Rama Strings His Bow, and Fire Awakens in the Heart of the Ocean
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 58
Doha 58 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bring my bow and arrows, Rama tells Lakshmana. I will dry the sea with the fire of my shafts. Courtesy offered to the wicked, affection to the crooked, and beautiful counsel to the miserly are seed cast where no living root will take hold.
Knowledge spoken to one drowned in attachment, renunciation praised before consuming greed, calm offered to raging anger, and Hari's story given to lust are equally fruitless. Each is like sowing fertile seed upon barren earth. Rama has tested gentleness and now acts according to what stands before him.
He strings the bow, to Lakshmana's delight, and fits a terrible arrow. Fire rises from the ocean's own depths. Crocodiles, serpents, fish, and countless water creatures writhe within the sudden burning. Seeing his beings in anguish, the ocean abandons pride, assumes a Brahmin's form, and approaches with a golden plate heaped in jewels.
When Rama draws the string, the ocean discovers fire hidden beneath all its waters.
Read the passage from the Manas
लछिमन बान सरासन आनू। सोषौं बारिधि बिसिख कृसानू।। सठ सन बिनय कुटिल सन प्रीती। सहज कृपन सन सुंदर नीती।। ममता रत सन ग्यान कहानी। अति लोभी सन बिरति बखानी।। क्रोधिहि सम कामिहि हरि कथा। ऊसर बीज बएँ फल जथा।। अस कहि रघुपति चाप चढ़ावा। यह मत लछिमन के मन भावा।। संघानेउ प्रभु बिसिख कराला। उठी उदधि उर अंतर ज्वाला।। मकर उरग झष गन अकुलाने। जरत जंतु जलनिधि जब जाने।। कनक थार भरि मनि गन नाना। बिप्र रूप आयउ तजि माना।।
"Lakshmana, bring My bow and arrows. I shall dry up the ocean with the fire of these shafts." "Courtesy with the wicked, affection with the crooked, and fair counsel with the naturally miserly are all in vain." "Speaking of spiritual wisdom to one steeped in worldly attachment, or praising renunciation to the deeply greedy, is equally futile." "Preaching peace to the wrathful and telling divine tales to the lustful is like sowing seeds in barren ground." Saying this, Raghupati strung His bow. This resolve delighted Lakshmana's heart. The Lord fitted a fearsome arrow to the string. Flames leapt up from within the ocean's breast. Crocodiles, serpents, and fish of every kind writhed in agony. When the ocean realized that all his creatures were burning, He came in the form of a Brahmin, abandoning his pride, bearing a golden plate filled with many precious gems.