Ravana Lifts Kailash for Sport
Bala Kanda, Doha 179
Doha 179 · Movement 2 of 2
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Victory has made ordinary resistance too small for Ravana's delight. He goes to Kailash not from need or defence, but for sport, seeking a weight great enough to measure the strength gathered in his many arms.
Hands reach beneath the mountain of Shiva. The vast seat of snow, sages, caves, forests, and divine presence feels the pressure of the rakshasa king testing himself against sacred stone.
He lifts Kailash and departs filled with joy at his own power. What should draw the head downward in reverence becomes an object for pride to raise. The gesture reveals an empire no longer content to conquer kingdoms, but eager to handle holiness as a toy.
Ravana puts his arms beneath Kailash and treats the mountain of Shiva as a measure of himself.
Read the passage from the Manas
कौतुकहीं कैलास पुनि लीन्हेसि जाइ उठाइ। मनहुँ तौलि निज बाहुबल चला बहुत सुख पाइ।।179।।
Then, merely for sport, he went and lifted Mount Kailash. As if weighing the strength of his own arms, he departed filled with great delight.