zen no-mind and beowulf

"The hero observed that swamp-thing from hell,
the tarn-hag in all her terrible strength,
then heaved his war-sword and swung his arm:
the decorated blade came down ringing
and singing on her head. But he soon found
his battle-torch extinguished; the shining blade
refused to bite. It spared her and failed
the man in his need. It had gone through many
hand-to-hand fights, had hewed the armor
and helmets of the doomed, but here at last
the fabulous powers of that heirloom failed.

Hygelac's kinsman kept thinking about
his name and fame: he never lost heart.
Then, in a fury, he flung his sword away.
The keen, inlaid worm-loop-patterned steel
was hurled to the ground: he would have to rely
on the might of his arm. So must a man do
who intends to gain enduring glory
in a combat. Life doesn't cost him a thought."
-- Beowulf (Translated by Seamus Heaney)

The sword matters at first. That fails.
Then pride matters, name and fame.
That gives way to fury which provides adrenaline,
but that is not enough. Then he relies on himself
and the might of his arm. He's getting there.
His intention to gain glory drops away
and he finally moves to the realm of no-thought,
which is the same as the realm of heart-mind.
At that point, the battle outcome is decided.
To external eyes, all appears hopeless.
Inner vision reveals that the fearsome opponent,
the tarn-hag, is now as one dead.