Ram Silences Lakshmana with His Eyes
Bala Kanda, Doha 278
Doha 278 · Movement 2 of 2
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Lakshmana hears the comparison to a golden vessel of poison and smiles yet again. His eyes remain fierce, ready with another reply even after the entire city has begun to tremble.
Ram turns a commanding glance upon him. No hand is raised and no public rebuke is needed. The younger brother recognizes the boundary and abandons the sharp speech he has wielded so freely.
With sudden reserve, Lakshmana withdraws toward the guru. The fire does not vanish from his nature, but obedience gathers it inward. The movement reveals the order beneath the apparent wildness: Parashurama's axe could not silence him, the fear of thousands could not silence him, but Ram's eyes do.
What the axe and the frightened hall could not restrain, one glance from Ram brings to stillness.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि लछिमन बिहसे बहुरि नयन तरेरे राम। गुर समीप गवने सकुचि परिहरि बानी बाम।।278।।
Hearing this, Lakshmana smiled once more and cast fierce glances, while Rama, embarrassed, approached his guru and set aside his brother's sharp words.