The Boar with the Moon Between Its Tusks
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 156
Doha 156 · Movement 1 of 2
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Pratapbhanu seeks no reward from his righteous deeds. Whatever he performs through mind, speech, and action is offered to Vasudeva. Then one day the wise king mounts an excellent horse, gathers a fully equipped hunting retinue, and enters the deep forests of the Vindhya mountains.
After pursuing deer through the wilderness, he sees an immense boar. Its black mass appears like Rahu hiding in the forest after swallowing the moon, yet the imagined moon is too large for its mouth and seems caught between terrible shining tusks.
The animal's body is massive and heavy with power. Horses snort, paw the earth, and lift their ears in alarm. Against the ordered life of the righteous king stands a single wild form, strange enough to draw him away from measure.
In the Vindhya shadows, a black boar seems to carry the swallowed moon between its tusks.
Read the passage from the Manas
हृदयँ न कछु फल अनुसंधाना। भूप बिबेकी परम सुजाना।। करइ जे धरम करम मन बानी। बासुदेव अर्पित नृप ग्यानी।। चढ़ि बर बाजि बार एक राजा। मृगया कर सब साजि समाजा।। बिंध्याचल गभीर बन गयऊ। मृग पुनीत बहु मारत भयऊ।। फिरत बिपिन नृप दीख बराहू। जनु बन दुरेउ ससिहि ग्रसि राहू।। बड़ बिधु नहि समात मुख माहीं। मनहुँ क्रोधबस उगिलत नाहीं।। कोल कराल दसन छबि गाई। तनु बिसाल पीवर अधिकाई।। घुरुघुरात हय आरौ पाएँ। चकित बिलोकत कान उठाएँ।।
In his heart he sought no fruit whatsoever; the king was discerning and supremely wise. Whatever righteous deeds he performed in thought, word, and deed, he offered them all to Vasudeva, counting nothing as his own.