6.021. Whose wrath even the gods fear!

Hari Om.

Let us begin the twenty first sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

The younger brother of rAvaNa, vibhIshaNa was accepted on board by rAma in accordance with the principles laid down in the sanAtana dharma. The demon who joined rAma entered the army ranks and advised rAma to seek the support of the ocean by praying to the lord of the ocean in order for the entire army to cross over to lanka. rAma did so, set up a seat made of kuSa grass and began his prayers. In the meanwhile, spies discovered the ocean-like large vAnara army along with rAma and lakshmaNa waiting on the northern shore of the ocean and alerted rAvaNa. He sent a messenger by name Suka who carried a message for sugrIva whom he called . The idea was clear – drive a wedge between rAma and sugrIva and thereby render rAma weak! The messenger immediately flew across the ocean, went to sugrIva and conveyed the message. The vAnaras at once caught hold of him and thrashed him. He pleaded with rAma to be released since he was only performing the duty that he was entrusted with and was not speaking his mind. The rAma who could give refuge to the brother of his enemy at once ordered his release. The messenger went back wounded and carrying the stern message of sugrIva which asked rAvaNa to be prepared for decimation of his kin, his city and his own self. Onwards…

With the messenger Suka released from the captivity of vAnaras and flying back to lanka, rAma lay on kuSa grass in front of the ocean turned eastward with his hands folded in prayer of the lord of ocean. He also lied on the same kuSa grass with his head resting on the arm that was as soft as the body of the serpent and as muscular as that.

This was the same shoulder that once was adorned with the best of ornaments made in glittering gold. These were the arms that have a soft and tender feel like the fingers of a maiden shone like the rising sun with red fragrant sandal applied on them. These are the arms that sItA rested her head on when she dazzled along with rAma in the past. They are also fierce like takshaka, the serpent king in the river gangA. These arms of rAma unleashed misery on the enemies in the battlefield and worthy of extending protection to the entire earth, they brought joy to his well wishers and friends. The skin had peeled off on the left arm due to unleashing of the arrows. The right arm was strong like an iron beam.

Making that mighty arm which gave away thousands of cows in charity as his headrest, rAma lay by the side of the ocean observing rigorous course of discipline like a sage and determined to either cross the ocean or end his life there!

गोसहस्रप्रदातारम् उपधाय महद्भुजम् ।

अद्य मे मरणं वाऽथ तरणं सागरस्य वा ।

इति रामो धृतिं कृत्वा महाबाहुर्महोदधिम् ।

अधिशिश्ये स विधिवत् प्रयतोऽत्र स्थितो मुनिः ॥

Three nights passed for rAma lying down diligently and prayerfully on a mat of kuSa grass seeking the grace of the lord of the ocean. But even though rAma diligently prayed as per the laid down procedure the lord of the ocean didn’t see it fit to manifest in front of rAma in a divine form. After three nights, rAma was angry and his eyes turned red. He turned to the gracious lakshmaNa who was by his side and said –

“Look at the arrogance of the lord of ocean who doesn’t manifest himself! The virtues of the good like serenity, forgiveness, honesty and sweet speech are wasted when shown to the unvirtuous. This world seems to honour an evil man who is conceitful, mischievous and dishes out punishment at will moving with his leash. O lakshmaNa, it appears like you cannot earn either fame or repute in life or victory in the battlefield by resorting to a conciliatory tone. I shall thrown the ocean and its habitants – the crocodiles, serpents, sea elephants, fish and other aquatic beings in to disarray and cut them into pieces with my arrows as you all witness. In this great battle, I will dry up the whole ocean.

क्षमयाहिसमायुक्तंमामयंमकरालयः ।

असमर्थंविजानातिधिक् क्षमामीदृशेजने ।।6.21.20।।

As I display plenty of fortitude, this ocean mistakes me for incapable. Fortitude should not wasted on such ones. O saumitri, bring my bow, I shall today dry up the ocean and let the vAnaras walk across the dried-up ocean. Although the ocean is bound by the shore, today it will be thrown beyond its limits tormented and struck by my arrows.

एवमुक्त्वाधनुष्पाणिःक्रोधविस्फारितेक्षणः ।

बभूवरामोदुर्धर्षोयुगान्तानगिरिवज्वलन् ।।6.21.25।।

His eyes glowing with anger, rAma became impossible to behold like the raging inferno at the time of the great dissolution. He held his bow tightly and shot sharp, rapid and glowing arrows resembling the thunderbolt of indra at the ocean sending the aquatic animals into a tizzy. The winds blew terribly making large noises and at once with the waves spread out and conches and oysters come out, the ocean looked dreadful with all the beings in it terrified. The waves splashed as high as the large mountains such as mEru and mandara.

ततस्तुतंराघवमुग्रवेगंप्रकर्षमाणंधनुरप्रमेयम् ।

सौमित्रिरुत्पत्यसमुच्छवसन्तंमामेतिचोक्त्वादनुराललम्बे ।।6.21.33।।

As rAghava seethed with anger, hissed and shot more arrows at the ocean, lakshmaNa jumped to where he was, held rAma’s bow with his hand and pulled it saying ‘Noooo’ trying to prevent the assault on the ocean and said –

“O noble one, even without resorting to this violence on the ocean, your mission will be accomplished. Calm down. People like you should not be possessed by anger. Remember the noble conduct of those of the yore and restrain yourself”. Even the brahmaRshis and other Rshis who were witnessing this from the skies were terrified at the anger of rAma and also shouted ‘No’ when rAma tormented the ocean.