Statues Weep and Blood Rains as Rama Fits the Final Arrows
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 27
Doha 102ख · Movement 2 of 3
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Statues weep. The sky is struck by thunderbolts, a violent wind rises, and the earth sways. Clouds release blood, hair, and dust upon a world already darkened by portents no tongue can fully number.
The gods behold the disturbances spreading through heaven and become overwhelmed. Their cry of Jaya, Jaya carries fear inside praise, for they know the end is near without knowing how the moment will pass through them.
Raghupati knows their fear. Compassion turns toward the celestial witnesses even while judgment turns toward Ravana. Rama joins arrow to bow. The gesture is calm inside a universe that has lost calm, and every omen appears to circle the small point where string, shaft, and hand meet. The compassionate one answers the terror of heaven by preparing the act from which heaven itself has pleaded for release.
While creation breaks into omens, Rama's compassion gathers itself into the precise joining of arrow and bow.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रतिमा रुदहिं पबिपात नभ अति बात बह डोलति मही। बरषहिं बलाहक रुधिर कच रज असुभ अति सक को कही।। उतपात अमित बिलोकि नभ सुर बिकल बोलहि जय जए। सुर सभय जानि कृपाल रघुपति चाप सर जोरत भए।।
Statues wept, mountains trembled, the sky shook and earth swayed violently. Clouds rained blood, hair stood on end; who can describe such terrible omens? Seeing limitless portents in the sky, the frightened gods cried 'Victory! Victory!' Knowing the gods' fear, compassionate Raghupati began stringing His bow with arrows.