Do Not Become Moths before Lakshmana's Fire
Bala Kanda, Doha 266
Doha 266 · Movement 2 of 2
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The wise rulers offer the furious kings a final counsel. Set down jealousy, pride, and anger. Fill the eyes with Ram instead, receiving the incomparable form that the moment has placed before them.
Another danger stands beside him. Lakshmana's wrath is a powerful fire, already restrained once by his brother's gesture. To rush against it would be the folly of moths seeking flame.
The warning presents two directions for the same attention. One may behold Ram and become full, or fix upon wounded pride and burn. Nothing in the scene forces the kings toward destruction. They are asked to release the passions that darken sight. Darshan and ruin wait within the same hall, chosen by the gaze.
Ram offers fullness to the eyes; Lakshmana's fire waits for those who choose anger instead.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 266
Full sourceDOHA266; selected one nobleking giving warning.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 259 · printed pages 257. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-267. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Noble kings warn GAZE RAMA fully abandon ENVY PRIDE ANGER all three.
- LAKSHMANA ANGER intense FIRE do not be MOTHS; simile not literal burningpeople/moths or substituted peace-only advice.
Artistic choices
- PASS EXACTLY ONE nobleking head two connectedownarms two ownhands both separately raised outwardpalms beforeownchest, naturalfingers. OPENeyesactualLEFT browfurrow PARTEDwarninglips. Seated artistpose rather than promptstanding, anonymous established model identity retained, ZEROotherpeople. No literalfire/moths burning, named Rama/Lakshmana sourceagents offcrop notdenied. First attempt with unwanted inconsistent princes truthfully preserved labelled draft.
- Exact numericalages/clothes/ornament counts/poses/spatiallayout/gazes/background identities artist choices not historical participant/anatomy/offer/motion census. All source units retained offcrop, no live corpus edits or invented attributed Hindi. C064 refusal and D032 first-original exception unchanged.
- Source threats not actual capture; metaphors/similes not literal fire/moth/animalconflict. Anonymous king/Queen artist models reused without authenticated sameperson or locally sourced propername. Sita received headgarland earflower remain hers and hands empty after C261 Victoryloop rests Rama CHEST.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
देखहु रामहि नयन भरि तजि इरिषा मदु कोहु। लखन रोषु पावकु प्रबल जानि सलभ जनि होहु।।266।।
Behold Rama with your eyes filled full; set aside jealousy, pride, and anger. Know that Lakshmana's fury is a mighty fire. Do not become moths rushing toward it.