Parashurama's Eyes Rest upon Ram
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 266
Doha 269 · Movement 1 of 2
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Every king rises in terror, announcing his own name and his father's before falling full length in salutation. A glance that might ordinarily favour a friend now seems capable of ending him.
Janaka bows and brings Sita forward to receive Parashurama's blessing. Her companions lead her back. Vishwamitra greets the sage and presents the two sons of Dasharatha, who touch Parashurama's feet and receive his benediction.
Then the fierce visitor looks upon Ram. His eyes remain there, arrested by a beauty without shore, a beauty capable of breaking Kamadeva's pride. Anger has brought him to investigate a shattered bow, yet for a moment the one who broke it stands before him not as an enemy but as a form from which his gaze cannot withdraw.
Before wrath finds its question, Ram's beauty holds Parashurama's eyes.
Read the passage from the Manas
देखत भृगुपति बेषु कराला। उठे सकल भय बिकल भुआला।। पितु समेत कहि कहि निज नामा। लगे करन सब दंड प्रनामा।। जेहि सुभायँ चितवहिं हितु जानी। सो जानइ जनु आइ खुटानी।। जनक बहोरि आइ सिरु नावा। सीय बोलाइ प्रनामु करावा।। आसिष दीन्हि सखीं हरषानीं। निज समाज लै गई सयानीं।। बिस्वामित्रु मिले पुनि आई। पद सरोज मेले दोउ भाई।। रामु लखनु दसरथ के ढोटा। दीन्हि असीस देखि भल जोटा।। रामहि चितइ रहे थकि लोचन। रूप अपार मार मद मोचन।।
Beholding Bhrigupati in his terrible form, all the kings leapt to their feet, shaken with fear. One by one they announced their names and their fathers' names, and fell prostrate before him in full salutation. He whose glance, by nature, falls with kindness on those he considers friends now seemed to have come as their very destroyer. Janaka then approached and bowed his head. He called Sita forward and had her offer her salutations. The sage gave his blessing. The delighted companions, wise and gentle, led the princess back to her own circle. Vishvamitra came forward to greet him, and brought the two brothers to touch his lotus feet. Seeing that splendid pair, Rama and Lakshmana, the sons of Dasharatha, the sage bestowed his blessing. His eyes rested on Rama and could not look away. That beauty was boundless, capable of shattering the very pride of Kamadeva.