Rama Laughs, and Bhushundi Falls through His Mouth into Countless Universes
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 78
Doha 81 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Overwhelmed, Bhushundi closes his eyes. When he dares to look again, he is back in Kosalapuri before the child. Rama sees him and smiles. The infant laughs, and in that instant the crow passes into his open mouth.
Inside Rama's belly, countless universes unfold. World rises beyond world, each creation more wondrous than the last. Millions of Brahmas and Shivas appear among unnumbered suns, moons, and constellations. Guardians of worlds, Yamas, and powers of time inhabit immeasurable realms.
Mountains and vast earths extend beneath him. Oceans, rivers, lakes, and forests spread without end. Devas, sages, siddhas, nagas, humans, kinnaras, and every kind of moving and unmoving life fill the cosmic expanse. The mouth that had babbled in the courtyard has become the gate to totality, and Bhushundi flies within a child whom creation itself cannot contain.
One laugh opens Bala Rama's mouth, and the courtyard crow enters a sky crowded with millions of creators and suns.
Read the passage from the Manas
मूदेउँ नयन त्रसित जब भयउँ। पुनि चितवत कोसलपुर गयऊँ।। मोहि बिलोकि राम मुसुकाहीं। बिहँसत तुरत गयउँ मुख माहीं।। उदर माझ सुनु अंडज राया। देखेउँ बहु ब्रह्मांड निकाया।। अति बिचित्र तहँ लोक अनेका। रचना अधिक एक ते एका।। कोटिन्ह चतुरानन गौरीसा। अगनित उडगन रबि रजनीसा।। अगनित लोकपाल जम काला। अगनित भूधर भूमि बिसाला।। सागर सरि सर बिपिन अपारा। नाना भाँति सृष्टि बिस्तारा।। सुर मुनि सिद्ध नाग नर किंनर। चारि प्रकार जीव सचराचर।।
When I closed my eyes in fear, upon opening them I found myself back in Koshalapuri (Ayodhya). Seeing me, Rama smiled gently, and as He laughed, I immediately entered His mouth. Listen, O Andaja Raja (king of the egg-born), within His belly I beheld countless multitudes of brahmandas (universes). There were many wondrous worlds, each creation more magnificent than the last. There were millions of Brahmas and Shivas, countless stars, suns, and moons. There were countless lokapalas (guardians of the worlds), Yamas and Kalas, and infinite mountains and vast earths. Oceans, rivers, lakes, and boundless forests. Creation spread in countless forms. Gods, munis, siddhas, nagas, humans, and kinnaras. All four types of beings, both moving and still.