Rama Mistakes Ravana's Canopy for Storm Clouds and Reaches for One Arrow
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 13
Doha 14क · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama asks Vibhishana to look south. Dense clouds seem gathered there, lightning flashing while deep thunder rolls sweetly through the night. Perhaps, he says, a hard storm of hail is about to fall.
There are no clouds, Vibhishana answers. Upon Lanka's summit Ravana sits inside his pleasure arena. The dark royal canopy above his heads makes the mass of cloud. Mandodari's bright earrings are the lightning, and the incomparable drums and mridangas produce the distant thunder.
Rama understands the pride displayed across the darkness and smiles. From Suvela he strings the bow and fits a single arrow. The dancers continue, music fills the high palace, and no one within Ravana's court sees the line of intention crossing the space between the white summit and the black canopy.
The storm above Lanka is only Ravana's splendor, so Rama sends one silent flash of his own.
Read the passage from the Manas
देखु बिभीषन दच्छिन आसा। घन घंमड दामिनि बिलासा।। मधुर मधुर गरजइ घन घोरा। होइ बृष्टि जनि उपल कठोरा।। कहत बिभीषन सुनहु कृपाला। होइ न तड़ित न बारिद माला।। लंका सिखर उपर आगारा। तहँ दसकंघर देख अखारा।। छत्र मेघडंबर सिर धारी। सोइ जनु जलद घटा अति कारी।। मंदोदरी श्रवन ताटंका। सोइ प्रभु जनु दामिनी दमंका।। बाजहिं ताल मृदंग अनूपा। सोइ रव मधुर सुनहु सुरभूपा।। प्रभु मुसुकान समुझि अभिमाना। चाप चढ़ाइ बान संधाना।।
'Look toward the south, O Vibhishana. See the clouds gathered there with lightning flashing brilliantly.' The deep clouds thunder sweetly and melodiously. Let there not come a harsh hailstorm. Vibhishana said: 'Listen, O Kripala! There is no lightning there, nor any chain of clouds.' On the peak of Lanka stands a palace where the ten-headed Ravana holds his court. The dark canopy-crown upon his head appears like a mass of dense black clouds. The gleaming ear-ornaments of Mandodari flash like lightning, O Lord. Incomparable drums and mridangas are playing. Listen to that sweet sound, O king of kings. The Lord smiled, understanding the pride within, and stringing his bow, he fitted an arrow.