Jambavan Catches Meghnad's Trident and Throws Him Back to Lanka
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 74
Doha 75क · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama's manifest deeds cannot be measured by logic, intellectual force, or eloquent speech, Shiva tells Bhavani. The wise and dispassionate understand this boundary and worship him after releasing the demand that argument contain his lila.
Meghnad makes the army cry out, then appears and taunts it. Jambavan orders him to stand. The demon mocks the aged bear and hurls a whirling trident. Jambavan catches it barehanded, drives it into Meghnad's chest, seizes him by the feet, and smashes him upon the ground.
A boon prevents the demon's death, so Jambavan whirls him again and casts him back into Lanka. While the ancient warrior answers illusion with strength, Narada sends Garuda swiftly toward Rama. The scene prepares two releases at once: Meghnad removed from the field and the natural enemy of serpents approaching the noose.
Jambavan sends Meghnad flying home as Garuda crosses the sky toward the serpents coiled around Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
चरित राम के सगुन भवानी। तर्कि न जाहिं बुद्धि बल बानी।। अस बिचारि जे तग्य बिरागी। रामहि भजहिं तर्क सब त्यागी।। ब्याकुल कटकु कीन्ह घननादा। पुनि भा प्रगट कहइ दुर्बादा।। जामवंत कह खल रहु ठाढ़ा। सुनि करि ताहि क्रोध अति बाढ़ा।। बूढ़ जानि सठ छाँड़ेउँ तोही। लागेसि अधम पचारै मोही।। अस कहि तरल त्रिसूल चलायो। जामवंत कर गहि सोइ धायो।। मारिसि मेघनाद कै छाती। परा भूमि घुर्मित सुरघाती।। पुनि रिसान गहि चरन फिरायौ। महि पछारि निज बल देखरायो।। बर प्रसाद सो मरइ न मारा। तब गहि पद लंका पर डारा।। इहाँ देवरिषि गरुड़ पठायो। राम समीप सपदि सो आयो।।
The divine deeds of Rama in His manifest form, O Bhavani, cannot be grasped by logic, intellect, strength, or eloquent speech. Knowing this, the wise and dispassionate sages worship Rama, casting aside all arguments of reason. Meghnad threw the afflicted army into uproar with his thunderous cry, then appeared in the open, hurling vile taunts. Jambavan called out, 'Stand and fight, you wretch!' Hearing this, the demon's anger blazed even hotter. 'Knowing you to be old, I spared you, fool! Yet now you dare to challenge me, you lowly creature!' Saying this, he hurled a whirling trident, but Jambavan caught it in his bare hand and charged forward. He struck Meghnad square in the chest, and that slayer of gods reeled and fell to the ground. Then, seething with rage, he seized Meghnad by the feet, whirled him around, and slammed him to the earth, displaying his ancient might. But by virtue of a boon the demon had received, he could not be slain in this way; so Jambavan grabbed his feet and flung him all the way back to Lanka. Meanwhile, the divine sage Narada dispatched Garuda, who came at once to Rama's side.