No One Remains Free
Bala Kanda, Sortha 182
Sortha 182 · Movement 2 of 2
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By the strength of his arms, Ravana holds the whole world beneath subjection. Kingdom after kingdom, species after species, and realm after realm lose the power to act outside his command.
No one remains free. The golden capital at the centre of the ocean becomes the seat from which one will governs the lives of multitudes through fear.
Called the crest jewel among overlords, Ravana rules by his own counsel alone. No scripture, elder, deity, or moral boundary stands above the throne. The empire appears complete precisely where it has become most radically separated from dharma.
Across the conquered worlds, every head bows except the ten that accept no counsel.
Read the passage from the Manas
भुजबल बिस्व बस्य करि राखेसि कोउ न सुतंत्र। मंडलीक मनि रावन राज करइ निज मंत्र।।182(क)।। देव जच्छ गंधर्व नर किंनर नाग कुमारि। जीति बरीं निज बाहुबल बहु सुंदर बर नारि।।182ख।।
By the strength of his arms he kept the whole world in subjection; no one remained free. Ravana, the crest-jewel among overlords, ruled by his own counsel alone.