Thirty One Arrows Fly Like the Serpent King of Death
Lanka Kanda, Doha 102ख
Doha 102ख · Movement 3 of 3
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Rama draws the bowstring back to his ear. Full strength enters the curve of Sharanga, and the final knowledge given by Vibhishana is held in the aim.
Thirty one arrows are released together. One must find the nectar hidden in the navel, while the others move toward the heads and arms whose endless renewal has filled the sky and exhausted every ordinary conclusion.
The shafts travel like the serpent king belonging to Death. They do not search, hesitate, or divide in purpose even though they are many. Time has already spoken through omens, but now its verdict takes visible form in Rama's arrows. The thirty one fly as a single intelligence toward thirty one appointed places, carrying the precise end that force without knowledge could never bring.
Rama releases thirty one arrows, and Death enters the sky as one many hooded serpent moving toward its exact marks.
Read the passage from the Manas
खैचि सरासन श्रवन लगि छाड़े सर एकतीस। रघुनायक सायक चले मानहुँ काल फनीस।।102।।
Drawing the bowstring to His ear, He released thirty-one arrows. Raghunayaka's shafts flew forth like Death's own serpent-king.