The Four Armed Lord Becomes a Crying Child
Bala Kanda, Chhand 21
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The compassionate friend of the lowly appears before Kausalya in a wondrous form that steals the minds of sages. His body is dark as a rain cloud, his eyes vast and beautiful, four arms bearing divine weapons. Ornaments and a forest garland rest upon the ocean of splendour.
Kausalya joins her hands. How can she praise the infinite One whom Veda and Purana declare beyond Maya, guna, knowledge, and measure? The ocean of compassion and source of every virtue, within whose every pore lie universes, has manifested for her. How can the One containing creation dwell inside her womb and heart?
Ram smiles and prepares the tenderness of his Leela. Kausalya asks him to relinquish the majestic form and enact the incomparable play of an infant. The all knowing Lord becomes a child and begins to cry. Those who sing this mystery reach Hari's feet and do not fall into the well of becoming.
Four divine arms withdraw, and the Lord of heaven announces himself with an infant's cry.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chhand 21
Kaushalya joined-hand praise toward the initially manifested Lord off frame; full four-stanza sequence retained.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 194, 195 · printed pages 192, 193. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chhand-021. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Stanza1: compassionate Lord helpful to Kaushalya manifests; mother rejoices at wondrous form enchanting sages. Pleasing eyes, dark cloud-colored body, four arms with His weapons, ornaments and forest garland, large eyes and beauty; foe of Khara.
- Stanza2: mother joins BOTH hands and asks how to praise the infinite, beyond Maya, qualities and knowledge, measureless as Vedas/Puranas say; Lord ocean of compassion/joy and virtues praised by Vedas/saints manifests for her welfare and love for devotees.
- Stanza3: Vedas describe Maya-created universes at every hair-pore; that He dwelt in her heart/womb seems astonishing even to the steady. When knowledge arises, He smiles, desires varied deeds and tells a lovely story explaining how she can attain filial/maternal love.
- Stanza4: mother asks to abandon THIS form and perform dear infant play; He hears and takes the DISTINCT crying infant form. Those who sing this deed are said to reach Hari's feet and not fall into the worldly well.
- The initial four-armed manifestation, dialogue and later infant form are successive parts; no mother holding the four-armed Lord is stated. No later cosmic vision from source201 or universal all-India/exclusive social reception claim is imported.
Artistic choices
- Selected solo mother's waist-up stance, upward gaze, slight speaking lips, clothing and imagined palace frame are staging.
- Kaushalya's approved appearance retained; four-armed Lord and later crying infant outside selected crop, complete sequence retained in metadata.
- Complete source facts retained in metadata; source and existing translations unchanged.
- Actual distant garden tower, trees and columned arch are imaginative setting; appearance retains approved Kaushalya cream/magenta veil, gray-thread low braid and pearls.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
भए प्रगट कृपाला दीनदयाला कौसल्या हितकारी। हरषित महतारी मुनि मन हारी अद्भुत रूप बिचारी।। लोचन अभिरामा तनु घनस्यामा निज आयुध भुज चारी। भूषन बनमाला नयन बिसाला सोभासिंधु खरारी।। कह दुइ कर जोरी अस्तुति तोरी केहि बिधि करौं अनंता। माया गुन ग्यानातीत अमाना बेद पुरान भनंता।। करुना सुख सागर सब गुन आगर जेहि गावहिं श्रुति संता। सो मम हित लागी जन अनुरागी भयउ प्रगट श्रीकंता।। ब्रह्मांड निकाया निर्मित माया रोम रोम प्रति बेद कहै। मम उर सो बासी यह उपहासी सुनत धीर पति थिर न रहै।। उपजा जब ग्याना प्रभु मुसकाना चरित बहुत बिधि कीन्ह चहै। कहि कथा सुहाई मातु बुझाई जेहि प्रकार सुत प्रेम लहै।। माता पुनि बोली सो मति डौली तजहु तात यह रूपा। कीजै सिसुलीला अति प्रियसीला यह सुख परम अनूपा।। सुनि बचन सुजाना रोदन ठाना होइ बालक सुरभूपा। यह चरित जे गावहिं हरिपद पावहिं ते न परहिं भवकूपा।।
The Compassionate One appeared, the Friend of the lowly, Kausalya's own Benefactor. The mother was overcome with joy. His wondrous form enchanted the minds of sages.