Ram Offers His Head beneath the Axe
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 278
Doha 281 · Movement 1 of 2
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Parashurama accuses Ram of approving his brother's bitterness while hiding behind folded hands. Fight me and justify the name Ram, he demands, or abandon it. Otherwise both brothers will die beneath the charge of hostility toward Shiva.
The sage raises his axe. Ram bows, smiling quietly within. Lakshmana's fault, he says, was anger toward one known to be severe. Everyone bows before what is crooked, just as Rahu does not swallow the slender crescent moon.
Then Ram makes humility physical. Release your anger, great sage. Here is my head before the axe. Do whatever ends your wrath, knowing me as your follower. The Lord who broke the bow without effort offers no resistance to the blow that could follow.
The axe rises, and Ram places beneath it the head that crowns have bowed to honour.
Read the passage from the Manas
बंधु कहइ कटु संमत तोरें। तू छल बिनय करसि कर जोरें।। करु परितोषु मोर संग्रामा। नाहिं त छाड़ कहाउब रामा।। छलु तजि करहि समरु सिवद्रोही। बंधु सहित न त मारउँ तोही।। भृगुपति बकहिं कुठार उठाएँ। मन मुसकाहिं रामु सिर नाएँ।। गुनह लखन कर हम पर रोषू। कतहुँ सुधाइहु ते बड़ दोषू।। टेढ़ जानि सब बंदइ काहू। बक्र चंद्रमहि ग्रसइ न राहू।। राम कहेउ रिस तजिअ मुनीसा। कर कुठारु आगें यह सीसा।। जेंहिं रिस जाइ करिअ सोइ स्वामी। मोहि जानि आपन अनुगामी।।
'Your brother speaks bitter words with your full approval, while you fold your hands and offer deceitful humility. Either satisfy me in battle, or else surrender the name of Rama altogether. Drop your pretense and fight, O enemy of Shiva! Otherwise I shall slay you along with your brother.' So thundered the lord of the Bhrigu lineage, raising his axe. Rama bowed his head, a gentle smile hidden in his heart. 'Lakshmana's offense was his anger toward you. That is indeed a grave fault, and it must be set right. When all the world knows someone is crooked, everyone bows before them. Even Rahu does not swallow the crescent moon.' Rama said: 'Let go of your anger, O king among sages. Here is this head before your axe. Do whatever will release your wrath, my lord. Know me to be your own devoted follower.'