Angada Plants One Foot and the Strength of Lanka Cannot Move It
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 34
Doha 35 · Movement 1 of 2
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Angada says he could break Ravana's teeth, tear away all ten faces, and plunge Lanka into the sea, but Raghunayak has given no command. The city is no greater than a fig and its fearless ruler only a worm within the fruit. A monkey could eat it easily, yet generous Rama has withheld permission.
Ravana calls the prince a liar made boastful by ascetics. Angada remembers Rama's majesty, plants one foot in the center of the assembly, and vows that if anyone can move it, Rama will turn back and Angada will accept defeat. The king orders every warrior to seize that foot and throw the monkey down.
Indrajit and champions from every side spring forward. They grasp, strain, change their holds, and summon every art of force, but the foot does not stir. One company sinks down with bowed heads, then another rises to fail. Like people of weak resolve unable to uproot the tree of delusion, Lanka's strength cannot dislodge a servant grounded in Rama.
One foot enters the floor of Ravana's court, and all the force of Lanka breaks against its stillness.
Read the passage from the Manas
मै तव दसन तोरिबे लायक। आयसु मोहि न दीन्ह रघुनायक।। असि रिस होति दसउ मुख तोरौं। लंका गहि समुद्र महँ बोरौं।। गूलरि फल समान तव लंका। बसहु मध्य तुम्ह जंतु असंका।। मैं बानर फल खात न बारा। आयसु दीन्ह न राम उदारा।। जुगति सुनत रावन मुसुकाई। मूढ़ सिखिहि कहँ बहुत झुठाई।। बालि न कबहुँ गाल अस मारा। मिलि तपसिन्ह तैं भएसि लबारा।। साँचेहुँ मैं लबार भुज बीहा। जौं न उपारिउँ तव दस जीहा।। समुझि राम प्रताप कपि कोपा। सभा माझ पन करि पद रोपा।। जौं मम चरन सकसि सठ टारी। फिरहिं रामु सीता मैं हारी।। सुनहु सुभट सब कह दससीसा। पद गहि धरनि पछारहु कीसा।। इंद्रजीत आदिक बलवाना। हरषि उठे जहँ तहँ भट नाना।। झपटहिं करि बल बिपुल उपाई। पद न टरइ बैठहिं सिरु नाई।। पुनि उठि झपटहीं सुर आराती। टरइ न कीस चरन एहि भाँती।। पुरुष कुजोगी जिमि उरगारी। मोह बिटप नहिं सकहिं उपारी।।
I am well able to break your teeth, but Raghunayak has not given me that command. Such is my fury that I could tear off all ten of your faces and plunge Lanka into the sea. Your Lanka is like a fig fruit, and you dwell inside it like a worm, unsuspecting. I am a monkey; for me, eating fruit is no great matter. But generous Rama has not given me leave. Hearing this stratagem, Ravana smiled: 'Foolish one, where did you learn such lies?' Vali never made such boasts. Keeping company with ascetics has turned you into a liar. Truly my arms would deserve the name 'liar' if I did not tear out your ten tongues. Remembering Rama's glory, the monkey blazed with anger. He planted his foot in the midst of the assembly and made a vow. If you can move my foot, O fool, then Rama shall turn back and I shall confess defeat. Listen, all you warriors, cried the ten-headed one: seize the monkey's foot and throw him to the ground! Indrajit and other mighty champions rose eagerly, and warriors gathered from every side. They lunged with enormous strength and every trick they knew, but the foot would not budge. They sat back down, heads bowed. Again the foes of the gods rose and attacked, but still the monkey's foot would not stir. Like men of feeble resolve who cannot uproot the tree of delusion, so they could not move that foot.