The Brahmastra Pursues Jayanta through Every World and Back to Rama's Feet
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 2
Doha 2 · Movement 1 of 2
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Charged by Rama's mantra, the grass-arrow becomes a Brahmastra and races after the terrified crow. Jayanta resumes his celestial form and flies first to Indra, but even his father will not shelter one opposed to Rama. Hope collapses. He crosses Brahma's realm, Shiva's city, and world after world, exhausted by a fire that never loses his trail.
Every refuge closes. For one turned away from Raghuvira, mother becomes death, father resembles Yama, nectar turns to poison, friends act as enemies, and even the heavenly river becomes Vaitarani. Creation itself seems hotter than flame. Then Narada sees the fugitive's anguish, and compassion moves within the saint's tender heart.
Narada sends him to the protector of those who surrender. Jayanta falls at Rama's feet, trembling, confesses the immeasurable power he failed to recognize, and accepts the fruit of his own deed. He asks only for shelter. Rama hears the desperate plea. The arrow takes one eye, life is spared, and the worlds finally become still.
After circling creation, Jayanta discovers that the end of terror lies at the feet from which he fled.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रेरित मंत्र ब्रह्मसर धावा। चला भाजि बायस भय पावा।। धरि निज रुप गयउ पितु पाहीं। राम बिमुख राखा तेहि नाहीं।। भा निरास उपजी मन त्रासा। जथा चक्र भय रिषि दुर्बासा।। ब्रह्मधाम सिवपुर सब लोका। फिरा श्रमित ब्याकुल भय सोका।। काहूँ बैठन कहा न ओही। राखि को सकइ राम कर द्रोही।। मातु मृत्यु पितु समन समाना। सुधा होइ बिष सुनु हरिजाना।। मित्र करइ सत रिपु कै करनी। ता कहँ बिबुधनदी बैतरनी।। सब जगु ताहि अनलहु ते ताता। जो रघुबीर बिमुख सुनु भ्राता।। नारद देखा बिकल जयंता। लागि दया कोमल चित संता।। पठवा तुरत राम पहिं ताही। कहेसि पुकारि प्रनत हित पाही।। आतुर सभय गहेसि पद जाई। त्राहि त्राहि दयाल रघुराई।। अतुलित बल अतुलित प्रभुताई। मैं मतिमंद जानि नहिं पाई।। निज कृत कर्म जनित फल पायउँ। अब प्रभु पाहि सरन तकि आयउँ।। सुनि कृपाल अति आरत बानी। एकनयन करि तजा भवानी।।
Empowered by the mantra, the Brahmastra sped forth. The crow fled in terror, overcome with bhaya. Taking his own form, Jayanta went to his father Indra. But Indra would not shelter one who had turned against Rama. Hope left him and dread arose in his heart, just as the rishi Durvasa had once feared the divine chakra. Through Brahmaloka, Shivapuri, and all the worlds he wandered, exhausted and tormented by fear and sorrow. No one anywhere would give him shelter. Who can protect an enemy of Rama? Mother becomes like death, father like Yama the destroyer. Amrita becomes visha, listen, O devotee of Hari. A friend acts as a hundred enemies would. For such a one, the sacred Ganga becomes the dreadful Vaitarani. The whole world becomes fiercer than fire for one who turns away from Raghuvira, listen, brother. Narada saw Jayanta in anguish. Compassion stirred in the tender heart of that great sant. He sent him at once to Rama, saying, 'Go, cry out to the Protector of the sharanagata!' Distressed and trembling, Jayanta went and grasped Rama's feet, crying, 'Traahi, traahi! Save me, save me, O compassionate Raghuraai!' 'Your power and Your majesty are beyond all measure. I am foolish; I could not see this truth.' 'I have reaped the fruit born of my own karma. Now, Prabhu, I have come seeking Your sharana.' Hearing his deeply anguished words, the compassionate Lord took away one eye and released him, O Bhavaani.