Rama's Bowstring Deafens the Enemy and His Arrows Return Home
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 68
Doha 68 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sharanga rests in Rama's hand and the quiver is fastened at his waist as Raghunath advances to crush the enemy host. His first act is to sound the bow. The twang crosses the battlefield with such force that demon ranks are struck deaf.
The Lord whose vow is truth releases flights of arrows like winged serpents of Time. Sharp shafts spread everywhere, severing feet, chests, heads, and arms. Some demons fall in a hundred pieces. Others spin down wounded, gather themselves, and rise to fight again.
Those struck roar like thunderclouds, while others see the terrible arrows and flee. Headless trunks continue running through the field, crying seize and strike after speech has lost its head. The bow has changed the entire scale of battle. Where Kumbhakarna seemed to swallow the world, Rama's truth now fills every direction with exact and irresistible flight.
One bowstring opens the Lord's answer, and winged serpents of Time carry truth through the demon ranks.
Read the passage from the Manas
कर सारंग साजि कटि भाथा। अरि दल दलन चले रघुनाथा।। प्रथम कीन्ह प्रभु धनुष टँकोरा। रिपु दल बधिर भयउ सुनि सोरा।। सत्यसंध छाँड़े सर लच्छा। कालसर्प जनु चले सपच्छा।। जहँ तहँ चले बिपुल नाराचा। लगे कटन भट बिकट पिसाचा।। कटहिं चरन उर सिर भुजदंडा। बहुतक बीर होहिं सत खंडा।। घुर्मि घुर्मि घायल महि परहीं। उठि संभारि सुभट पुनि लरहीं।। लागत बान जलद जिमि गाजहीं। बहुतक देखी कठिन सर भाजहिं।। रुंड प्रचंड मुंड बिनु धावहिं। धरु धरु मारू मारु धुनि गावहिं।।
With His bow Sharanga in hand and quiver fastened at His waist, Lord Raghunatha advanced to crush the enemy host. First the Lord twanged His bow, and hearing that thunderous sound the enemy army was struck deaf. The ever-truthful Lord released flights of arrows that flew like winged serpents of death. Countless sharp shafts flew in every direction, cutting down the fierce demon warriors. Feet, chests, heads, and arms were severed; many warriors were hacked into a hundred pieces. Spinning with their wounds, they fell to the earth, yet brave demons rose again and fought on. Struck by arrows they roared like thunderclouds, but seeing those terrible shafts, many turned and fled. Fierce headless trunks ran about the field, crying 'Seize them! Seize them! Strike! Strike!'