राम
Contemplative Interlude

Time Becomes Rama's Bow, and His Name Becomes the Bridge

Lanka Kanda, Doha 1क

Keep this contemplation

Preserve, print, or share

The smallest instant, the blink of an eye, the finest particle of time, the year, the age, and the immeasurable kalpa gather like fierce arrows. Time itself bends as the bow in Rama's hand. The mind is asked why it does not worship the Lord for whom every duration is a weapon.

The contemplation turns without separation into action. Having heard the ocean, Rama calls his counselors. Delay has no further purpose. Build the bridge now, he commands, and let the forest army cross toward Lanka.

Jambavan joins his hands before the banner of the Solar line and reveals the deeper bridge beneath the bridge of stone. Rama's Name already bears human beings across the ocean of becoming. Nala and Nila will shape a passage over visible water, but every stone rests within the greater power by which the soul crosses fear, birth, and death.

The Lord whose bow is Time gives the world a bridge of stone and an eternal bridge of Name.

Read the passage from the Manas

लव निमेष परमानु जुग बरष कलप सर चंड। भजसि न मन तेहि राम को कालु जासु कोदंड।। सिंधु बचन सुनि राम सचिव बोलि प्रभु अस कहेउ। अब बिलंबु केहि काम करहु सेतु उतरै कटकु।। सुनहु भानुकुल केतु जामवंत कर जोरि कह। नाथ नाम तव सेतु नर चढ़ि भव सागर तरिहिं।।

Lav, nimesh, paramanu, yuga, year, age, and cosmic cycle: these are His fierce arrows. Time itself is His bow. O my mind, why do you not worship that Rama whose weapon is Time? Hearing the ocean's words, Rama called his minister and said: Now there is no reason for delay. Build the bridge, and let the army cross.