Ravana Twists Mandodari's Cosmic Hymn Into Praise of Himself
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 16
Doha 17 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ravana laughs after hearing that every world rests within Rama. He marvels not at the Lord but at the power of delusion, then recites an inherited list of eight faults his age assigns to women: rashness, falsehood, fickleness, deceit, fear, lack of judgment, impurity, and hardness.
The accusation belongs to his dismissal of Mandodari. She has revealed the cosmic form, and he answers by discrediting the speaker. Then he bends her vision further. You have described the enemy as immense only to tell me, cleverly, that all such powers already stand beneath my command.
He calls her profound speech pleasant and soothing because he has converted warning into flattery. Mandodari sees what has happened. Her husband is under Time's dominion, and his judgment has lost its path. Even the universe laid before him becomes another mirror for his own greatness.
Mandodari offers Ravana the cosmic form, and pride returns only the reflection of Ravana.
Read the passage from the Manas
बिहँसा नारि बचन सुनि काना। अहो मोह महिमा बलवाना।। नारि सुभाउ सत्य सब कहहीं। अवगुन आठ सदा उर रहहीं।। साहस अनृत चपलता माया। भय अबिबेक असौच अदाया।। रिपु कर रुप सकल तैं गावा। अति बिसाल भय मोहि सुनावा।। सो सब प्रिया सहज बस मोरें। समुझि परा प्रसाद अब तोरें।। जानिउँ प्रिया तोरि चतुराई। एहि बिधि कहहु मोरि प्रभुताई।। तव बतकही गूढ़ मृगलोचनि। समुझत सुखद सुनत भय मोचनि।। मंदोदरि मन महुँ अस ठयऊ। पियहि काल बस मतिभ्रम भयऊ।।
Ravana laughed upon hearing his wife's words. Alas, how powerful is the force of moha! All speak truly of women's nature: eight faults, they say, always dwell in their hearts. Rashness, falsehood, fickleness, deceit, fear, lack of discernment, impurity, and mercilessness. You have described the enemy's form in its entirety, painting a fearsome picture to frighten me. All those qualities, O beloved, are naturally under my power. By your grace, I now understand this clearly. I recognize your cleverness, dear one. In this manner you speak of my lordship. Your speech is most profound, O doe-eyed one. It is pleasant to understand and soothing to hear. Mandodari thought within her heart: 'My husband has fallen under the sway of Kala, and his mind is lost in delusion.'