जय श्रीराम!
आत्मानं मुमुचे तस्मादेकनेत्रव्ययेन सः ॥१२.२३॥
Notes: The crow had bitten off more than he could chew. Sītā's anguish and the drops of blood from her bosom woke up Śrīrāma. One look and he knew what had happened. He simply picked up a reed of grass nearby and invoked the Brahmāstra! Once loosed by Śrīrāma, this infallible weapon went after the crow. The story we have read is that the crow went and sought protection from all the gods and scampered in the three worlds without escape as the इषीकास्त्र launched by Śrīrāma pursued him inexorably. Finally, the crow was advised to fall at Śrīrāma's feet and beg for mercy, which again was as much Śrīrāma's speciality as his infallible weapons. Śrīrāma let off the recalcitrant crow lightly with a warning, and the weapon, which could not be extinguished without an offering, took one eye of the crow.
Kālidāsa says, "Awakened by the beauteous Sītā, Śrīrāma launched a reed arrow to attack the crow, who finally saved himself by yielding one eye to it with a sincere apology."
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जय श्रीराम!
