Serpent Arrows Seal Every Direction Until the Army Calls Rama
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 7
Doha 82 · Movement 2 of 3
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Ravana draws his bows and releases swarms of arrows. They fly like serpents awakened into the air, their bodies cutting across one another until no clear path remains between ground and sky.
Arrows fill the earth, the heavens, the directions, and the spaces between directions. The vanaras search for somewhere to run, but the storm has made flight itself appear impossible. Tumult spreads through the companies of monkeys and bears as every visible opening closes beneath the shafts.
From that anguish comes a single many voiced prayer. Raghuvira, ocean of compassion, friend of the afflicted, protector of your people, Hari. They name the Lord according to the need that has become absolute around them. The arrow storm supplies the darkness, but helplessness opens the mouth of devotion. With nowhere left to flee in space, the whole army turns through sound toward Rama.
When every direction is sealed by arrows, the heart discovers the direction contained in Rama's name.
Read the passage from the Manas
संधानि धनु सर निकर छाड़ेसि उरग जिमि उड़ि लागहीं। रहे पूरि सर धरनी गगन दिसि बिदसि कहँ कपि भागहीं।। भयो अति कोलाहल बिकल कपि दल भालु बोलहिं आतुरे। रघुबीर करुना सिंधु आरत बंधु जन रच्छक हरे।।
Stringing his bows, he released swarms of arrows that flew like serpents through the air. Arrows filled the earth, the sky, every direction; where could the monkeys flee? Great tumult arose as the anguished forces of monkeys and bears cried out in distress: 'O Raghuvira, Karuna Sindhu (ocean of compassion), friend of the afflicted, protector of devotees, O Hari!'