The Gods Count Their Eyes and Envy Indra
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 314
Doha 317 · Movement 1 of 3
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Even Saraswati cannot describe Ram's horse. Shiva uses all fifteen eyes upon the bridegroom. Brahma rejoices through eight and then regrets possessing so few. Karttikeya delights in having still more.
Indra looks upon Ram through the thousand eyes born from Gautama's curse and now calls that humiliation a supreme blessing. The other gods envy him, declaring no one in heaven as fortunate today.
Divine sight becomes playful arithmetic before beauty that no number can exhaust. More eyes bring more opportunity, never completion. Gods and royal assemblies share the same delight, each discovering that darshan turns former limitation, curse, or bodily peculiarity into grace when every opening is directed toward Ram.
Before Ram, even gods discover that no number of eyes is enough, yet every eye can become blessed.
Read the passage from the Manas
जेहिं बर बाजि रामु असवारा। तेहि सारदउ न बरनै पारा।। संकरु राम रूप अनुरागे। नयन पंचदस अति प्रिय लागे।। हरि हित सहित रामु जब जोहे। रमा समेत रमापति मोहे।। निरखि राम छबि बिधि हरषाने। आठइ नयन जानि पछिताने।। सुर सेनप उर बहुत उछाहू। बिधि ते डेवढ़ लोचन लाहू।। रामहि चितव सुरेस सुजाना। गौतम श्रापु परम हित माना।। देव सकल सुरपतिहि सिहाहीं। आजु पुरंदर सम कोउ नाहीं।। मुदित देवगन रामहि देखी। नृपसमाज दुहुँ हरषु बिसेषी।।
The noble horse upon which Rama rides, even Sharada (Saraswati) cannot describe it fully. Shankara (Shiva) became enamored of Rama's beauty; his fifteen eyes found the sight most dear. When Rama gazed upon Hari with love, Ramaapati (Vishnu) along with Ramaa (Lakshmi) was enchanted. Seeing Rama's splendor, Vidhi (Brahma) rejoiced, then lamented that he had only eight eyes. The commander of the gods (Karttikeya) felt immense elation in his heart, blessed with one and a half times more eyes than Brahma. The wise Suresa (Indra) gazed upon Rama and considered Gautama's curse to be supremely beneficial. All the gods envied Indra, saying, 'Today no one equals Purandara in fortune.' The host of gods rejoiced upon beholding Rama, and both royal assemblies overflowed with special delight.