Sita Finds Ram Reflected in Her Jeweled Mirror
Bala Kanda, Chhand 37
Doha 327 · Movement 2 of 3
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Women and apsaras lose composure before the gemmed crown and heart-stealing limbs of the bridegroom. Arati circles with garments, jewels, song, falling flowers, and the praise of bards.
In the kohbar, married women conduct playful customs while Saraswati and Gauri guide the rites. Laughter fills the women's quarters, giving everyone the fruit of human birth through intimate celebration.
Sita sees Ram reflected in the jeweled mirror held in her hand. Fear of separation arrests her arm, and she cannot turn the image away. Only close companions understand the wonder, play, joy, and love passing through her. At last they escort the four couples back toward the guest lodging beneath blessings for long life.
Ram's reflection rests in Sita's hand, and love makes the jeweled mirror too precious to move.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chhand 37
All16lines/fourstanzasPDF314-315 Hindi; selectedSitaownhandgemview, fullkohbar/marriage/blessings/departure factsmetadataoffcrop.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 314, 315 · printed pages 312, 313. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chhand-037. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Groom's greatgemweddingcrown/alllimbs enchant; citywomen/celestialwomen snapfingerstoavertill fortune, wavegemsclothesjewels aarti/songs; godsflowers andsuta/magadha/bards praises.
- Marriedwomenjoyfully bringbride/groomKOHBAR andperformlovingworldlyrites; GAURI teachesLAHKAURI RAMA, SARADA teachesSITA. Sourceprimarylahkauri mutualmorselfeeding not substitutedotherweddingact; fullpalacewomen laughter/merriment.
- JANAKI seesRAMAreflectioninHER OWN HAND GEM, armstaysstill fearingseparation/lostview; metaphorarmvine no literal plantlimbs.
- Sakhis bringALLbeautifulbridegrooms/brides toLODGINGS; widespreadblessings LONG LIFE ALLFOURCOUPLES cityskyjoy.
- Yogicmasters siddhas sages gods beholdLORD/drums, departOWNREALMS joyflowers victorycalls.
Artistic choices
- PASS E02 oneproperSitahead TWOarms TWOownhands. ActualRIGHTnearOWNCHEEK holdsVEILEDGE withsmallGREENgemring, differspromptheart, exactringfingerassignment notcertified; LEFTownwaistgripsVEILEDGE. OpeneyesDOWNLEFT towardring closedjoysmile. Wheatgoldrustredveil pearls roundbindi smallredhairpartmark currentHEADwhitepinkgreenflowers ONEwhiteearflower; OUTPUTadds fewwhitepinkBRAIDFLOWERS artistembellishment notsourcehistoricalflowercount. Gemshine no literalextraRamahead or opticalreflectioncert, no Victorychestloop. Waistcropno repeatedtime/motionwholegroupcertificate.
- 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.
- Ring/greenjewel andsmallshine nearcheek artistcue; sourceRama reflection retainedmetadata without claimtinyidentifiablehumanrendered in gemstone or sourcehistoricalopticalphysics.
- Additionalbraidflowers andexacthandsposition areartistchoices; no ownershipswitch toseparatemirror/anotherperson'shand.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
गाथे महामनि मौर मंजुल अंग सब चित चोरहीं। पुर नारि सुर सुंदरीं बरहि बिलोकि सब तिन तोरहीं।। मनि बसन भूषन वारि आरति करहिं मंगल गावहिं। सुर सुमन बरिसहिं सूत मागध बंदि सुजसु सुनावहीं।।1।। कोहबरहिं आने कुँअर कुँअरि सुआसिनिन्ह सुख पाइ कै। अति प्रीति लौकिक रीति लागीं करन मंगल गाइ कै।। लहकौरि गौरि सिखाव रामहि सीय सन सारद कहैं। रनिवासु हास बिलास रस बस जन्म को फलु सब लहैं।।2।। निज पानि मनि महुँ देखिअति मूरति सुरूपनिधान की। चालति न भुजबल्ली बिलोकनि बिरह भय बस जानकी।। कौतुक बिनोद प्रमोदु प्रेमु न जाइ कहि जानहिं अलीं। बर कुअँरि सुंदर सकल सखीं लवाइ जनवासेहि चलीं।।3।। तेहि समय सुनिअ असीस जहँ तहँ नगर नभ आनँदु महा। चिरु जिअहुँ जोरीं चारु चारयो मुदित मन सबहीं कहा।। जोगीन्द्र सिद्ध मुनीस देव बिलोकि प्रभु दुंदुभि हनी। चले हरषि बरषि प्रसून निज निज लोक जय जय जय भनी।।4।।
The magnificent maura, set with great gems, steals the heart of all who behold his limbs. The women of the city and the celestial apsaras, gazing upon the bridegroom, abandon all composure. With gems, garments and ornaments they wave offerings, perform aarati and sing auspicious songs. The devas shower blossoms from above, while sutas, magadhas and bandis recite his glorious praise. The princes and princesses are brought to the kohbar, and the blessed married women rejoice. With deep affection they follow every worldly custom, performing auspicious rites and singing wedding songs. Goddess Sarada herself teaches Gauri how to instruct Rama and Sita in the sacred rituals. The women's quarters overflow with laughter, delight and rasa; everyone savors the supreme fruit of human birth. Sita beholds the form of that treasury of beauty reflected in the jeweled mirror held in her own hand. Overcome by the dread of separation, Janaki's arms cannot move; her gaze remains fixed, unable to turn away. Such wonder, sport, rapture and love cannot be expressed in words; only the intimate sakhis truly know it. The beautiful companions then escorted the handsome prince and princesses to the janavaasa.