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राम
Leela Scene

The Invitation Goes to a Hundred Thousand Homes

Bala Kanda, Doha 172

Doha 172 · Movement 2 of 2

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Pratapbhanu rejoices, convinced that the guru before him is the ancient friend from the forest. The priest's face, the secret recognition, and the miraculous return all seem to confirm one another.

Delusion keeps the king from seeing that every confirmation was arranged by the same enemy. Trust has become a closed circle in which deception supplies its own evidence.

At once Pratapbhanu sends invitations to one hundred thousand noble brahmins together with all their families. Across the capital, messengers move toward sacred households, opening the vast feast through which the hidden plot intends to destroy the righteous king.

Royal messengers cross the city while the counterfeit priest prepares a feast of ruin.

Read the passage from the Manas
Pratapbhanu joyfully recognizes the priest’s appearance while remaining unaware of the deception.

AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 172

Firsthalf King joyfully recognizes perceived guru yet remains unaware of deception sourceDOHA172

Source reference and artistic choices

Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 177 · printed pages 175. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-173. Printed numbering may differ.

Source facts

  • King JOYFUL recognizes GURU by appointedcue but UNDERDELUSION remains UNAWARE deception; perceivedPRIESTFORM not actual trueGuru, impersonator identity C172local uncertain retained.
  • Secondhalf immediatelyinvites100THOUSAND EXCELLENTBRAHMINS WITHFAMILIES; no assertion everyfamilymember cursevoice/witness, futurefeast notalreadyserved.

Artistic choices

  • ApprovedD154 KingLEFT naturalwheatbrown curlyblackhair shortbeard rubycrown creamPLUM; approvedD172 royalPRIESTAPPEARANCERIGHT whitefullbeard lowwhitebun marooncream TWOOWNKNEEHANDS. Appearancecopy doesnotclaim actual abductedpriest freed/caveescape; no named impersonator certainty.
  • Kingoneopenlowpalm otherownknee joyfulartistpose fourhands/twoarmsperman; imaginarycreamhomearch flowerbough distantwaterbuildings cushionedseats time/sitearchitecture unverified artisticchoices not clockclaim.

An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.

नृप हरषेउ पहिचानि गुरु भ्रम बस रहा न चेत। बरे तुरत सत सहस बर बिप्र कुटुंब समेत।।172।।

The king rejoiced, believing he recognized his guru, but delusion kept him blind. At once he invited a hundred thousand noble Brahmins, together with all their families.