Lakshmana Swears by His Master's Feet
Bala Kanda, Doha 253
Doha 253 · Movement 2 of 2
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Lakshmana's vow rings through the bow hall. By Ram's glory and strength, he would snap Shiva's bow as easily as the tender stalk of a mushroom.
He stakes not merely reputation but the identity carried in his hands. If he fails, he swears by the feet of his Lord that he will never again take up bow or quiver.
The oath reveals the source of his fearlessness. Lakshmana does not claim an isolated power. His confidence flows entirely from Ram's majesty, and failure would mean that his warrior's hands no longer deserve their weapons. Every ruler who boasted earlier trusted himself. Lakshmana makes his boast an offering and seals it with surrender.
His oath is fierce, but its deepest foundation is devotion to Ram.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 253
FullDoha253 retained; selectedLakshmana earnestrespectfuloath beforeRama, bow/quiver offcrop notdenied.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 248 · printed pages 246. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-254. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Lakshmana byYOURGLORY/STRENGTH LORD wouldBREAKBOW LIKE UMBRELLASTAFF simile.
- IF FAILURE swearLORD FEET NEVER TAKE BOW AND QUIVER again; BOTHnouns retained oath conditional notactualdiscarding/bowbreaking.
Artistic choices
- PASS1head2connectedownarms2naturalNAMASTEpalms distinctwrists chest eyesUPLEFT firmPARTEDlips mildfurrow. No actualfeet oathcontact/weaponcensus certificate.
- Current identitiesLakshmanaFAIR/RamaBLUEGREY blackcurls brown eyes whiteUredmarks yellowfoldedfourcornerfabriccaps whitepinkbuds onepeacockfeather each creampearlsGREENTULSIgarlands yellowgold hoops creamarmstripes; source numericalage/material/count/assemblywearingtime artistunverified.
- All other source participants offcropnotdenied; exactpose gaze venue/architecture countsartist no fullcensus/audio/wholechronology/physicalmetaphor orconditionalcosmicfeat certificate. D254 bowANDquiver retained sourceoffcrop notabsence. C251 youngLION metaphor notactualanimal/head. Sourcehash/original/Hindi gaps unchanged.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
तोरौं छत्रक दंड जिमि तव प्रताप बल नाथ। जौं न करौं प्रभु पद सपथ कर न धरौं धनु भाथ।।253।।
"By your glory and strength, O Lord, I shall snap it as easily as the stalk of a mushroom. If I fail to do so, I swear by the feet of my Master: may I never again hold a bow in my hand."