Every Support of Creation Trembles When Rama Draws His Bow
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 11
Doha 86 · Movement 2 of 3
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Sharanga shines in Rama's hand. A beautiful quiver rests ready, and death keen arrows encircle his girded waist. His arms are full, powerful, and graceful, extending from a broad chest upon which the mark of a brahmin's foot shines.
Tulsidas enters the vision by naming himself the Lord's servant. He watches the moment Rama begins to move bow and arrows together, an action small enough to occur between two hands and vast enough to be recognized by the entire structure of creation.
The cosmic sphere trembles. The elephants that uphold the directions sway, along with the great tortoise and the serpent beneath the worlds. Earth, oceans, and mountains shake. Nothing that appears to support creation stands outside the power of the one drawing the string. The warrior before Lanka is the secret support of every support that quivers around him.
When Rama draws Sharanga, the pillars of the cosmos tremble in recognition of what has always upheld them.
Read the passage from the Manas
सारंग कर सुंदर निषंग सिलीमुखाकर कटि कस्यो। भुजदंड पीन मनोहरायत उर धरासुर पद लस्यो।। कह दास तुलसी जबहिं प्रभु सर चाप कर फेरन लगे। ब्रह्मांड दिग्गज कमठ अहि महि सिंधु भूधर डगमगे।।
Beautiful is the quiver at His shoulder, the bow gleaming in His hand, His waist girded with arrows sharp as death. His mighty arms are strong and graceful; His broad chest bears the mark where Lakshmi's feet rest. Says the servant Tulsi: when the Lord began to draw His bow and arrows, the entire universe trembled. The cosmic spheres, the elephants of the directions, the great turtle, the serpent king, the earth, the oceans, and the mountains all swayed and shook with awe.