The Gods Are Sent into Vanara Bodies
Bala Kanda, Doha 187
Doha 187 · Movement 2 of 2
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After the divine promise, Brahma prepares the gods for participation rather than spectatorship. They must leave the security of celestial identity and descend toward the earth they have asked Hari to save.
Assume vanara bodies, he commands. Strength, agility, wildness, loyalty, and forest life will become vessels for powers once seated in heaven.
There they are to serve the feet of Shri Hari. The future bridge, search, alliance, and battle begin inside this instruction. Ravana dismissed monkeys when naming the exceptions to his boon, and heaven now enters precisely through the form his pride considered beneath fear.
The gods leave their celestial thrones and move toward the forests in vanara form.
Read the passage from the Manas
निज लोकहि बिरंचि गे देवन्ह इहइ सिखाइ। बानर तनु धरि धरि महि हरि पद सेवहु जाइ।।187।।
Brahma then returned to his own realm, having given the gods this teaching: "Assume the bodies of vanaras and go down to Earth. There, serve the feet of Shri Hari."