya receives its missing life again.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 305
All eight couplets PDF292; Kaushik/Vishvamitra asking king welfare after blessing and embrace source1-2.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 292 · printed pages 290. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-305. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Dasharatha prostrates VISHVAMITRA repeatedly putting footdust onhead.
- KAUSHIK embraces KING blesses askswelfare.
- BOTH RamaLakshmana prostrateKING, kingjoyembraces sons erasesseparationpain like deadbodyreceiveslife simile notactualresurrection.
- Both thenbowVASISHTHA whojoyfullyembraces them, distinctotherguru.
- BOTHbow Brahminassembly before receivingwishedblessings.
- BharatawithShatrughna bowsRAMA; Rama lifts andembraces.
- Lakshmana seesTWObrothers andembraces joy.
Artistic choices
- OneproperVISHVAMITRA head2connectedarms2ownhands RIGHTchest LEFTopenUPtoRIGHT actualnotpromptLEFT. ActualOPENeyesRIGHT PARTEDgentlesmile deepbrownangularaquilineface darkbrownGREYbeard BLACKGREYHIGHASYMMETRICJATA shoulders UNMARKEDforehead BURGUNDYCREAM WOODrosary, NOTwhiteVasishtha/orParaASH. Uprightupperthighpartialportrait legsfeetoffcrop no certifiedallhugs/walking posture. E02fineantiqueminiature creamguestarch floralbough no text.
- 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.
मुनिहि दंडवत कीन्ह महीसा। बार बार पद रज धरि सीसा।। कौसिक राउ लिये उर लाई। कहि असीस पूछी कुसलाई।। पुनि दंडवत करत दोउ भाई। देखि नृपति उर सुखु न समाई।। सुत हियँ लाइ दुसह दुख मेटे। मृतक सरीर प्रान जनु भेंटे।। पुनि बसिष्ठ पद सिर तिन्ह नाए। प्रेम मुदित मुनिबर उर लाए।। बिप्र बृंद बंदे दुहुँ भाईं। मन भावती असीसें पाईं।। भरत सहानुज कीन्ह प्रनामा। लिए उठाइ लाइ उर रामा।। हरषे लखन देखि दोउ भ्राता। मिले प्रेम परिपूरित गाता।।
The king prostrated himself before the sage, again and again placing the dust of his holy feet upon his own head. Sage Kaushika drew the king to his heart, spoke words of blessing, and lovingly asked after his welfare. Then both brothers bowed low in reverence, and seeing them the king's heart could not contain its joy. Drawing his sons to his breast, he banished all unbearable sorrow, as though life itself had returned to a lifeless body. Then they bowed their heads at the feet of Vasishtha, and the great sage, filled with love, embraced them warmly. Both brothers reverently honored the assembly of Brahmins and received their heartfelt blessings. Bharata, together with Shatrughna, made obeisance, and Shri Rama lifted them up and held them lovingly to his heart. Lakshmana was overjoyed at the sight of both his brothers, and they all met with bodies overflowing with love.