Beauty Reaches the Frontier of the Three Worlds
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 240
Doha 243 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram and Lakshmana are beautiful without effort, making the splendour of a million Kamadevas seem small. Their faces humble the autumn moon, while lotus eyes and quiet glances enter the hearts of those gathered below.
Earrings sway beside soft cheeks. Gentle speech passes beautiful lips, and a smile brighter than moonlight rests beneath graceful brows. Tilaka shines upon broad foreheads. Dark curls gather above them so richly that rows of black bees would hide in shame.
Yellow scarves cross their heads, folded around fresh flower buds. Fine lines mark their conch-like necks. Ornament after ornament is named, yet each seems less an addition than a sign pointing toward what cannot be contained. Their youthful forms stand where language reaches the frontier of the three worlds' beauty and can proceed no farther.
Flower, moon, lotus, and bee fall silent at the boundary drawn by the brothers' beauty.
Read the passage from the Manas
सहज मनोहर मूरति दोऊ। कोटि काम उपमा लघु सोऊ।। सरद चंद निंदक मुख नीके। नीरज नयन भावते जी के।। चितवत चारु मार मनु हरनी। भावति हृदय जाति नहीं बरनी।। कल कपोल श्रुति कुंडल लोला। चिबुक अधर सुंदर मृदु बोला।। कुमुदबंधु कर निंदक हाँसा। भृकुटी बिकट मनोहर नासा।। भाल बिसाल तिलक झलकाहीं। कच बिलोकि अलि अवलि लजाहीं।। पीत चौतनीं सिरन्हि सुहाई। कुसुम कलीं बिच बीच बनाईं।। रेखें रुचिर कंबु कल गीवाँ। जनु त्रिभुवन सुषमा की सीवाँ।।
Both forms are naturally enchanting. Even a million Kamadevas fall short as comparison. Their lovely faces put the autumn moon to shame. Their lotus eyes delight the very soul. Their charming glances steal the mind of the beholder. The beauty that fills the heart cannot be told in words. Soft cheeks, swaying earrings at the ears, chin and lips and gentle speech, all supremely beautiful. Their smiles put the moon to shame. Graceful brows and an enchanting nose captivate every gaze. On their broad foreheads tilaka marks glisten. Seeing their dark hair, even rows of bees feel humbled. Yellow silk scarves adorn their heads with grace. Flower buds are woven here and there between the folds. Beautiful lines mark their elegant conch-like necks, as though they are the very frontier of the three worlds' beauty.