Rama Revives the Enemy Charioteer Before His Supreme Wrath Rises
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 91
Doha 91 · Movement 1 of 3
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Ravana's thunderbolt hard arrows cover sky, earth, directions, and the spaces between them. Rama answers with fire shafts that burn the demon arrows in an instant. A fierce Shakti comes and is turned back. Millions of discs and tridents follow, and the Lord cuts them away without effort.
Every arrow of Ravana becomes fruitless like the desires of one devoted to wickedness. Rama then sends seven arrows into the charioteer. The man falls from his place crying Jaya Rama, the name of the one whose shafts have struck him.
Mercy immediately crosses the line of battle. Rama raises the fallen charioteer again. Only after giving life to the servant of his enemy does supreme wrath arise within the Lord. Compassion and fury stand together without confusion. The hand that restores one vulnerable life now turns toward the power that has made the world vulnerable.
Rama's supreme anger begins only after his mercy has lifted Ravana's fallen charioteer from the earth.
Read the passage from the Manas
कहि दुर्बचन क्रुद्ध दसकंधर। कुलिस समान लाग छाँड़ै सर।। नानाकार सिलीमुख धाए। दिसि अरु बिदिस गगन महि छाए।। पावक सर छाँड़ेउ रघुबीरा। छन महुँ जरे निसाचर तीरा।। छाड़िसि तीब्र सक्ति खिसिआई। बान संग प्रभु फेरि चलाई।। कोटिक चक्र त्रिसूल पबारै। बिनु प्रयास प्रभु काटि निवारै।। निफल होहिं रावन सर कैसें। खल के सकल मनोरथ जैसें।। तब सत बान सारथी मारेसि। परेउ भूमि जय राम पुकारेसि।। राम कृपा करि सूत उठावा। तब प्रभु परम क्रोध कहुँ पावा।।
Speaking harsh words, the furious ten-headed one shot arrows as hard as thunderbolts. Arrowheads of every shape rushed forth, covering all directions, the sky and the earth. The hero of Raghu's line released fiery arrows that burned every demon shaft to ash in an instant. Ravana hurled his fierce shakti spear in rage, but the Lord turned it back with His own arrow. Millions of chakras and trishulas Ravana flung; the Lord cut each one down without effort. Ravana's arrows became fruitless, just as every desire of the wicked comes to nothing. Then Rama struck the charioteer with seven arrows; he fell to the ground crying 'Jaya Rama!' Rama, in His mercy, revived the fallen charioteer. Then the Lord was seized by supreme anger.