Stay Until Dawn
Bala Kanda, Sortha 159
Sortha 159 · Movement 2 of 2
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The hermit describes the night exactly as Pratapbhanu has experienced the day. Darkness covers the forest, its depth is dangerous, and no path can be found through it.
Even wisdom cannot create a road where the eye sees nothing. The king is urged to recognize the hour, accept the limits of his condition, and remain in the ashram rather than risk the wilderness again.
Stay here today, the host says, and leave when dawn returns. The invitation sounds fatherly and prudent. Beneath it, the defeated ruler gains an entire night in which to enter the trust of the sovereign he hates.
Night closes every forest path, and Pratapbhanu accepts shelter inside his enemy's design.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Sortha 159
FalseasceticinvitesstayTONIGHT leaveDAWN; secondTulsiassistance/fatecommentmetadataonly
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 166 · printed pages 164. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-160. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Groupedreader160 containsTWOsourceDOHAS159क159ख notSoratha: FIRSTfalseascetic saysgraveNIGHT deepFOREST noCLEARPATH STAYTODAY leaveatDAWN.
- SECOND isAUTHORTULSI assistance accordingFATE comesITSELFtohimortakeshimTHERE; pronounASSISTANCE notpersonifiedFATEherself. Selectedfirstinvitation only.
Artistic choices
- Approvedfakeformerking C158 angularbrownface greythinmoustache cleanjaw greystemplesknot creamOLIVEshawl woodbeads retained exactagefacewardrobe unverified.
- Nightforesthut seatedownknee/openlowpalm invitationspeech towardoffLEFTking, oneCLAYOILLAMP hypotheticallightingprop/site notassertedsourcepossession; no sunrise/sleepalready/fatepersonification/realSainthood.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
निसा घोर गम्भीर बन पंथ न सुनहु सुजान। बसहु आजु अस जानि तुम्ह जाएहु होत बिहान।।159(क)।। तुलसी जसि भवतब्यता तैसी मिलइ सहाइ। आपुनु आवइ ताहि पहिं ताहि तहाँ लै जाइ।।159(ख)।।
"The night is dark, the forest deep, and there is no path, O wise one. Knowing this, stay here today. You may leave at dawn."