Each Heart Sees a Different Ram
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 238
Doha 241 · Movement 1 of 2
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The princes enter as though beauty itself has accepted bodily form. Dark and fair, noble, brave, and oceans of virtue, they shine in the royal assembly like two full moons among stars.
Yet no single appearance reaches every beholder. Each person sees the Lord according to the disposition within. Heroes behold courage embodied. Wicked kings feel terror before a mighty form, and demons hidden beneath royal garments recognize Death.
The citizens see ornaments of humanity, perfectly delightful to the eyes. Ram is one, but the inward mirror gives back valour, fear, mortality, or tenderness. The assembly reveals itself by the form it finds in him.
One Ram enters the hall, and every heart beholds the truth of its own relation to him.
Read the passage from the Manas
राजकुअँर तेहि अवसर आए। मनहुँ मनोहरता तन छाए।। गुन सागर नागर बर बीरा। सुंदर स्यामल गौर सरीरा।। राज समाज बिराजत रूरे। उडगन महुँ जनु जुग बिधु पूरे।। जिन्ह कें रही भावना जैसी। प्रभु मूरति तिन्ह देखी तैसी।। देखहिं रूप महा रनधीरा। मनहुँ बीर रसु धरें सरीरा।। डरे कुटिल नृप प्रभुहि निहारी। मनहुँ भयानक मूरति भारी।। रहे असुर छल छोनिप बेषा। तिन्ह प्रभु प्रगट कालसम देखा।। पुरबासिन्ह देखे दोउ भाई। नरभूषन लोचन सुखदाई।।
At that very moment the two royal princes arrived, as though the fullness of beauty had draped itself upon their forms. An ocean of virtues, supremely accomplished, excellent warriors both. One dark of body, one fair; each beyond all loveliness.