Rama and Shiva Stand Together at the Threshold of War
Lanka Kanda, Shloka 3
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Before the bridge, the armies, and the thunder of battle, the Lanka Kanda opens in worship. Rama appears as the one adored by Shiva, remover of the fear of becoming, a lion before the maddened elephant of Time. Yogis know him through wisdom, yet no quality, change, Maya, or enemy can bind him.
The infinite Brahman has taken the visible form of an earthly king, dark as a rain heavy cloud and lotus eyed. He stands devoted to the destruction of cruelty and the protection of the worlds, while every company of the wise recognizes one deity within that royal form.
Then the vision turns toward Shiva, luminous as conch and moon, tiger skin around him, terrible serpents as ornaments, Ganga and the crescent held in love. Lord of Kashi, destroyer of Kali's stain, husband of Girija and slayer of desire, he grants rare liberation to the good and disciplines the wicked. May Shankara bestow auspiciousness as the battle book begins.
At Lanka's threshold, Rama worshiped by Shiva and Shiva beloved of Rama shine within one invocation.
Read the passage from the Manas
रामं कामारिसेव्यं भवभयहरणं कालमत्तेभसिंहं योगीन्द्रं ज्ञानगम्यं गुणनिधिमजितं निर्गुणं निर्विकारम्। मायातीतं सुरेशं खलवधनिरतं ब्रह्मवृन्दैकदेवं वन्दे कन्दावदातं सरसिजनयनं देवमुर्वीशरूपम्।।1।। शंखेन्द्वाभमतीवसुन्दरतनुं शार्दूलचर्माम्बरं कालव्यालकरालभूषणधरं गंगाशशांकप्रियम्। काशीशं कलिकल्मषौघशमनं कल्याणकल्पद्रुमं नौमीड्यं गिरिजापतिं गुणनिधिं कन्दर्पहं शङ्करम्।।2।। यो ददाति सतां शम्भुः कैवल्यमपि दुर्लभम्। खलानां दण्डकृद्योऽसौ शङ्करः शं तनोतु मे।।3।।
I bow to Lord Rama, the one whom Shiva, slayer of Kama, worships, who removes the fear of worldly existence, who is like a lion to the maddened elephant of Time. He is the king of yogis, known through wisdom alone, a treasury of virtues, unconquered, beyond gunas, unchanging. Beyond maya, lord of the gods, devoted to slaying the wicked, the one deity of all the wise. Dark and beautiful as a rain-filled cloud, lotus-eyed, he has taken the form of an earthly king. I salute Shankara, whose body shines like conch and moon, who wears a tiger skin, adorned with serpents terrible and grand, who loves the Ganga and the crescent moon. He is the Lord of Kashi, the tree of auspiciousness, destroyer of all the sins of Kali Yuga. I bow to him, the husband of Girija, treasury of virtues, slayer of Kama, the blessed Shankara. May that Shankara, who grants even the rare gift of liberation to the virtuous, and who punishes the wicked, bestow grace upon me.