Gem Lamps Burn above Coral Thresholds in a City Fit for Rama
Uttara Kanda, Chhand 7
Doha 27 · Movement 2 of 3
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Gem lamps shine through mansions bright enough to seem self-luminous. Coral forms the thresholds, giving every entrance the deep color of the sea's hidden treasure.
Pillars of jewel and walls worthy of Brahma's own craft are inlaid with gold and emerald. Spacious temples open into courtyards paved with clear crystal, where brilliance seems to rise from the ground.
At every gate, golden doors are set with diamonds. Architecture becomes an offering assembled from earth's most secret substances: coral lifted from water, gems taken from darkness, metals drawn from stone, crystal made clear. All are brought into ordered light around Rama's dwelling. The city seems newly created because every material has found a devotional purpose, and even a doorway announces that one is entering the kingdom of the Lord.
Coral, crystal, gold, and emerald become one radiant threshold through which Ayodhya continually enters Rama's presence.
Read the passage from the Manas
मनि दीप राजहिं भवन भ्राजहिं देहरीं बिद्रुम रची। मनि खंभ भीति बिरंचि बिरची कनक मनि मरकत खची।। सुंदर मनोहर मंदिरायत अजिर रुचिर फटिक रचे। प्रति द्वार द्वार कपाट पुरट बनाइ बहु बज्रन्हि खचे।।
Gem-lamps shine, mansions gleam, thresholds are fashioned of coral. Gem-pillars and walls, crafted by Brahma himself, are inlaid with gold, sapphire, and emerald. Beautiful, enchanting temples with spacious courtyards are paved in sparkling crystal. At every gate stand doors adorned with diamonds, and the city dazzles as though it were a new creation altogether.