The Power Beneath Creation
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 73
Doha 73 · Movement 1 of 2
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The dream command is clear: the mountain daughter must go and perform tapasya, knowing Narada's words to be true. Her parents accept the counsel, for austerity gives lasting good and burns away sorrow and fault.
The vision expands from one young woman's vow to the architecture of the cosmos. Through tapas, Brahma creates. Through tapas, Vishnu sustains the worlds. Through tapas, Shiva dissolves them, and Shesha bears the immense weight of earth. Beneath creation, preservation, dissolution, and support stands concentrated spiritual power.
Parvati consoles her parents and departs joyfully toward that foundation. Behind her, family, father, and mother are overcome, their mouths unable to shape farewell. She walks toward hardship with the happiness of one approaching the Beloved.
The mountain household falls silent as Parvati steps onto the road that upholds the worlds.
Read the passage from the Manas
करहि जाइ तपु सैलकुमारी। नारद कहा सो सत्य बिचारी।। मातु पितहि पुनि यह मत भावा। तपु सुखप्रद दुख दोष नसावा।। तपबल रचइ प्रपंच बिधाता। तपबल बिष्नु सकल जग त्राता।। तपबल संभु करहिं संघारा। तपबल सेषु धरइ महिभारा।। तप अधार सब सृष्टि भवानी। करहि जाइ तपु अस जियँ जानी।। सुनत बचन बिसमित महतारी। सपन सुनायउ गिरिहि हँकारी।। मातु पितुहि बहुबिधि समुझाई। चलीं उमा तप हित हरषाई।। प्रिय परिवार पिता अरु माता। भए बिकल मुख आव न बाता।।
"Go and perform tapasya, O daughter of the mountain. Reflect upon Narada's words and know them to be true." This counsel found favor with both mother and father, for tapasya bestows happiness and destroys all sorrow and fault.