The Little Crow Follows Rama and Eats His Blessed Crumbs from the Courtyard
Uttara Kanda, Doha 76क
Doha 76क · Movement 2 of 2
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Wherever the child Rama wanders, Bhushundi flutters after him. Dark wings cross the bright royal courtyard while small feet move from one game to another, and the crow keeps the distance of loving attendance.
When remnants of Rama's food fall upon the ground, Bhushundi descends and gathers them. What another might call crumbs become sacred grace because they have passed through the hands and mouth of his chosen Lord.
Once Raghubira performs these childhood sports with surpassing wonder. Even now, as Bhushundi remembers them beneath the far northern banyan, his body thrills. Time folds around devotion: the ancient crow is again in the courtyard, the child is again laughing, and the blessed morsel lies again within reach. Memory here is not pale recollection. It is lila becoming present enough to lift every feather upon the body of the one who tells it.
Bhushundi seeks no royal feast; one crumb from Bala Rama's courtyard contains the sweetness of countless ages.
Read the passage from the Manas
लरिकाईं जहँ जहँ फिरहिं तहँ तहँ संग उड़ाउँ। जूठनि परइ अजिर महँ सो उठाइ करि खाउँ।।75(क)।। एक बार अतिसय सब चरित किए रघुबीर। सुमिरत प्रभु लीला सोइ पुलकित भयउ सरीर।।75(ख)।।
In His childhood, wherever He roams, I fly alongside Him there. Whatever joothana (blessed leftovers) falls in the courtyard, that I pick up and eat. Once, Raghubir performed all His pastimes with surpassing beauty. Even now, remembering that leela, my body thrills with prema.