Heaven Declares the King Innocent
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 174
Doha 174 · Movement 1 of 2
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The brahmins accuse Pratapbhanu of summoning their whole community to destruction. God preserved their dharma, they say, but the king and his family will perish. Within the year no one will remain in his lineage to offer water to the dead.
As fear overwhelms the king, another voice speaks from heaven. The curse was given without reflection. Pratapbhanu committed no offence. Amazement passes through the assembly, but innocence revealed after utterance cannot draw the words back.
The king runs to the place of preparation. Neither food nor the brahmin cook can be found. He returns with immeasurable worry, tells the sacred guests everything, and falls terrified upon the earth. The evidence of the plot has vanished, leaving only divine testimony and an irrevocable curse.
Heaven clears Pratapbhanu's name, but the curse remains alive above his fallen body.
Read the passage from the Manas
छत्रबंधु तैं बिप्र बोलाई। घालै लिए सहित समुदाई।। ईस्वर राखा धरम हमारा। जैहसि तैं समेत परिवारा।। संबत मध्य नास तव होऊ। जलदाता न रहिहि कुल कोऊ।। नृप सुनि श्राप बिकल अति त्रासा। भै बहोरि बर गिरा अकासा।। बिप्रहु श्राप बिचारि न दीन्हा। नहिं अपराध भूप कछु कीन्हा।। चकित बिप्र सब सुनि नभबानी। भूप गयउ जहँ भोजन खानी।। तहँ न असन नहिं बिप्र सुआरा। फिरेउ राउ मन सोच अपारा।। सब प्रसंग महिसुरन्ह सुनाई। त्रसित परेउ अवनीं अकुलाई।।
"You false Kshatriya! You summoned the Brahmins and destroyed them, the whole assembly together. God has preserved our dharma. You shall perish, you and all your family."