All Fear Boards the Bow
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 257
Doha 260 · Movement 1 of 2
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A command travels beyond Mithila's crowded hall to the ancient bearers of the earth. The elephants of the directions brace their colossal feet. The cosmic tortoise, the serpent, and the boar hold firm beneath the worlds. Ram is walking toward Shiva's bow, and creation itself has been warned not to tremble.
Men and women rise upon their toes. The gods lean from the heavens. Sita's worry, Janaka's regret, the queens' burning grief, the doubt of the assembly, the pride of defeated kings, the arrogance of Parashurama, and the fear of sages all seek refuge in one place. Tulsidas gathers them into a single tremendous image: every burden climbs aboard the bow as though it were a ship waiting to cross dangerous water.
Then Ram comes near. No strain marks his face. Before him stretches the boundless ocean of his own strength, silent beneath the surface and immeasurable in depth. The crowded vessel carries every fear of the hall, but no helmsman exists who can bear it across that sea. Ram reaches the bow. The whole earth holds fast.
His hand draws near, and every world waits upon the touch.
Read the passage from the Manas
दिसकुंजरहु कमठ अहि कोला। धरहु धरनि धरि धीर न डोला।। रामु चहहिं संकर धनु तोरा। होहु सजग सुनि आयसु मोरा।। चाप सपीप रामु जब आए। नर नारिन्ह सुर सुकृत मनाए।। सब कर संसउ अरु अग्यानू। मंद महीपन्ह कर अभिमानू।। भृगुपति केरि गरब गरुआई। सुर मुनिबरन्ह केरि कदराई।। सिय कर सोचु जनक पछितावा। रानिन्ह कर दारुन दुख दावा।। संभुचाप बड बोहितु पाई। चढे जाइ सब संगु बनाई।। राम बाहुबल सिंधु अपारू। चहत पारु नहि कोउ कड़हारू।।
O elephants of the eight directions, O tortoise, serpent, and boar: hold the earth steady with all your strength. Let it not tremble. Rama desires to break Shankara's bow. Hear my command and be alert. When Rama drew near the bow, men and women and gods alike rejoiced in their good fortune. The doubt and blindness that gripped every heart, the hollow pride of those feeble kings, The towering arrogance of Bhrigupati (Parashurama), the timid dread of gods and great sages, Sita's anguish, Janaka's bitter regret, the searing grief that consumed the queens: All of these had found a great vessel in Shambhu's bow and climbed aboard together. But Rama's arm-strength is a boundless ocean. They longed to cross it, yet no helmsman could be found.