Dark Cow, White Milk
Bala Kanda, Sortha 10
Sortha 10 · Movement 3 of 3
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Sandalwood is not rejected because its grain appears ordinary. Growing upon the Malaya mountain, it receives the fragrance for which every hand honours it. The wood is known by what association has awakened within it.
A dark cow stands in the pasture and gives milk of spotless whiteness, nourishing and sweet. No wise person refuses the gift because of the colour of its source. In the same way, village speech may carry sounds far from the refinement of a royal court, yet it becomes precious when it sings the fame of Sita and Ram.
The listener drinks what is pure and allows the outer form to remain what it is.
From the dark flank of the cow, white milk fills every waiting vessel.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Sortha 10
A peaceful black cow stands beside a bowl of white milk and aromatic wood, illustrating two source comparisons.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 33 · printed pages 31. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-011. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Speech becomes dear through Rama's glory like wood honoured through Malaya association
- Dark cow's white nourishing milk compares with rustic speech praising Sita and Rama
Artistic choices
- Black cow, milk bowl, contextual aromatic wood arrangement and landscape are imagined symbolic pairing
- No literal witnessed cow scene, milking episode or divine cow identity
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
प्रिय लागिहि अति सबहि मम भनिति राम जस संग। दारु बिचारु कि करइ कोउ बंदिअ मलय प्रसंग।।10(क)।। स्याम सुरभि पय बिसद अति गुनद करहिं सब पान। गिरा ग्राम्य सिय राम जस गावहिं सुनहिं सुजान।।10(ख)।।
My composition will become dear to all because it carries the glory of Ram. Does anyone scrutinize the wood of sandalwood? It is worshipped simply because of its association with the Malaya mountains. A dark cow gives the whitest, sweetest milk, and all drink it with delight. In the same way, even rustic speech becomes worthy when it sings of Sita and Ram. The wise listen to it with joy.