Maricha Makes His Coming Death a Festival of Rama's Sight
Aranya Kanda, Chhand 6
Doha 26 · Movement 2 of 3
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Within the journey toward Panchavati, Maricha holds a vision Ravana cannot see. His own eyes will behold his most beloved Lord and at last become fruitful. The long fear born from Rama's first arrow will end in direct sight, and that sight itself will bring happiness.
He imagines Rama with Shri beside him and his younger brother near, the three figures gathered beneath the forest trees. Maricha will fasten his mind upon the feet of the abode of compassion. Even the Lord's anger grants nirvana, and devotion brings even the sovereign, unconstrained Lord under its sway.
Rama himself will raise the bow. With his own hand he will fit the arrow that ends Maricha's life. The demon no longer pictures this as annihilation. The shaft will come from Hari, the ocean of happiness. Hidden beside Ravana, Maricha carries the secret joy of one who knows that death is drawing near in the form of his beloved.
In Maricha's inward sky, Rama's drawn arrow already shines as the hand of the beloved.
Read the passage from the Manas
निज परम प्रीतम देखि लोचन सुफल करि सुख पाइहौं। श्री सहित अनुज समेत कृपानिकेत पद मन लाइहौं।। निर्बान दायक क्रोध जा कर भगति अबसहि बसकरी। निज पानि सर संधानि सो मोहि बधिहि सुखसागर हरी।।
I shall see my most beloved Lord with my own eyes and make them fruitful, and so find supreme sukha. With Shri at his side and his younger brother beside him, I shall fix my mind upon the feet of that abode of kripa. His very anger grants nirvana. His bhakti conquers all without effort. With his own hand he will fit the arrow to the bow, and that ocean of joy, Hari, will slay me himself.