Blood Shines Like Prosperity Upon Rama's Dark Battle Form
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 28
Doha 103 · Movement 2 of 3
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Victory rises to the root of compassion, Mukunda who removes duality, gives happiness to those seeking refuge, tears through the hosts of the wicked, and remains the supreme cause and all pervading Lord.
Gods pour flowers through their joy and great drums resound. In the courtyard of battle, Rama's body shines with a beauty that the violence around it has not diminished. Flowers glow between matted locks and crown like lightning and stars upon a blue mountain.
His strong arms still move with bow and arrows. Drops of blood rest upon the dark body like radiant goddesses of prosperity seated in delight upon tamala trees. The image does not separate the terrible work from divine beauty. Compassion has passed through battle without ceasing to be compassion, and the form that ended Ravana stands adorned by flower, weapon, starlight, and the red trace of what liberation cost.
Upon Rama's rain cloud body, flowers, blood, bow, and starlight gather into the beauty of compassion after battle.
Read the passage from the Manas
जय कृपा कंद मुकंद द्वंद हरन सरन सुखप्रद प्रभो। खल दल बिदारन परम कारन कारुनीक सदा बिभो।। सुर सुमन बरषहिं हरष संकुल बाज दुंदुभि गहगही। संग्राम अंगन राम अंग अनंग बहु सोभा लही।। सिर जटा मुकुट प्रसून बिच बिच अति मनोहर राजहीं। जनु नीलगिरि पर तड़ित पटल समेत उड़ुगन भ्राजहीं।। भुजदंड सर कोदंड फेरत रुधिर कन तन अति बने। जनु रायमुनीं तमाल पर बैठीं बिपुल सुख आपने।।
Victory to You, O compassionate Lord, destroyer of Mukunda's conflicts, giver of refuge and bliss to devotees! Supreme cause of destroying wicked hosts, O eternally merciful and all-pervading One! Gods shower flowers in great joy, drums and kettledrums resound thunderously. In the battlefield arena, Rama's divine form shines with countless beauties of love. Amidst the matted locks and crown, flowers bloom most enchantingly. As if lightning streaks with flying clouds blaze upon the blue mountain. Whirling His mighty arms, bow and arrows, blood drops adorn His body beautifully. As if on dark tamala trees goddesses of prosperity have seated themselves in great joy.