Ravana's Heads Become a Forest of Lotuses That Refuses to Stay Cut
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 92
Doha 92 · Movement 1 of 3
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Rama's winged serpent arrows strike down the charioteer and horses, shatter the chariot, and tear away its banner and flag. Ravana roars though his inward strength is spent, mounts another chariot, and sends weapon after weapon into failure, like the efforts of a mind fixed upon harming others.
Ten spears kill the four divine horses. Rama lifts the fallen steeds, draws, and sends shafts toward Ravana's ten heads like bees entering a lotus forest. Ten arrows pierce each forehead and blood runs in streams. Thirty more cut heads and arms from the charging king.
The severed forms touch the field, yet new heads and arms immediately arise. Rama cuts them again and again, beholding the wonder of his own play as renewal follows every stroke. Soon heads and arms cover the sky like innumerable Rahus and Ketus. The duel has passed beyond ordinary victory. Ravana's body now displays the very multiplication that force alone cannot exhaust.
Rama cuts the forest down again and again, while each fallen head opens into another dark lotus in the sky.
Read the passage from the Manas
चले बान सपच्छ जनु उरगा। प्रथमहिं हतेउ सारथी तुरगा।। रथ बिभंजि हति केतु पताका। गर्जा अति अंतर बल थाका।। तुरत आन रथ चढ़ि खिसिआना। अस्त्र सस्त्र छाँड़ेसि बिधि नाना।। बिफल होहिं सब उद्यम ताके। जिमि परद्रोह निरत मनसा के।। तब रावन दस सूल चलावा। बाजि चारि महि मारि गिरावा।। तुरग उठाइ कोपि रघुनायक। खैंचि सरासन छाँड़े सायक।। रावन सिर सरोज बनचारी। चलि रघुबीर सिलीमुख धारी।। दस दस बान भाल दस मारे। निसरि गए चले रुधिर पनारे।। स्त्रवत रुधिर धायउ बलवाना। प्रभु पुनि कृत धनु सर संधाना।। तीस तीर रघुबीर पबारे। भुजन्हि समेत सीस महि पारे।। काटतहीं पुनि भए नबीने। राम बहोरि भुजा सिर छीने।। प्रभु बहु बार बाहु सिर हए। कटत झटिति पुनि नूतन भए।। पुनि पुनि प्रभु काटत भुज सीसा। अति कौतुकी कोसलाधीसा।। रहे छाइ नभ सिर अरु बाहू। मानहुँ अमित केतु अरु राहू।।
The arrows flew like winged serpents and first struck down the charioteer and horses. Shattering the chariot and toppling the banner and flag, Ravana roared aloud, though his inner strength was spent. Swiftly mounting another chariot in fury, he unleashed weapons and missiles of every kind. All his efforts proved fruitless, like the schemes of a mind bent on harming others. Then Ravana hurled ten spears, striking down and killing all four horses. Lifting the horses in anger, the Lord of the Raghus drew His bow and released His arrows. Like bees drawn to lotus blossoms, the sharp-pointed shafts of Raghuvira sped toward Ravana's heads. Ten arrows pierced each of the ten foreheads, and streams of blood began to flow. Streaming blood, the mighty one charged forward; the Lord again fitted arrow to bow. Raghuvira released thirty arrows, severing the heads along with the arms and casting them to the ground. No sooner were they cut than they grew back anew; Rama again severed the arms and heads. Many times the Lord cut off arms and heads, yet they instantly renewed themselves each time. Again and again the Lord severed arms and heads. The Lord of Kosala watched this marvel with calm wonder. Severed heads and arms filled the sky, appearing like countless Ketu and Rahu eclipsing the heavens.