Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 76: Lord Rāma Strings Lord Viṣṇu’s bow
Text 1.76.18
लोकास्त्वप्रतिमा राम निर्जितास्तपसा मया।
जहि ताञ्शरमुख्येन मा भूत्कालस्य पर्ययः॥
lokās tv apratimā rāma nirjitās tapasā mayā
jahi tāñ śara-mukhyena mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ
lokāḥ tu = worlds; apratimāḥ = unrivalled; rāma = O Rāma; nirjitāḥ = I have conquered; tapasā mayā = through my austerity; jahi tān = destroy them; śara-mukhyena = with the best of arrows; mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ = let there be no delay.
O Rāma, I have conquered unrivalled worlds through my austerity. Destroy them with the best of arrows. Let there be no delay.
1 Rāma’s arrow could be used to stop Paraśurāma’s bodily movement or destroy the pious credits which provide him the facility to reside in higher abodes. The former is visible, but the latter is invisible.
Destruction of the worlds [in this context] is placing obstacles to being granted [residence in those superior] worlds. Rāma’s arrow needed to destroy something visible or invisible.1