Canopy and Crown
Bala Kanda, Doha 20
Doha 20 · Movement 2 of 2
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A royal assembly of letters fills the hall of speech. Above them rises Ra, curved like a sovereign canopy, sheltering every sound beneath its authority. At the summit of the court gleams Ma, the crown jewel, small enough to rest upon a letter and bright enough to complete its majesty.
Nothing here is merely ornamental. Canopy and jewel declare the hidden kingship of the Name. All language takes its place beneath these two syllables, and the tongue that utters them becomes a throne room.
Tulsidas beholds the script itself bowing toward Ram.
Ra spreads the canopy. Ma kindles at its crest.
Read the passage from the Manas
एकु छत्रु एकु मुकुटमनि सब बरननि पर जोउ। तुलसी रघुबर नाम के बरन बिराजत दोउ।।20।।
Tulsidas proclaims: the two syllables of Raghubar's name shine in sovereign glory. One stands as a royal canopy over all the letters of the alphabet, and the other gleams as their crown-jewel.