Vishwamitra Serves Roots and Fruits to His Lord
Bala Kanda, Doha 209
Doha 209 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Vishwamitra offers the fruit of all his austerities to Ram. Years of discipline, power, mantra, and accomplishment are no longer possessions once the object of tapasya walks beside him.
He brings the brothers into his hermitage, not merely as royal protectors but as the Lord and his beloved attendant. The threatened sanctuary becomes blessed by the feet for which its prayers had been waiting.
Knowing Ram as the very object of devotion, the sage serves him roots, tubers, and fruits. The food is simple forest fare, yet the offering fulfils a lifetime. Vishwamitra watches the Lord accept from his hands.
All the sage's tapasya ripens into one plate of roots and fruits before Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
आयुष सब समर्पि कै प्रभु निज आश्रम आनि। कंद मूल फल भोजन दीन्ह भगति हित जानि।।209।।
Having offered up the fruit of all his austerities, the sage brought the Lord to his own ashram. Knowing Ram to be the very object of devotion, he served Him roots, tubers, and fruits to eat.