One Arrow From Rama Ends the Rain of Blood, Stone, and Ash
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 52
Doha 52 · Movement 1 of 2
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From the sky, burning coals pour down while streams burst upward from the earth. Spectral demons and demonesses dance through the field crying kill and cut. Filth, pus, blood, hair, bones, stones, and ash rain upon the vanaras in changing storms.
Dust deepens the darkness until a warrior cannot see his own extended hand. Monkeys recoil before the spectacle and believe death has been written for the whole army. Rama watches their fear and smiles.
A single arrow leaves his bow and cuts through every illusion as the sun removes gathered darkness. The apparitions, foul rain, and impossible night vanish together. Then Rama looks upon the bears and monkeys with grace. Strength returns through the ranks, and no force can hold them back from battle. The same Lord who clears the field of false images clears fear from the beings who had believed them.
Rama answers a thousand forms of terror with one arrow, one glance, and a world made clear again.
Read the passage from the Manas
नभ चढ़ि बरष बिपुल अंगारा। महि ते प्रगट होहिं जलधारा।। नाना भाँति पिसाच पिसाची। मारु काटु धुनि बोलहिं नाची।। बिष्टा पूय रुधिर कच हाड़ा। बरषइ कबहुँ उपल बहु छाड़ा।। बरषि धूरि कीन्हेसि अँधिआरा। सूझ न आपन हाथ पसारा।। कपि अकुलाने माया देखें। सब कर मरन बना एहि लेखें।। कौतुक देखि राम मुसुकाने। भए सभीत सकल कपि जाने।। एक बान काटी सब माया। जिमि दिनकर हर तिमिर निकाया।। कृपादृष्टि कपि भालु बिलोके। भए प्रबल रन रहहिं न रोके।।
Climbing into the sky, abundant burning coals rained down, and streams of water emerged from the earth. Various kinds of demons and demonesses danced about, shouting 'Kill! Cut!' with terrifying sounds. Sometimes excrement, pus, blood, hair, and bones rained down, and sometimes many stones fell in abundance. Raining dust created such darkness that one could not see one's own outstretched hand. Seeing this illusion, the monkeys became distressed, and it seemed as if death were written for all. Seeing this spectacle, Rama smiled, and all the monkeys knew He was fearless. With one arrow He destroyed all the illusion, just as the sun dispels the multitude of darkness. Looking upon the monkeys and bears with His gracious glance, they became mighty and remained unstoppable in battle.