Rama Raises His Arm and Vows to Free the Earth from Demons
Aranya Kanda, Doha 9
Doha 9 · Movement 2 of 2
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Before the heaps of bones, sorrow takes the form of a vow. Rama raises his arm where all the sages can see it and declares that he will rid the earth of the demons who have made the hermitages places of fear.
The promise is not left suspended in the forest air. Raghunatha begins moving from ashram to ashram, entering clearings where ascetics have lived under threat and bringing them peace. His journey becomes protection made visible across the wilderness.
Each hermitage receives the same assurance through his presence. The arm lifted once now seems to extend over every fire altar, leaf hut, and path of practice. Rama's exile enters another dimension: the forest wanderer takes upon himself the anguish of the sages and gives his strength to their freedom from terror.
With one uplifted arm, Rama places the whole trembling forest beneath the protection of his word.
Read the passage from the Manas
निसिचर हीन करउँ महि भुज उठाइ पन कीन्ह। सकल मुनिन्ह के आश्रमन्हि जाइ जाइ सुख दीन्ह।।9।।
'I will rid this earth of every demon!' Raising his mighty arm, Rama made this solemn vow. Then he traveled from hermitage to hermitage, bringing joy and peace to all the sages.