Doha 71
Meghanāda gives battle and Śrī Rāma sportfully allows Himself to be bound by a snare of serpents
सभय देव करुनानिधि जान्यो। श्रवन प्रजंत सरासनु तान्यो॥ बिसिख निकर निसिचर मुख भरेऊ। तदपि महाबल भूमि न परेऊ॥१॥
सरन्हि भरा मुख सन्मुख धावा। काल त्रोन सजीव जनु आवा॥ तब प्रभु कोपि तीब्र सर लीन्हा। धर ते भिन्न तासु सिर कीन्हा॥२॥
सो सिर परेउ दसानन आगें। बिकल भयउ जिमि फनि मनि त्यागें॥ धरनि धसइ धर धाव प्रचंडा। तब प्रभु काटि कीन्ह दुइ खंडा॥३॥
परे भूमि जिमि नभ तें भूधर। हेठ दाबि कपि भालु निसाचर॥ तासु तेज प्रभु बदन समाना। सुर मुनि सबहिं अचंभव माना॥४॥
सुर दुंदुभीं बजावहिं हरषहिं। अस्तुति करहिं सुमन बहु बरषहिं॥ करि बिनती सुर सकल सिधाए। तेही समय देवरिषि आए॥५॥
गगनोपरि हरि गुन गन गाए। रुचिर बीररस प्रभु मन भाए॥ बेगि हतहु खल कहि मुनि गए। राम समर महि सोभत भए॥६॥
Meaning
Perceiving the gods much alarmed, the All-merciful pulled the string of His bow right up to His ear and blocked the demon’s mouth with a flight of His arrows; yet he did not fall to the ground, most powerful as he was. (1) With his mouth full of arrows he rushed forward like a living quiver of Death Himself. Then the Lord in His wrath took a sharp arrow and struck his head right off his body. (2) The head dropped in front of Rāvaṇa, who was filled with agony at its sight like a snake that has lost its crest-jewel. The earth sunk beneath the weight of the terrible trunk that still sprinted there; thereupon the Lord cut it into two. (3) The two pieces fell to the ground like a pair of mountains dropped from the heavens, crushing beneath them monkeys, bears and demons alike. His soul entered the Lord’s mouth in the form of a mass of light, to the astonishment of gods, sages and all. (4) The gods beat their kettle-drums in great exultation, extolled the Lord and rained down flowers in profusion. Having prayed to the Lord, all the gods went their way. Just at that moment arrived the celestial sage, Nārada. (5) Standing high in the air he sang Śrī Hari’s glories in a delightful heroic strain, which pleased the Lord. The sage departed with the words “Pray, despatch this wretch (Rāvaṇa) quickly.” Śrī Rāma exceedingly shone forth on the field of battle. (6)
संग्राम भूमि बिराज रघुपति अतुल बल कोसल धनी। श्रम बिंदु मुख राजीव लोचन अरुन तन सोनित कनी॥ भुज जुगल फेरत सर सरासन भालु कपि चहु दिसि बने। कह दास तुलसी कहि न सक छबि सेष जेहि आनन घने॥
Meaning
Śrī Raghunātha, the king of Kosala, who was matchless in strength, shone resplendent on the field of battle in the midst of bears and monkeys, with drops of perspiration on His face, His lotus eyes turned red and His person specked with particles of blood, and both His hands busy tending His bow and arrow. Even Śeṣa (the serpent-god), says Tulasīdāsa, could not describe the Lord’s beauty despite his numerous tongues.
निसिचर अधम मलाकर ताहि दीन्ह निज धाम। गिरिजा ते नर मंदमति जे न भजहिं श्रीराम॥७१॥
Meaning
Śrī Rāma vouchsafed a place in his own abode to the vile demon, who was a mine of sin! Girijā, (continues Lord Śiva,) dull-witted are those men who adore Him not. (71)
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