Even Lakshmi Is Named with Hesitation
Bala Kanda, Doha 247
Doha 247 · Movement 2 of 2
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Suppose the imagined ocean of beauty were truly churned. Suppose from its nectar arose Lakshmi herself, the source of loveliness and delight, radiant with every perfection that poets have ever sought to praise.
Even then, a careful poet would pause before speaking. To say that such a goddess was equal to Sita would require humility and hesitation, not the confidence of an accomplished comparison.
The doha leaves Sita beyond the final image it creates. Language reaches its most resplendent possibility, then bows. Her beauty is not made greater by being likened to Lakshmi. Lakshmi becomes the nearest name poetry can offer before reverence asks poetry to fall silent.
At the summit of praise, the poet lowers his voice and names only equality.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 247
Full Doha247 retained; portrait of comparison target Sita, not actual new Lakshmi/churning event or doctrinehierarchy.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 243 · printed pages 241. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-248. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- IF Lakshmi arose IN THIS WAY preceding counterfactual beauty-ocean/tortoise/rope/Mandara/Kamadeva apparatus, rootBEAUTYJOY.
- EVEN THEN poets WITH HESITATION would callher EQUAL SITA.
- Hypothetical createdLakshmi notactualevent/universal hierarchy over independentlydistinctLakshmi.
- Modernwitness footnote uncreatedLakshmiSita ownform sourcecommentary not independentlyverifieddoctrine.
Artistic choices
- PASS one head two connected ownarms two natural distincthands ownRIGHTchest ownLEFTcoveredwaist. ActualOPENeyesDOWNRIGHT calmclosedlips, notgrief. Receivedheadgarland and whiteearflower retained; lowerfeetoutcrop.
- Canonical Sita warmgoldenwheatbrown slenderoval delicate nose blacksidepartlowbraid rustcoralGOLDveil modestcoveredblouse WHITEearflower pearls bindihoopsbangles receivedHEADgarland whitepinkorangegreen artistlaterwearingtiming sourceunverified; numericalage notassigned. Notanonymouscompanion/Ahalya/queen.
- Exactpose/gaze ceremonycanopy architecture ornamentalcounts flowergarlandspecies materials artist. C245 handheldvictoryloop whitepinksmallpetalflowersgreenleaves not lotusmaterialcertificate; sourceLOTUSHANDSsimile humanhands. Other source participants/comparative deities offcropnotdenied fullfacts retained; no audio/fullchronology/crowdcensus/actualchurning or currentwedding/bowbreak certificate.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
एहि बिधि उपजै लच्छि जब सुंदरता सुख मूल। तदपि सकोच समेत कबि कहहिं सीय समतूल।।247।।
Even if Lakshmi herself were to arise in this manner, she who is the very root of beauty and bliss, still the poets would say only with great hesitation that she is merely equal to Sita.