After Revealing Brahman, Rama Turns Hungry and His Mother Takes Him into Her Lap
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 86
Doha 89 · Movement 1 of 2
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Time will not touch you, Rama promises, if you remember and worship me continually. Bhushundi drinks the nectar of the Lord's speech without satisfaction. His body thrills, his heart overflows, and the bliss known by mind, ears, and eyes cannot pass into the tongue for description.
Then the supreme teacher returns without seam to childhood. Rama's eyes fill with tears, his little face grows solemn, and he looks toward his mother as though overcome by hunger. The cosmic discourse disappears into one infant glance.
The mother sees and rises quickly. Speaking softly, she gathers him against her heart, places him in her lap, and gives him milk while singing the lovely deeds of Raghupati. The scene holds no contradiction for lila. The Lord who has just promised freedom from time now receives nourishment from a mother's body, allowing the bliss of Brahman to be touched as tenderness within an ordinary room.
The mouth that reveals timeless Brahman closes around a mother's milk while she sings the story of the child in her arms.
Read the passage from the Manas
कबहूँ काल न ब्यापिहि तोही। सुमिरेसु भजेसु निरंतर मोही।। प्रभु बचनामृत सुनि न अघाऊँ। तनु पुलकित मन अति हरषाऊँ।। सो सुख जानइ मन अरु काना। नहिं रसना पहिं जाइ बखाना।। प्रभु सोभा सुख जानहिं नयना। कहि किमि सकहिं तिन्हहि नहिं बयना।। बहु बिधि मोहि प्रबोधि सुख देई। लगे करन सिसु कौतुक तेई।। सजल नयन कछु मुख करि रूखा। चितइ मातु लागी अति भूखा।। देखि मातु आतुर उठि धाई। कहि मृदु बचन लिए उर लाई।। गोद राखि कराव पय पाना। रघुपति चरित ललित कर गाना।।
Time will never touch you if you constantly remember and worship Me. Hearing the nectar-words of the Lord, I never feel satisfied. My body thrills with joy and my heart overflows with happiness. That bliss is known only to the mind and ears; the tongue cannot describe it. The eyes know the Lord's beauty and bliss, but how can they speak when they have no voice? After instructing me in many ways and filling me with joy, He began to perform His sweet childlike play. With tearful eyes and face made slightly stern, He looked at His mother as though very hungry. Seeing Him, His mother quickly rose and ran to Him, speaking gentle words and drawing Him to her heart. Placing Him in her lap, she offered Him milk while singing the lovely stories of Raghupati.