The Assembly Becomes a Hall of Living Mirrors
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 239
Doha 242 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram sits before the bow, yet the form visible upon the platform changes with every heart that beholds him. The learned see the cosmic Person, countless faces, hands, feet, eyes, and heads extending through all directions while the youthful prince remains quietly present among them.
Janaka's household sees beloved kin. The king and queen look upon him with the tenderness of parents toward a child. Yogis find the supreme reality, peaceful, pure, equal, and self-luminous. Devotees recognize in both brothers the cherished Lord who gives every joy.
Sita sees Ram through a love no speech can enter. Even she cannot tell what unfolds within her heart, so no poet may claim to describe it. One prince occupies one seat, but the entire pavilion has become a hall of living mirrors, each revealing the disposition turned toward him.
Ram remains one, while every heart discovers the form it has come prepared to see.
Read the passage from the Manas
बिदुषन्ह प्रभु बिराटमय दीसा। बहु मुख कर पग लोचन सीसा।। जनक जाति अवलोकहिं कैसैं। सजन सगे प्रिय लागहिं जैसें।। सहित बिदेह बिलोकहिं रानी। सिसु सम प्रीति न जाति बखानी।। जोगिन्ह परम तत्वमय भासा। सांत सुद्ध सम सहज प्रकासा।। हरिभगतन्ह देखे दोउ भ्राता। इष्टदेव इव सब सुख दाता।। रामहि चितव भायँ जेहि सीया। सो सनेहु सुखु नहिं कथनीया।। उर अनुभवति न कहि सक सोऊ। कवन प्रकार कहै कबि कोऊ।। एहि बिधि रहा जाहि जस भाऊ। तेहिं तस देखेउ कोसलराऊ।।
To the learned, the Lord appeared in His Virat form, the cosmic body with countless faces, hands, feet, eyes, and heads. And how did Janaka's own family behold Him? Like a youth radiant with the full moon's splendor.