Rama Laughs When the Crow Comes Near and Cries When He Flies Away
Uttara Kanda, Doha 78
Doha 78 · Movement 2 of 2
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When Bhushundi comes near, the child Lord laughs. When the crow escapes, Rama cries and follows. Bhushundi approaches again to grasp the little feet, but Rama glances back and flees, renewing the game.
The gestures resemble the play of an ordinary infant so completely that bewilderment enters the sage. The same Rama whom Bhushundi knows as Chidananda now appears to measure happiness by whether one small crow remains within reach.
What charitra is the Lord performing? The question forms inside a scene of pure affection. Divine fullness seems to want, pursue, laugh, and weep. Bhushundi has loved the saguna form precisely through this intimacy, yet the perfection of the human likeness unsettles his knowledge. A hairline opening appears between concept and vision, and through that opening Rama's maya is about to reveal a scale no courtyard can contain.
A child's backward glance opens the question through which Bhushundi will soon fall beyond the edge of every known world.
Read the passage from the Manas
आवत निकट हँसहिं प्रभु भाजत रुदन कराहिं। जाउँ समीप गहन पद फिरि फिरि चितइ पराहिं।।77(क)।। प्राकृत सिसु इव लीला देखि भयउ मोहि मोह। कवन चरित्र करत प्रभु चिदानंद संदोह।।77(ख)।।
Coming near, the Lord would smile, but running away He would cry. When I approached to grasp His feet, again and again He would look back and flee. Seeing these childlike sports just like an ordinary infant, I became bewildered. What mysterious play was the Lord performing, He who is the very embodiment of Chidananda (Consciousness-Bliss)?