Angada Beholds Ravana as a Living Mountain and Does Not Tremble
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 19
Doha 19 · Movement 1 of 2
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A demon runs ahead with news, and Ravana laughs. Bring the monkey before me. Messengers escort the prince into the assembly, where the ten faced king sits vast and black as a mountain of lamp soot, every form charged with terrible life.
Ravana's arms spread like tree trunks, his crowned heads rise as peaks, and the hair across his body trails like innumerable creepers. Mouths, nostrils, eyes, and ears open as caves and clefts across the living mountain.
Angada sees all of it and his mind does not bend. Bali's son enters with fearless strength. Courtiers rise at the sight of the monkey prince, an involuntary recognition that burns Ravana's heart with anger. The mountain remains upon its throne, but the hall has already stood before the lion.
Ravana fills the court like a mountain, yet Angada's untroubled mind gives it no shadow.
Read the passage from the Manas
तुरत निसाचर एक पठावा। समाचार रावनहि जनावा।। सुनत बिहँसि बोला दससीसा। आनहु बोलि कहाँ कर कीसा।। आयसु पाइ दूत बहु धाए। कपिकुंजरहि बोलि लै आए।। अंगद दीख दसानन बैंसें। सहित प्रान कज्जलगिरि जैसें।। भुजा बिटप सिर सृंग समाना। रोमावली लता जनु नाना।। मुख नासिका नयन अरु काना। गिरि कंदरा खोह अनुमाना।। गयउ सभाँ मन नेकु न मुरा। बालितनय अतिबल बाँकुरा।। उठे सभासद कपि कहुँ देखी। रावन उर भा क्रौध बिसेषी।।
At once a rakshasa was sent to inform Ravana of the news. Hearing this, the ten-headed one laughed and said: 'Bring that monkey here, let me see him.' Receiving the command, many messengers rushed forth and brought the monkey prince before the court. Angada beheld the ten-faced Ravana seated there, dark as a mountain of kajal, brimming with vital force. His arms were like the branches of great trees, his heads like mountain peaks, and the hair on his body like countless creepers. His mouth, nose, eyes, and ears appeared like mountain caves and caverns. He entered the assembly with his mind entirely untroubled. The son of Bali was exceedingly strong and without fear. The courtiers rose upon seeing the monkey prince, and Ravana's heart burned with great anger.