December 7 - Sarga 21 of Yuddha Kanda.
Sri Rama lies down on darbha grass for 3 days and 3 nights on the seashore, fasting and praying. But there is no response from the lord of the ocean.
Sri Rama gets into a rage and decides to use force. He shoots fierce arrows into the ocean that agitate all life. Lakshmana pleads with Sri Rama to cool down. The rishis in the skies also pray to him to stop.
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"Lying flat on the ocean shore, Sri Rama bowed to the lord of the ocean, and lay on darbha grass. His arms, mighty like great snakes, were stretched out flat. These same arms had been adorned with the choicest of gold ornaments before, and often smeared with the choicest of perfumes by beautiful maidens in the Ayodhya palace during his ceremonial baths. They then shone with a golden hue, anointed by chandana. While lying down in bed, the same arm had nestled his beloved queen Sita's head resting lovingly. The arm looked like the reddish-hued great Takshaka snake rising in Ganga waters as Sri Rama now lay on his side using it as a pillow.
"Lying flat on the ocean shore, Sri Rama bowed to the lord of the ocean, and lay on darbha grass. His arms, mighty like great snakes, were stretched out flat. These same arms had been adorned with the choicest of gold ornaments before, and often smeared with the choicest of perfumes by beautiful maidens in the Ayodhya palace during his ceremonial baths. They then shone with a golden hue, anointed by chandana. While lying down in bed, the same arm had nestled his beloved queen Sita's head resting lovingly. The arm looked like the reddish-hued great Takshaka snake rising in Ganga waters as Sri Rama now lay on his side using it as a pillow.
"These arms of Sri Rama drove terror into enemies in battle, and at the same time gave much delight and security to his friends, as well as assured protection to all earth, extending to the edges of the ocean. These same arms had hardened in places due to constant rubbing of the bow in battles. These same arms had gifted thousands of cows to Brahmins. "
अद्य मे तरणं वाथ मरणं सागरस्य वा - " I shall do this upasana until the ocean yields me a way to cross over, or I die." With this resolve, Sri Rama lay down on the dabbha grass.
स त्रिरात्रोषितस्तत्र नयज्ञो धर्मवत्सलः ।
उपासत तदा रामः सागरं सरितां पतिम् ॥
न च दर्शयते रूपं मन्दो रामस्य सागरः ।
प्रयतेनापि रामेण यथार्हमभिपूजितः ॥
"Thus, for three nights, did Sri Rama, knowing well humility and softness, and devoted to Dharma, worship the lord of the ocean. But the dull-witted ocean lord did not show himself, despite Sri Rama's supplication done really well as appropriate."
Sri Rama now showed his furious side. He called out to Lakshmana,
अवलेपः समुद्रस्य न दर्शयति यः स्वयम् ।
प्रशमश्च क्षमा चैव आर्जवं प्रियवादिता ।
असामर्थ्यं फलाह्येते निर्गुणेषु सतां गुणः ॥
"Oh Lakshmana, see the high arrogance of the lord of the ocean, for he does not reveal himself! Peaceability, forbearance, and straightforwardness, as well as gentle entreaty, when displayed by good people, are often construed by inferior beings as a sign of weakness and incapability."
"It seems people respect rulers who harbour people good and bad only because of their sycophancy. Such rulers always rule cruelly. It seems the stock of gentle persuasion has evaporated in the world just as it does not work on the battlefield for sure. Bring my bow, Lakshmana! Let the sea creatures be blown to bits by my arrows. Let this ocean be filled with their carcasses - you shall be the witness!"
क्षमया हि समायुक्तं मामयं मकरालयः - "So this ocean lord thinks that my forbearance is a sign of my incompetence!"
"With my deadly arrows, I shall see that the ocean which never breaches his shore will be scattered. I shall shake up the ocean to its very depths where live the danavas. "
And so on, until Lakshmana had no choice but to bring Sri Rama his bow and his quiver.
संपीड्य च धनुर्घोरं कम्पयित्वा शरैर्जगत् ।
मुमोच विशिखानुग्रान् वज्रानिव शतक्रतुः ॥
"Then Sri Rama bent his bow fiercely and shook the whole world with a terrific noise as he released arrows that thundered like the strokes of Indra's thunderbolt."
The blindingly bright arrows pierced the ocean with such speed that the sea creatures all shook in deathly fright. The ocean was stirred up like in a maelstrom. The waves rose high, bringing up all sea life and seashells and conches and so on in a big upheaval. Serpents with luminous eyes and danavas in the ocean depths were terrified out of their wits. The waves rose up sky-high like mountains. There was a sense of terror all around due to the loud noise.
Sri Rama heaved a big sigh and started to set another arrow to his incomparably mighty bow.
Lakshmana leaped to Sri Rama's side and saying, "No, No", grabbed Sri Rama's bow to prevent further harm.
भवद्विधाः क्रोधवशं न यान्ति दीर्घं भवान् पश्यतु साधुवृत्तम् - "Oh noble sir, men of your glory do not yield to rage. Be so kind as to find a more temperate, peaceable, and sustainable solution to the issue at hand."
The devarishis and rajarishis appeared in the heavens above and pleaded loudly, "No, No, Sri Rama!"
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
