Angada Gives His Final Counsel Before Rama's Arrows Become the Answer
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 27
Doha 27 · Movement 1 of 2
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Angada offers the last clear road. Give up hostility and worship compassionate Rama. Neither Brahma nor Rudra can protect one who chooses enmity with him. The counsel is not a threat invented by the envoy. It is the final mercy placed before the consequence Ravana has summoned.
Then the battlefield appears within Angada's words. Rama's arrows sever Ravana's crowned heads, and monkeys and bears take them up like balls upon the earth. The many faces that fill the court with ridicule become playthings scattered beneath the feet of the army he despises.
Ravana burns with fury while Angada speaks, yet rage only feeds the vision. The king blazes like a fire into which ghee is continually poured. Every warning meant to cool him becomes fuel because pride refuses the hand that offers peace. Still the envoy continues, keeping Rama's compassion before the court until the very edge of war.
Before the arrows fly, Angada lets Ravana see both doors: Rama's worship or his crowns rolling in the dust.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनु रावन परिहरि चतुराई। भजसि न कृपासिंधु रघुराई।। जौ खल भएसि राम कर द्रोही। ब्रह्म रुद्र सक राखि न तोही।। मूढ़ बृथा जनि मारसि गाला। राम बयर अस होइहि हाला।। तव सिर निकर कपिन्ह के आगें। परिहहिं धरनि राम सर लागें।। ते तव सिर कंदुक सम नाना। खेलहहिं भालु कीस चौगाना।। जबहिं समर कोपहि रघुनायक। छुटिहहिं अति कराल बहु सायक।। तब कि चलिहि अस गाल तुम्हारा। अस बिचारि भजु राम उदारा।। सुनत बचन रावन परजरा। जरत महानल जनु घृत परा।।
'Listen, Ravana. Set aside your cleverness and worship Raghurai, the Ocean of Mercy.' 'If you have made yourself Rama's enemy, O wicked one, neither Brahma nor Rudra can save you.' 'Fool, do not boast in vain. This is what enmity with Rama brings.' 'Your many heads will tumble to the ground before the monkeys, pierced by Rama's arrows.' 'Those heads of yours, like so many balls, the bears and monkeys will toss about in sport.' 'When Raghunayaka grows wrathful upon the field, countless terrible shafts will fly forth.' 'Will such grand talk serve you then? Considering this, worship the gracious Rama.' Hearing these words, Ravana blazed with rage, as though ghee had been poured upon a great fire.