Rama's Fiery Arrow Makes Knowledge Rise Across the Darkened Field
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 47
Doha 47 · Movement 1 of 2
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Raghunayak understands the whole design. He calls Angada and Hanuman, tells them what has occurred, and the two great warriors rush back in anger. Then the compassionate Lord smiles, strings his bow, and releases a fiery arrow into the false night.
Light appears everywhere. Not a trace of darkness remains, just as doubts vanish when true knowledge dawns. Bears and monkeys see one another again and charge with joy, freed in the same instant from exhaustion and fear. Hanuman and Angada thunder across the restored field, and demons flee at the sound.
The forest warriors seize the retreating enemies and dash them upon the ground. Others are caught by the feet and thrown into the sea, where crocodiles, serpents, and immense fish take them. The arrow has done more than illuminate targets. It has returned coherence to the world, and Rama's servants move again within the clarity his fire revealed.
One fiery arrow rises like knowledge, and the entire battlefield remembers what darkness had made it doubt.
Read the passage from the Manas
सकल मरमु रघुनायक जाना। लिए बोलि अंगद हनुमाना।। समाचार सब कहि समुझाए। सुनत कोपि कपिकुंजर धाए।। पुनि कृपाल हँसि चाप चढ़ावा। पावक सायक सपदि चलावा।। भयउ प्रकास कतहुँ तम नाहीं। ग्यान उदयँ जिमि संसय जाहीं।। भालु बलीमुख पाइ प्रकासा। धाए हरष बिगत श्रम त्रासा।। हनूमान अंगद रन गाजे। हाँक सुनत रजनीचर भाजे।। भागत पट पटकहिं धरि धरनी। करहिं भालु कपि अद्भुत करनी।। गहि पद डारहिं सागर माहीं। मकर उरग झष धरि धरि खाहीं।।
The Lord of the Raghus understood the whole design and called Angada and Hanuman to Him. He explained the full situation to them; hearing it, the great monkey warriors rushed forth in righteous anger. Then the compassionate Lord smiled and strung His bow, instantly shooting a fiery arrow. Light appeared everywhere, not a trace of darkness remained, just as all doubts vanish when true knowledge dawns. The bears and monkeys, finding the light restored, charged forward with joy, their fatigue and fear gone. Hanuman and Angada thundered their battle cries; hearing them, the demons fled. As the demons ran, the bears and monkeys seized them and dashed them to the ground, performing wondrous feats. Grasping them by the feet, they hurled them into the sea, where crocodiles, serpents, and great fish devoured them.