राम
Sacred Tableau

Every Universe Holds Another Ayodhya and Another Infinite Childhood of Rama

Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 79

Doha 82 · Movement 1 of 2

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Each world has its own Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Manu, and guardians of the directions. Humans, gandharvas, spirits, kinnaras, rakshasas, animals, birds, serpents, devas, and danavas appear in forms distinct to that creation.

Earths, rivers, oceans, lakes, and mountains differ from cosmic shell to cosmic shell. Bhushundi even sees another form of himself within each universe, as though the solitary witness has become countless while remaining the one who passes among them.

In every realm there is another Ayodhya, another Sarayu, another Dasharatha and Kausalya, and brothers bearing the forms of Bharata and the others. Rama incarnates within each brahmanda, and in every Ayodhya his childhood sports unfold without limit. Bhushundi has fled one child through the sky only to discover Bala Rama playing everywhere, endlessly particular in each world and never divided by the countlessness of his appearances.

Beyond each cosmic wall, Bhushundi finds another Ayodhya where the same Infinite has become a child again.

Read the passage from the Manas

लोक लोक प्रति भिन्न बिधाता। भिन्न बिष्नु सिव मनु दिसित्राता।। नर गंधर्ब भूत बेताला। किंनर निसिचर पसु खग ब्याला।। देव दनुज गन नाना जाती। सकल जीव तहँ आनहि भाँती।। महि सरि सागर सर गिरि नाना। सब प्रपंच तहँ आनइ आना।। अंडकोस प्रति प्रति निज रुपा। देखेउँ जिनस अनेक अनूपा।। अवधपुरी प्रति भुवन निनारी। सरजू भिन्न भिन्न नर नारी।। दसरथ कौसल्या सुनु ताता। बिबिध रूप भरतादिक भ्राता।। प्रति ब्रह्मांड राम अवतारा। देखउँ बालबिनोद अपारा।।

In each world there are different Brahmas, different Vishnus, Shivas, Manus, and Dikpalas (guardians of the directions). There are humans, gandharvas, bhutas (ghosts), betaals (spirits), kinnaras, nishachars (night-wanderers), animals, birds, and serpents. Devas, danavas, and many other species. All kinds of living beings exist there in different forms. Earth, rivers, oceans, lakes, and mountains of various kinds. Every phenomenon there is distinct and unique. In each Andakosa (cosmic egg), I saw my own form, in countless incomparable varieties. In each universe I found a different Ayodhya, a different Sarayu river, and different men and women. Listen, dear child: there were different Dasharathas and Kausalyas, and brothers like Bharata in various forms. In every brahmanda, Rama had incarnated, and I beheld His infinite childhood pastimes.