Parvati Looks Back
Bala Kanda, Chhand 16
Doha 102 · Movement 2 of 3
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Parvati meets her mother once more and begins to depart, giving fitting blessings to everyone gathered at the threshold.
Her companions lead her toward Shiva, but she turns again and again to look at Mena. The Divine Mother moves toward Kailash while remaining, for these aching moments, the daughter who cannot stop seeing the form that raised her.
Shiva satisfies every petitioner and sets out with Uma. The gods rejoice, flowers fall, and celestial drums sound through the sky. Beneath the cosmic celebration, one repeated backward glance carries the whole tenderness of the departure.
Flowers descend before her, and Parvati keeps turning toward the mother behind.
Read the passage from the Manas
जननिहि बहुरि मिलि चली उचित असीस सब काहूँ दईं। फिरि फिरि बिलोकति मातु तन तब सखीं लै सिव पहिं गई।। जाचक सकल संतोषि संकरु उमा सहित भवन चले। सब अमर हरषे सुमन बरषि निसान नभ बाजे भले।।
Meeting her mother once more, Parvati set out, bestowing fitting blessings upon all. Looking back again and again at her mother's form, her companions then led her to Shiva.