A Smile Before the Axe
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 269
Doha 272 · Movement 1 of 2
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The broken bow lies across the royal hall in massive fragments. Kings stand silent around it. Parashurama's anger fills the chamber, yet Lakshman answers with a smile bright enough to sharpen the silence. By his reckoning, all bows are bows. What loss can there be if one old weapon breaks? Ram merely looked upon it with innocent eyes, and at a touch it gave way.
The words fall with the lightness of play, but each one lands upon the sage's wrath. Parashurama turns his gaze toward the axe at his side. Its iron edge catches the ceremonial light. He warns the young prince that only childhood has preserved him, and that anyone who sees merely a quiet ascetic has failed to understand the force standing before him.
Then his deeds roll through the hall like war drums. He has emptied the earth of kings. He has given conquered lands to the Brahmins again and again. He severed the thousand arms of Sahasrabahu. At last he commands Lakshman to behold the axe. The prince has already seen it. His smile has not moved.
Between the smile and the blade, the assembly forgets to breathe.
Read the passage from the Manas
लखन कहा हँसि हमरें जाना। सुनहु देव सब धनुष समाना।। का छति लाभु जून धनु तौरें। देखा राम नयन के भोरें।। छुअत टूट रघुपतिहु न दोसू। मुनि बिनु काज करिअ कत रोसू । बोले चितइ परसु की ओरा। रे सठ सुनेहि सुभाउ न मोरा।। बालकु बोलि बधउँ नहिं तोही। केवल मुनि जड़ जानहि मोही।। बाल ब्रह्मचारी अति कोही। बिस्व बिदित छत्रियकुल द्रोही।। भुजबल भूमि भूप बिनु कीन्ही। बिपुल बार महिदेवन्ह दीन्ही।। सहसबाहु भुज छेदनिहारा। परसु बिलोकु महीपकुमारा।।
Lakshmana laughed and spoke his mind: 'Listen, O revered sage. To us, all bows are the same.' What loss or gain in breaking an old, worn bow? Shri Rama saw it with his own innocent eyes. If it broke at a mere touch, how is Raghupati at fault? Why be angry without cause, O sage? Glancing toward his axe, Parashurama spoke: 'You fool, have you not heard of my nature?' I spare you only because you are a child. Only the dull-witted take me for a mere sage. Though a young brahmachari, I am fierce in wrath, known across all the worlds as the scourge of the warrior clans. By the strength of my arms I emptied the earth of its kings and gave it to the Brahmins time and again. I am the one who severed the thousand arms of Sahasrabahu. Behold this axe, O prince!