Verse five of the Ramayana Chaupai
ban mein jaaye Taadakaa maari, charan chhu aaye Ahiya taari
O they went to the forest and killed the demoness Tadaka, Ahalya came searching his feet for her liberation
rishiyon ke dukh harate Raam
O Ram the one who overcame the sorrow of the sages
Ram Siya Ram Siya Ram A jai jai Ram
In the fifth verse we are having our first experience of slaying demons and liberating souls with the Lord. This mind, the author of these reflections, has a tendency to crumble under pressure, to run away from difficult tasks. However, experiencing the world and its play through the Avitara of Lord Rama we see these intimidating tasks accomplished quite easily. The Lord's arrow never misses it's mark and His Grace never fails to liberate souls that are lost and suffering. We aid in both sides of the process of conquering fear and merging into the divine as we are witness, and one with Lord Rama, the demoness Tadaka, the cursed Ahalya, and their play.
Tadaka is a demoness who has been terrorizing a forest and surrounding communities for so long that she has turned the forest dark and barren of life. There seems to be a struggle to thwart her evil, but it is most her grand standing trying to intimidate the young Rama. As soon as sage Vishvamitra reminds Rama to enchant his arrow with the holy Mantra that the sage had taught the young prince of Ayodhya, the skirmish is over with one strike of Rama's arrow. Our demons, fear, worries, and anxieties can easily be conquered in the same way. When we remember the teacher who removes the darkness, the Guru, like Rama demonstrated to us, and focus our arrow, our will, with His divine guidance, then release that will to manifest in whatever form it might take, like Rama released his arrow, our demon is easily vanquished. Then once again the forest comes to life, and the surrounding villages and holy communities, ashramas, thrive. So too in our minds, the darkness that has choked out our inner resources, preventing us from living in the joy and peace of the light, is revitalized and healed with this great heroic act.