रविकर-नीर बसै अति दारुन मकररूप तेहि माहीं । बदनहीन सो ग्रसै चराचर पान करन जे जाहीं ॥
— Tulsidas
Meaning

Inside the mirage of sunbeams lives an extremely terrible crocodile. Though formless and bodiless, it devours all creation that goes there to drink the water.

Explanation

This thoughtful couplet uses the image of a desert mirage to warn us about the illusions of life. It describes how sunlight creates the appearance of water, but lurking within this false oasis is a fierce, invisible crocodile. Anyone who runs toward this illusion to quench their thirst ends up trapped and consumed. Here, the mirage represents fleeting worldly desires, while the crocodile symbolizes time, death, and attachment. When we chase after hollow promises thinking they will bring true satisfaction, we lose ourselves to unseen traps. The poet gently urges us to look beyond deceptive appearances and seek genuine truth, rather than being swallowed by the endless pursuit of empty illusions.

Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.

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