The Cry of the Broken Bow Fills Creation
Bala Kanda, Chhand 24
Doha 261 · Movement 2 of 3
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The fracture releases a roar so hard and vast that every world is filled. The sun's horses abandon their course. Elephants guarding the directions trumpet in terror, and the earth rolls beneath the assembly.
Far below, serpent, boar, and cosmic tortoise convulse beneath the shock. Gods, demons, and sages cover their ears, bewildered by a sound too immense for any single realm to contain.
At the centre stand Ram and the two severed reaches of Shiva's bow. The noise that disordered creation becomes a proclamation within Tulsidas: the Kodanda has been broken by Ram. Above panic, thunder, and trembling earth rises the poet's cry of victory. What the kings could not move, the Lord has divided in an unseen instant.
Creation reels beneath the thunder, while one cry rises clear: victory to Shri Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
भरे भुवन घोर कठोर रव रबि बाजि तजि मारगु चले। चिक्करहिं दिग्गज डोल महि अहि कोल कूरुम कलमले।। सुर असुर मुनि कर कान दीन्हें सकल बिकल बिचारहीं। कोदंड खंडेउ राम तुलसी जयति बचन उचारही।।
A terrible, thunderous roar filled every world. The horses of the sun bolted from their course. The elephants of the quarters trumpeted in panic. The earth reeled. Serpent, boar, and tortoise convulsed in anguish. Gods, demons, and sages pressed their hands over their ears, all bewildered and shaken to the core. The bow of Kodanda was shattered by Rama. Tulsidas proclaims: "Victory! Victory to Shri Rama!"