Ravana Names Hanuman the Only Warrior, and Angada Calls Him a Minor Scout
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 23
Doha 24क · Movement 1 of 2
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Which warrior in your whole army can face me? Ravana dismisses Rama as weakened by separation and Lakshmana as wasted by his brother's sorrow. Angada and Sugriva are only monkeys, Vibhishana timid, and Jambavan too old to enter battle.
Nala and Nila know a builder's craft, not war. Ravana concedes one figure of mighty strength: the monkey who came before and burned Lanka. Angada agrees with grave precision. It is indeed true that a monkey set the whole city aflame.
But who would believe that so small a creature burned Ravana's capital? The great champion Ravana praises is merely a lowly runner under Sugriva, sent ahead to collect news. One who talks much is not necessarily brave. By honoring Hanuman alone, Ravana has made the smallest messenger the measure of Lanka's defeat.
Ravana reaches for Hanuman as the army's exception, and Angada returns him as only its first report.
Read the passage from the Manas
तुम्हरे कटक माझ सुनु अंगद। मो सन भिरिहि कवन जोधा बद।। तव प्रभु नारि बिरहँ बलहीना। अनुज तासु दुख दुखी मलीना।। तुम्ह सुग्रीव कूलद्रुम दोऊ। अनुज हमार भीरु अति सोऊ।। जामवंत मंत्री अति बूढ़ा। सो कि होइ अब समरारूढ़ा।। सिल्पि कर्म जानहिं नल नीला। है कपि एक महा बलसीला।। आवा प्रथम नगरु जेंहिं जारा। सुनत बचन कह बालिकुमारा।। सत्य बचन कहु निसिचर नाहा। साँचेहुँ कीस कीन्ह पुर दाहा।। रावन नगर अल्प कपि दहई। सुनि अस बचन सत्य को कहई।। जो अति सुभट सराहेहु रावन। सो सुग्रीव केर लघु धावन।। चलइ बहुत सो बीर न होई। पठवा खबरि लेन हम सोई।।
'Listen, Angada, in your whole army, which warrior can stand against me in battle?' 'Your lord is weakened by the pain of separation from his wife, and his younger brother is wasted with sorrow.' 'You and Sugriva are but monkeys. And even our own brother Vibhishana is exceedingly timid.' 'Jambavan, the minister, is very old. Can he now mount for war?' 'Nala and Nila know only the craft of builders. There is one monkey of great strength, though.' 'The one who came first and burned the city.' Hearing these words, Bali's son spoke. 'You speak the truth, O king of the night-wanderers. Indeed a monkey burned your city.' 'A small monkey burned Ravana's entire city? Who, hearing such words, would call them true?' 'The one you praise so highly as a great warrior, O Ravana, is but Sugriva's lowly scout.' 'One who boasts much is never truly brave. We sent him only to gather news.'