Bala Rama Reaches after the Crow, and His Arm Follows beyond the Sky
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 77
Doha 80 · Movement 1 of 2
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Without Hari-bhajan, the suffering of beings cannot end. Avidya does not bind Hari's servant as it binds the world; by the Lord's impulse, true knowledge acts within the devotee, preserves the servant, and deepens the loving distinction through which bhakti is offered.
Rama sees Bhushundi bewildered and smiles. No one else knows the secret of the coming play, neither the younger brothers nor mother nor father. The dark child crawls forward on rosy hands and knees, intent upon catching the little crow.
Bhushundi takes wing. Rama stretches out an arm. The crow climbs above the palace, above Ayodhya, and farther into the sky, but every time he looks aside the child's hand remains beside him. The courtyard game has broken its visible boundary without changing its tenderness. Bala Rama is still reaching playfully, while the sage now flees through heights where no infant body could follow.
The courtyard falls away beneath Bhushundi, yet Bala Rama's rosy hand remains close enough to close around him.
Read the passage from the Manas
ऐसेहिं हरि बिनु भजन खगेसा। मिटइ न जीवन्ह केर कलेसा।। हरि सेवकहि न ब्याप अबिद्या। प्रभु प्रेरित ब्यापइ तेहि बिद्या।। ताते नास न होइ दास कर। भेद भगति भाढ़इ बिहंगबर।। भ्रम ते चकित राम मोहि देखा। बिहँसे सो सुनु चरित बिसेषा।। तेहि कौतुक कर मरमु न काहूँ। जाना अनुज न मातु पिताहूँ।। जानु पानि धाए मोहि धरना। स्यामल गात अरुन कर चरना।। तब मैं भागि चलेउँ उरगामी। राम गहन कहँ भुजा पसारी।। जिमि जिमि दूरि उड़ाउँ अकासा। तहँ भुज हरि देखउँ निज पासा।।
Just so, O Khagesha (king of birds), without devotion to Hari, the suffering of living beings is never destroyed. Ignorance (avidya) does not affect the servant of Hari; by the Lord's inspiration, vidya (true knowledge) manifests in him. Therefore the devotee is never destroyed, O Vihangavar (best of birds), and his loving devotion continues to grow. Seeing me bewildered by this divine illusion, Rama smiled. Now listen to this special charitra (divine episode). No one knew the secret of that divine play, neither His younger brother nor His mother nor His father. He came crawling on His hands and knees to catch me, His shyamala (dark-hued) body glowing, His hands and feet rosy red. Then I fled swiftly through the sky, while Rama stretched out His arms to catch me. However far I flew into the sky, there I would see Hari's arms right beside me.