The Queens Share the Divine Pudding
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 189
Doha 190 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha calls his beloved wives. Kausalya receives half of the sacred pudding. The remaining half is divided, one portion given to Kaikeyi, and what remains divided again.
Kausalya and Kaikeyi join in giving the two final portions to Sumitra, taking one another's hands with joyful hearts. The distribution becomes an act of shared grace, not competition, binding the future mothers within affection.
All the queens conceive, and happiness fills the palace. From the day Hari enters the womb, prosperity and joy spread through every world. Beauty, virtue, and radiance deepen around the queens as time moves toward the auspicious hour of manifestation.
From one sacred vessel, four divine lives enter three rejoicing mothers.
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तबहिं रायँ प्रिय नारि बोलाईं। कौसल्यादि तहाँ चलि आई।। अर्ध भाग कौसल्याहि दीन्हा। उभय भाग आधे कर कीन्हा।। कैकेई कहँ नृप सो दयऊ। रह्यो सो उभय भाग पुनि भयऊ।। कौसल्या कैकेई हाथ धरि। दीन्ह सुमित्रहि मन प्रसन्न करि।। एहि बिधि गर्भसहित सब नारी। भईं हृदयँ हरषित सुख भारी।। जा दिन तें हरि गर्भहिं आए। सकल लोक सुख संपति छाए।। मंदिर महँ सब राजहिं रानी। सोभा सील तेज की खानीं।। सुख जुत कछुक काल चलि गयऊ। जेहिं प्रभु प्रगट सो अवसर भयऊ।।
Then the king called his beloved wives, and Kausalya and the others came to him. Half the sacred payasam was given to Kausalya. The remaining half was divided into two equal portions.