Himavan Entrusts Uma
Bala Kanda, Doha 101
Doha 101 · Movement 3 of 3
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Himavan addresses Shiva as Lord and speaks from the vulnerability of a father at farewell. Uma is as dear to him as mind and life breath.
He asks that she be accepted humbly within Shiva's household and that every fault of the bride's family be forgiven. The mountain king does not bargain for rank or favour.
With joined hands he seeks only the bridegroom's graciousness and blessing. The father who bears ranges upon his body places his most beloved treasure entirely within another's care. His great shoulders bow low. The altar waits.
Himavan bows, and the weight-bearing mountain entrusts his heart to Shiva.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 101
Maina's maternal plea at Shiva's feet, preceding chhand context
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 118 · printed pages 116. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-102. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Maina, at Shiva's feet in preceding chhand and following narrative, makes the maternal request; not Himavan
- She says Uma is as dear as mind/life, asks accepting as household servant, forgiveness of her faults and pleased blessing; witness Hindi takes faults as Uma's, original pronoun ambiguity not silently changed to our faults
- Requests remain speech, not enacted chores/blessing outcome
Artistic choices
- Approved Maina mature green-sari and Shiva groom appearances reused, kneeling mother speaking with two hands at one visible foot/ankle, Shiva seated quietly listening hands on own knees; exact grip/poses/ages/faces/robes/footrest/seat imagined unauthenticated
- Uma outside crop, no servant labor or father surrender scene; ornate gold seat/floral glass pavilion/mountains/courtyard artist additions, no literal metaphor vision
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
नाथ उमा मन प्रान सम गृहकिंकरी करेहु। छमेहु सकल अपराध अब होइ प्रसन्न बरु देहु।।101।।
"O Lord, Uma is as dear to me as my own mind and life-breath. Accept her as a servant of your household. Forgive all our shortcomings. Be gracious now and grant us your blessing."