The Guardians of the Directions Abandon Their Realms
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 182
Sortha 182 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ravana summons Meghanada and commands him to defeat the proud warriors of heaven and bring them back in bonds. The son receives the order upon his shoulders. Other forces are dispatched, while Ravana himself takes up his mace and goes out.
Earth trembles beneath the movement of the ten headed king. His roar brings terror even into the wombs of celestial women. The gods hide within caves of Mount Meru, and the beautiful realms of the directional guardians stand empty.
Ravana wanders the worlds, roaring challenges and finding no opponent. Sun, Moon, Wind, Varuna, Kubera, Fire, Time, Yama, Kinnaras, Siddhas, humans, gods, and serpents are obstructed. Throughout Brahma's creation, embodied beings become his subjects and come daily in fear to bow at his feet.
The directional palaces empty as Ravana's roar crosses the architecture of heaven.
Read the passage from the Manas
मेघनाद कहुँ पुनि हँकरावा। दीन्ही सिख बलु बयरु बढ़ावा।। जे सुर समर धीर बलवाना। जिन्ह कें लरिबे कर अभिमाना।। तिन्हहि जीति रन आनेसु बाँधी। उठि सुत पितु अनुसासन काँधी।। एहि बिधि सबही अग्या दीन्ही। आपुनु चलेउ गदा कर लीन्ही।। चलत दसानन डोलति अवनी। गर्जत गर्भ स्त्रवहिं सुर रवनी।। रावन आवत सुनेउ सकोहा। देवन्ह तके मेरु गिरि खोहा।। दिगपालन्ह के लोक सुहाए। सूने सकल दसानन पाए।। पुनि पुनि सिंघनाद करि भारी। देइ देवतन्ह गारि पचारी।। रन मद मत्त फिरइ जग धावा। प्रतिभट खौजत कतहुँ न पावा।। रबि ससि पवन बरुन धनधारी। अगिनि काल जम सब अधिकारी।। किंनर सिद्ध मनुज सुर नागा। हठि सबही के पंथहिं लागा।। ब्रह्मसृष्टि जहँ लगि तनुधारी। दसमुख बसबर्ती नर नारी।। आयसु करहिं सकल भयभीता। नवहिं आइ नित चरन बिनीता।।
Then Ravana summoned Meghanada and gave him instruction, stoking his strength and deepening his enmity. Those gods who were steadfast and mighty in battle, Meghanada defeated them all and sent them fleeing.