Shiva Approaches Rama With Tears and a Voice Broken by Love
Lanka Kanda, Doha 115क
Doha 115क · Movement 2 of 2
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The gods shower flowers, ascend their radiant vehicles, and depart. As the celestial assembly opens, wise Shambhu recognizes the auspicious moment and comes near to Rama.
Tripurari joins his lotus hands. Supreme love fills him until tears gather in both eyes, every hair rises, and the voice that carries the mysteries of liberation becomes choked with feeling.
Shiva stands not as a distant deity acknowledging another deity's victory, but as a devotee before the form his heart adores. The battlefield has heard roars, drums, arrows, hymns, and the cries of armies. Now it receives a broken voice. In that trembling sound, power bows to tenderness and knowledge becomes prayer. Shiva's tears prepare the closing praise of Lanka Kanda by showing that the highest understanding of Rama flowers as love too full for unbroken speech.
When Shiva reaches Rama, the lord of yogis finds that tears can speak more completely than a steady voice.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुमन बरषि सब सुर चले चढ़ि चढ़ि रुचिर बिमान। देखि सुअवसरु प्रभु पहिं आयउ संभु सुजान।।114(क)।। परम प्रीति कर जोरि जुग नलिन नयन भरि बारि। पुलकित तन गदगद गिराँ बिनय करत त्रिपुरारि।।114(ख)।।
Showering flowers, all the gods departed, ascending their beautiful celestial vehicles. Seeing this auspicious moment, wise Shambhu came before the Lord. With supreme love, joining his lotus hands, eyes filled with tears of devotion, body thrilled with joy, voice choked with emotion, Tripurari offered his humble prayer.