Bala Rama Dances before His Reflection and Lures the Crow with a Sweetmeat
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 75
Doha 78 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rosy hands open beneath ornamented arms. Rama's shoulders carry the promise of a young lion, while his graceful neck, chin, cheeks, and enchanting nose complete a face at the boundary of beauty. Coral lips release soft babble, and two pairs of clear white teeth brighten his moonlike smile.
Blue-lotus eyes that free beings from becoming shine beneath curved brows. Gorochan glows upon his forehead, dark curls gather around his ears, and a fine yellow garment covers the small emerald body. His prattle and glances repeatedly capture Bhushundi's heart.
The prince dances when he sees his own reflection in the courtyard. Then he turns the game toward the crow. Rama crawls forward with gleeful sounds, reaching to catch him. Bhushundi flutters away, and the child holds up a sweetmeat to lure him near again. The sage grows shy while telling it. The Lord worshipped by worlds is wholly present in a game of approach and retreat with one delighted bird.
Rama offers a sweetmeat with one rosy hand, and an immortal sage forgets every universe for the joy of being chased.
Read the passage from the Manas
अरुन पानि नख करज मनोहर। बाहु बिसाल बिभूषन सुंदर।। कंध बाल केहरि दर ग्रीवा। चारु चिबुक आनन छबि सींवा।। कलबल बचन अधर अरुनारे। दुइ दुइ दसन बिसद बर बारे।। ललित कपोल मनोहर नासा। सकल सुखद ससि कर सम हासा।। नील कंज लोचन भव मोचन। भ्राजत भाल तिलक गोरोचन।। बिकट भृकुटि सम श्रवन सुहाए। कुंचित कच मेचक छबि छाए।। पीत झीनि झगुली तन सोही। किलकनि चितवनि भावति मोही।। रूप रासि नृप अजिर बिहारी। नाचहिं निज प्रतिबिंब निहारी।। मोहि सन करहीं बिबिध बिधि क्रीड़ा। बरनत मोहि होति अति ब्रीड़ा।। किलकत मोहि धरन जब धावहिं। चलउँ भागि तब पूप देखावहिं।।
His hands are rosy-red with beautiful nails and fingers. His mighty arms are adorned with lovely ornaments. His shoulders are like a young lion's, with a graceful neck. His charming chin and face are the very boundary of beauty. His sweet babbling words come from coral-red lips. His pairs of teeth are pure white and excellent. His cheeks are lovely and His nose enchanting. His smile is delightful as the moon's rays. His eyes are like blue lotuses, liberating from worldly bondage. His forehead shines with a tilaka of gorochan paste. His eyebrows are beautifully arched and His ears are lovely. His curly dark hair spreads a cloud-like beauty. A fine yellow garment adorns His body beautifully. His playful prattling and glances captivate me. This treasure of beauty, the young prince, plays in the courtyard. He dances while gazing at His own reflection. He plays with me in various delightful ways. Describing this fills me with great tenderness. When He crawls toward me with gleeful sounds, I run away, and then He shows me a sweetmeat to lure me back.