The Wish Tree Fruit on a Thorn
Bala Kanda, Chhand 10
Doha 96 · Movement 2 of 3
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Maina's grief sharpens into an image. Parvati is fruit worthy of the celestial wish tree, yet providence has forced that precious sweetness upon a thorny babool.
She would rather cast herself from the mountain with her daughter, enter fire, or sink into the ocean than complete a marriage that appears to ruin the beautiful life entrusted to her.
Let the household collapse and the world speak disgrace. While she remains alive, Maina declares, she will not surrender her daughter to this terrifying bridegroom. Maternal love stands between Parvati and the whole divine procession.
Maina gathers Parvati close as though her arms alone could overturn the wedding of heaven.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chhand 10
Maina speaking sorrowfully to her daughter, selected from the opening question; daughter and metaphors outside crop, complete quoted speech retained.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 112 · printed pages 110. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chhand-010. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Maina asks why the Creator who gave Uma such beauty made a mad groom for her; mad modifies the groom rather than the Creator.
- She compares this to forcing the fruit desired from the wish-fulfilling tree to grow on a thorny babul tree, a rhetorical comparison.
- In her anguished quoted speech she threatens to fall from a mountain with her daughter, burn in fire or enter the ocean; none is an enacted event in the selected illustration.
- She says the home may be ruined and the world bring ill fame, yet she will not arrange the wedding while alive; these remain Maina's words rather than endorsed advice or a completed outcome.
Artistic choices
- Maina's approved imaginative appearance is reused; selected opening sorrowful question, not the enactment of any threatened act. Daughter remains outside portrait. Pose, gaze, moist eyes, clothing/ornament detail and palace alcove are artistic, not exact historical reconstruction.
- Complete source facts retained in metadata; source and existing translations unchanged.
- Actual open palm is extended outward at shoulder height rather than just chest; other hand holds veil at mid-torso. Stronger grey hair threads, single visible pearl strand, bough, alcove and ornament counts are artist choices; no exact age or historical reconstruction asserted.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
कस कीन्ह बरु बौराह बिधि जेहिं तुम्हहि सुंदरता दई। जो फलु चहिअ सुरतरुहिं सो बरबस बबूरहिं लागई।। तुम्ह सहित गिरि तें गिरौं पावक जरौं जलनिधि महुँ परौं।। घरु जाउ अपजसु होउ जग जीवत बिबाहु न हौं करौं।।
"What has the maddened Vidhi done, He who gave you such beauty? The fruit that belongs upon the Surataru, the wish-fulfilling tree, He has forced upon a thorny babool instead!"