The Bow Becomes Lightning in Ram's Hands
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 258
Doha 261 · Movement 1 of 3
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Ram sees Vaidehi's anguish. Nectar arriving after the thirsty have died cannot restore them, and rain after the crops have withered cannot save the harvest. Compassion recognizes that grace must arrive within the hour of need.
Seeing Sita's extraordinary love, Ram thrills. He bows inwardly to his guru and lifts Shiva's bow with effortless swiftness. In his hands it flashes like lightning, then arcs across the hall like a rainbow drawn through the sky.
He takes it, strings it, and pulls it taut, yet no watcher can distinguish one action from the next. The movement passes beyond perception. In the same instant the bow breaks at its middle. A terrible sound erupts through every world, and the still pavilion is swallowed by thunder.
Lightning curves into a rainbow, the rainbow divides, and every world receives the sound.
Read the passage from the Manas
देखी बिपुल बिकल बैदेही। निमिष बिहात कलप सम तेही।। तृषित बारि बिनु जो तनु त्यागा। मुएँ करइ का सुधा तड़ागा।। का बरषा सब कृषी सुखानें। समय चुकें पुनि का पछितानें।। अस जियँ जानि जानकी देखी। प्रभु पुलके लखि प्रीति बिसेषी।। गुरहि प्रनामु मनहि मन कीन्हा। अति लाघवँ उठाइ धनु लीन्हा।। दमकेउ दामिनि जिमि जब लयऊ। पुनि नभ धनु मंडल सम भयऊ।। लेत चढ़ावत खैंचत गाढ़ें। काहुँ न लखा देख सबु ठाढ़ें।। तेहि छन राम मध्य धनु तोरा। भरे भुवन धुनि घोर कठोरा।।
He saw Vaidehi in deep distress. For her, each passing moment weighed like an entire cosmic age. Of what use is a lake of amrita (nectar) to one who has already died of thirst? Of what use is rain when every crop has withered? When the moment has slipped away, what good is regret? Knowing this in his heart and beholding Janaki, the Lord thrilled with joy to see her extraordinary love. In the silence of his mind he bowed to his Guru. Then, with effortless grace, he lifted the great bow. As he took it in his hands it blazed like a bolt of lightning. Then it curved across the sky like a rainbow. Lifting it, stringing it, drawing it taut: though everyone stood watching, not a soul perceived these three acts. In that very instant, Rama broke the bow in the middle. A terrible, deafening sound filled every world.