The Heavenly Voice Stops the Feast
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 173
Doha 173 · Movement 1 of 2
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Wearing the royal priest's form, Kalketu prepares the four scriptural kinds of food. Maya multiplies the kitchen into countless dishes, rich enough to honour the immense assembly. Beneath that abundance, meat from many animals is cooked and brahmin flesh is secretly mixed into the meal.
One hundred thousand brahmins and their families arrive. Their feet are washed, places are given with respect, and the king takes up service. At the instant food is about to leave his hand, a voice breaks from the sky.
Rise and return home, the warning commands. Great harm is hidden here. The food contains the flesh of a brahmin. Trusting the celestial voice, every twice born guest stands, while Pratapbhanu remains amid the overturned hospitality, distressed and unable to understand what has entered his house.
Before the first plate is served, heaven exposes death inside the royal kitchen.
Read the passage from the Manas
उपरोहित जेवनार बनाई। छरस चारि बिधि जसि श्रुति गाई।। मायामय तेहिं कीन्ह रसोई। बिंजन बहु गनि सकइ न कोई।। बिबिध मृगन्ह कर आमिष राँधा। तेहि महुँ बिप्र माँसु खल साँधा।। भोजन कहुँ सब बिप्र बोलाए। पद पखारि सादर बैठाए।। परुसन जबहिं लाग महिपाला। भै अकासबानी तेहि काला।। बिप्रबृंद उठि उठि गृह जाहू। है बड़ि हानि अन्न जनि खाहू।। भयउ रसोईं भूसुर माँसू। सब द्विज उठे मानि बिस्वासू।। भूप बिकल मति मोहँ भुलानी। भावी बस आव मुख बानी।।
The false priest prepared the feast with six flavors and four kinds, just as the Vedas prescribe. But the cooking was wrought through maya. The dishes were so many that no one could count them.