Rama's Arrows Complete Their Work and Return to the Quiver
Lanka Kanda, Doha 68
Doha 68 · Movement 2 of 2
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In a single moment, the terrible demons fall beneath Rama's arrows. What required whole armies, mountain peaks, and repeated assaults is completed by shafts governed by the Lord's will.
Then the arrows turn. They do not remain scattered in corpses, earth, or distance, and no servant must walk among the fallen to gather them.
Every sharp shaft returns to Raghuvira's quiver and enters its place. The weapons move like conscious extensions of the hand that released them, fierce in purpose and perfectly at rest when purpose is fulfilled. Battle's apparent chaos reveals an inward order around Rama. Nothing sent from him is lost, and nothing continues beyond the work for which it flew.
The arrows leave as death, return as obedience, and settle silently beside the Lord who governs both.
Read the passage from the Manas
छन महुँ प्रभु के सायकन्हि काटे बिकट पिसाच। पुनि रघुबीर निषंग महुँ प्रबिसे सब नाराच।।68।।
In an instant the Lord's arrows cut down the terrible demons. Then all the shafts returned to Raghuvira's quiver of their own accord.