Garuda Asks How a Crow Remains when Time Devours Every Cosmic Egg
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 92
Doha 95 · Movement 1 of 2
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Garuda praises Bhushundi as all-knowing, beyond darkness, simple in conduct, noble in character, and the dwelling of knowledge, detachment, and realized wisdom. He is Raghunayaka's beloved servant, yet he speaks through the body of a crow.
How did you receive this body? Where did you find the beautiful lake of Rama's story? Shiva has said that even the great cosmic dissolution does not destroy you. The Lord cannot speak falsely, but the mystery remains.
Mountains, beings, nagas, humans, and devas become food for Time. Countless cosmic shells are dissolved when Kala advances, irresistible and terrible. Garuda looks from that universal destruction toward the small dark sage beneath the banyan. How can one feathered body remain when creators and creations disappear? The question joins embodiment, knowledge, katha, and immortality, asking for the entire history through which they came together.
When Time swallows mountains, gods, and cosmic shells, Garuda asks what keeps one crow singing beneath the banyan.
Read the passage from the Manas
तुम्ह सर्बग्य तन्य तम पारा। सुमति सुसील सरल आचारा।। ग्यान बिरति बिग्यान निवासा। रघुनायक के तुम्ह प्रिय दासा।। कारन कवन देह यह पाई। तात सकल मोहि कहहु बुझाई।। राम चरित सर सुंदर स्वामी। पायहु कहाँ कहहु नभगामी।। नाथ सुना मैं अस सिव पाहीं। महा प्रलयहुँ नास तव नाहीं।। मुधा बचन नहिं ईस्वर कहई। सोउ मोरें मन संसय अहई।। अग जग जीव नाग नर देवा। नाथ सकल जगु काल कलेवा।। अंड कटाह अमित लय कारी। कालु सदा दुरतिक्रम भारी।।
You are all-knowing, having crossed beyond all darkness. You possess good understanding, noble character, and simple conduct. You are the abode of jnana, vairagya, and vijnana. You are the beloved sevak of Raghunayak. What is the reason you received this body? Dear father, please explain everything to me. O beautiful Swami, where did you find this lake of Rama's sacred stories? Tell me, O sky-traveler. O Nath, I have heard from Shiva Himself that even the maha-pralaya cannot destroy you. Ishvara never speaks a false word, yet this doubt remains in my heart. Mountains, worlds, beings, nagas, humans, and devas. O Nath, all the universe is food for Kala. Countless cosmic eggs and shells are dissolved by Kala, who is always formidable and impossible to overcome.