Angada Opens Ravana's Boast and Finds Defeat Hidden Inside
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 24
Doha 24ख · Movement 1 of 2
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Ravana laughs that monkeys are only dancing servants who leap for their masters. Angada answers from the smoking memory of Lanka. One such servant destroyed the garden, killed Ravana's son, burned the city, and departed while the king sat watching. If that is merely obedience, the court has already seen what Rama's servants can do.
The king mocks the race of monkeys as creatures who would even eat their fathers. Angada turns the taunt upon him. Had he devoured his father Bali, Ravana would now be next. Then the envoy asks which Ravana actually occupies the throne, for he has heard of more than one king bearing that name.
He recalls a Ravana seized in the netherworld by Bali and tied in a children's stable until pity released him. Another became Sahastrabahu's strange captive and plaything until the sage Pulastya obtained his freedom. Each tale moves through the hall like a curtain drawn aside. The emperor's thunderous name is shown returning again and again from another warrior's hand.
Angada searches Ravana's legends and discovers that every crown of pride carries the fingerprint of a captor.
Read the passage from the Manas
धन्य कीस जो निज प्रभु काजा। जहँ तहँ नाचइ परिहरि लाजा।। नाचि कूदि करि लोग रिझाई। पति हित करइ धर्म निपुनाई।। अंगद स्वामिभक्त तव जाती। प्रभु गुन कस न कहसि एहि भाँती।। मैं गुन गाहक परम सुजाना। तव कटु रटनि करउँ नहिं काना।। कह कपि तव गुन गाहकताई। सत्य पवनसुत मोहि सुनाई।। बन बिधंसि सुत बधि पुर जारा। तदपि न तेहिं कछु कृत अपकारा।। सोइ बिचारि तव प्रकृति सुहाई। दसकंधर मैं कीन्हि ढिठाई।। देखेउँ आइ जो कछु कपि भाषा। तुम्हरें लाज न रोष न माखा।। जौं असि मति पितु खाए कीसा। कहि अस बचन हँसा दससीसा।। पितहि खाइ खातेउँ पुनि तोही। अबहीं समुझि परा कछु मोही।। बालि बिमल जस भाजन जानी। हतउँ न तोहि अधम अभिमानी।। कहु रावन रावन जग केते। मैं निज श्रवन सुने सुनु जेते।। बलिहि जितन एक गयउ पताला। राखेउ बाँधि सिसुन्ह हयसाला।। खेलहिं बालक मारहिं जाई। दया लागि बलि दीन्ह छोड़ाई।। एक बहोरि सहसभुज देखा। धाइ धरा जिमि जंतु बिसेषा।। कौतुक लागि भवन लै आवा। सो पुलस्ति मुनि जाइ छोड़ावा।।
'Blessed is that monkey who serves his lord's purpose, dancing here and there, casting off all shame.' 'Dancing and leaping to please the people, he skillfully serves his master's cause, adept in dharma.' 'Angada, your kind are devoted to their master. Why then do you not praise your lord's virtues in this way?' 'I am a supreme connoisseur of merit. I do not turn my ear to your bitter chattering.' The monkey replied: 'Hanuman has told me well of your appreciation of merit.' 'He destroyed your garden, slew your son, and burned your city, yet in return you did him no harm.' 'Considering that gracious nature of yours, O ten-necked one, I grew bold enough to come.' 'I came and saw what the monkey had described: you show neither shame, nor anger, nor displeasure.' 'If monkeys had such wisdom, they would eat their own fathers.' Saying this, the ten-headed one laughed. 'Had I eaten my father, I would have eaten you next. But just now something has dawned on me.' 'Knowing Bali to be a vessel of spotless fame, I did not kill you, O base and arrogant one.' 'Tell me, Ravana, how many Ravanas are there in the world? I have heard of as many as my own ears can tell.' 'One went to the netherworld to conquer Bali and was kept tied up in the children's stable.' 'Children would come and beat him at play. Finally, out of pity, Bali had him released.' 'Another time, he saw Sahastrabahu and rushed at him, seizing him as one catches a strange beast.' 'He brought him home as a plaything. At last, the sage Pulastya went and had him freed.'