Eighty Seven Thousand Years of Silence
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 60
Doha 60 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sati's unspeakable sorrow endures while Shiva remains in samadhi. Eighty seven thousand years pass across Kailash. Snow gathers and vanishes through ages of light, yet the imperishable Shambhu sits beyond the movement of time.
At last he emerges and begins to remember Ram's Name. Sati knows the Lord of the universe has awakened. She approaches, bows at his feet, and receives a seat before him. Shiva does not reopen the wound. He begins to tell the nectar sweet stories of Hari.
Elsewhere, Brahma appoints Daksha chief among the Prajapatis. Great authority enters his hands, and pride follows close behind. The sacred household on Kailash rests in the sound of Hari Katha while another household prepares the consequence of power intoxicated by itself. Tulsidas observes the danger plainly: dominion rarely arrives without the shadow of arrogance.
As Ram Katha flows on Kailash, pride takes its seat in Daksha's heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
एहि बिधि दुखित प्रजेसकुमारी। अकथनीय दारुन दुखु भारी।। बीतें संबत सहस सतासी। तजी समाधि संभु अबिनासी।। राम नाम सिव सुमिरन लागे। जानेउ सतीं जगतपति जागे।। जाइ संभु पद बंदनु कीन्ही। सनमुख संकर आसनु दीन्हा।। लगे कहन हरिकथा रसाला। दच्छ प्रजेस भए तेहि काला।। देखा बिधि बिचारि सब लायक। दच्छहि कीन्ह प्रजापति नायक।। बड़ अधिकार दच्छ जब पावा। अति अभिमानु हृदयँ तब आवा।। नहिं कोउ अस जनमा जग माहीं। प्रभुता पाइ जाहि मद नाहीं।।
In this way Prajapati's daughter suffered; her terrible sorrow was beyond all telling. Eighty-seven thousand years passed. Then the imperishable Shambhu rose from samadhi.