The Father Walks Beside the Departing Procession
Bala Kanda, Doha 102
Doha 102 · Movement 3 of 3
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Himavan walks beside the departing party, unable to let formal farewell end his service. Deep affection carries the father beyond the gates and along the road with his daughter.
The bull bannered Shiva honours him in many ways, giving consolation until the moment of separation can no longer be postponed.
At last Vrishaketu bids Himavan return. The mountain king stops while the procession continues, and the distance between Parvati's old home and new home begins to open. Love remains standing where duty turns back. The road continues without him now.
Himavan stands upon the road until the wedding procession passes beyond the reach of a father's steps.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 102
Shiva reassuring Himavan at parting after affectionate escort
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 119 · printed pages 117. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-103. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Himavan goes along out of deep affection to escort the party
- Vrishaketu/Shiva reassures/satisfies him in varied ways and bids farewell; gifts are not specified by this doha
- Selected reassuring parting; Uma/company outside crop, no claim Shiva travels alone
Artistic choices
- Approved Himavan/Shiva appearances reused, father standing joined hands/head slightlyinclined and Shiva kind speaking/low open reassuring palm/other hand at waist, exact ages/faces/poses/robes imagined unauthenticated
- Quiet mountain path/home terrace/bough/coral field/peaks artistic terrain not authenticated Kailasa or Meru route; no gift exchange/promise or bullbanner object inferred from epithet
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
चले संग हिमवंतु तब पहुँचावन अति हेतु। बिबिध भाँति परितोषु करि बिदा कीन्ह बृषकेतु।।102।।
Himavan then walked alongside them, escorting the party out of deep love. Vrishaketu (Shiva, whose banner bears the bull) satisfied him in many ways, then bade him farewell.