Dust Rises, Smoke Becomes Scripture
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 7
Sortha 7 · Movement 1 of 2
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When the Creator grants discernment, the mind turns from fault and grows devoted to virtue. Yet time, habit, and karma can bend even a good life from its course. Devotees of Hari lift the fallen, break the burden of sorrow, and restore a stainless name. The wicked may perform good acts in noble company, though a hardened inner nature can remain beneath the borrowed form.
The truth of association unfolds across the world in swift, vivid changes. Dust caught by wind climbs into the sky; joined to low water, it sinks as mud. The same parrot learns Ram's name in a saint's dwelling and abuse in another house. Smoke in corrupt company becomes black soot, yet made into ink it carries the words of the Puranas across generations.
Water, fire, and air meet again, not as enemies but as a cloud heavy with life for the earth. Garb can deceive, and humble appearance can shelter greatness, as Jambavan and Hanuman show. Company is never a small matter. It becomes direction, language, altitude, and destiny.
The cloud crosses the scorched field, carrying rain born from the meeting of elements.
Read the passage from the Manas
अस बिबेक जब देइ बिधाता। तब तजि दोष गुनहिं मनु राता।। काल सुभाउ करम बरिआई। भलेउ प्रकृति बस चुकइ भलाई।। सो सुधारि हरिजन जिमि लेहीं। दलि दुख दोष बिमल जसु देहीं।। खलउ करहिं भल पाइ सुसंगू। मिटइ न मलिन सुभाउ अभंगू।। लखि सुबेष जग बंचक जेऊ। बेष प्रताप पूजिअहिं तेऊ।। उधरहिं अंत न होइ निबाहू। कालनेमि जिमि रावन राहू।। किएहुँ कुबेष साधु सनमानू। जिमि जग जामवंत हनुमानू।। हानि कुसंग सुसंगति लाहू। लोकहुँ बेद बिदित सब काहू।। गगन चढ़इ रज पवन प्रसंगा। कीचहिं मिलइ नीच जल संगा।। साधु असाधु सदन सुक सारीं। सुमिरहिं राम देहिं गनि गारी।। धूम कुसंगति कारिख होई। लिखिअ पुरान मंजु मसि सोई।। सोइ जल अनल अनिल संघाता। होइ जलद जग जीवन दाता।।
When the Creator bestows viveka (true discrimination), the mind leaves faults behind and clings to virtue. Yet even good souls, overpowered by time, nature, and the force of karma, may slip from goodness. The Lord's devotees set them right again; they crush their sorrows and faults and bestow upon them pure, stainless fame. Even the wicked perform good deeds when they find satsanga (holy company), though their deep-rooted impure nature does not fully depart.