Ram Pours Cool Words upon the Fire
Bala Kanda, Doha 276
Doha 276 · Movement 2 of 2
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Lakshmana's replies fall like offerings of clarified butter into a sacrificial fire. Each sentence intended as mockery feeds Parashurama's wrath and sends the blaze higher.
Ram watches the heat spread through the encounter. The assembly cannot endure much more, and the fire will not exhaust itself while his brother continues to make offerings.
Then the Sun of Raghu's line speaks words cool as water. His voice does not compete with the flame or deny its force. It descends upon anger from another element, carrying humility, tenderness, and the wish to protect. Where Lakshmana's brilliance intensifies division, Ram's gentleness begins the work of containment.
Lakshmana feeds the fire; Ram answers with the first water the quarrel has received.
Read the passage from the Manas
लखन उतर आहुति सरिस भृगुबर कोपु कृसानु। बढ़त देखि जल सम बचन बोले रघुकुलभानु।।276।।
Lakshmana's replies were like offerings of ghee, and Parashurama's wrath was the sacrificial fire. Seeing that blaze grow ever higher, the Sun of Raghu's line spoke words cool as water.