Under One Moon, Every Being
Bala Kanda, Sortha 7
Sortha 7 · Movement 2 of 2
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Planets, medicines, water, wind, and cloth pass through changing conjunctions. In one arrangement they heal or shelter; in another they harm. The wise look beyond the isolated thing and see the company, timing, and use that shape its power.
Above them, the moon crosses bright and dark fortnights. Light and shadow belong to both, yet the world gives one fame and the other blame because the moon appears to grow in one and diminish in the other. Names divide what moves within a single celestial rhythm.
Tulsidas then widens his bow until nothing remains outside it. Every inert and conscious life is pervaded by Ram. Gods, demons, human beings, nagas, birds, spirits, ancestors, gandharvas, kinnaras, and night wanderers stand beneath the same moon of awareness. The poet joins both hands before all of them and asks for grace.
Across the bright half and the dark, his folded hands remain raised to the whole creation.
Read the passage from the Manas
ग्रह भेषज जल पवन पट पाइ कुजोग सुजोग। होहि कुबस्तु सुबस्तु जग लखहिं सुलच्छन लोग।।7(क)।। सम प्रकास तम पाख दुहुँ नाम भेद बिधि कीन्ह। ससि सोषक पोषक समुझि जग जस अपजस दीन्ह।।7(ख)।। जड़ चेतन जग जीव जत सकल राममय जानि। बंदउँ सब के पद कमल सदा जोरि जुग पानि।।7(ग)।। देव दनुज नर नाग खग प्रेत पितर गंधर्ब। बंदउँ किंनर रजनिचर कृपा करहु अब सर्ब।।7(घ)।।
Planets, medicines, water, wind, and cloth all become harmful or helpful depending on the company they keep. The wise perceive this truth clearly. Both fortnights, the bright and the dark, hold equal measures of light and shadow, yet Vidhi (the Creator) gave them different names. The moon nourishes in one and diminishes in the other; so the world bestows yash (fame) upon the bright fortnight and apyash (infamy) upon the dark.