Ravana Reaches for Angada's Foot and Is Sent to the Feet of Rama
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 35
Doha 36क · Movement 1 of 2
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Every demon loses heart, and Ravana himself rises to answer the challenge. As the king bends to grasp Angada's foot, Bali's son withdraws the false refuge. Holding my foot cannot save you, he says. Go, fool, and take hold of Rama's feet.
Ravana turns back in shame. His radiance and royal splendor vanish like moonlight paling at midday. He sits upon the throne with lowered heads, appearing as one who has lost every treasure. Rama is the soul of the universe and Lord of life. How can one who turns away from him find rest?
Shiva tells Uma that the worlds arise and disappear through the play of Rama's brow. He can make straw a thunderbolt and a thunderbolt straw, so no one can defeat his messenger's vow. Angada offers counsel once more, but Time is near and Ravana will not hear. The prince departs after crushing pride and proclaiming Rama's glory, leaving the demons seized by dread.
Ravana bends toward the wrong foot, and Angada points him toward the only feet where defeat becomes deliverance.
Read the passage from the Manas
कपि बल देखि सकल हियँ हारे। उठा आपु कपि कें परचारे।। गहत चरन कह बालिकुमारा। मम पद गहें न तोर उबारा।। गहसि न राम चरन सठ जाई। सुनत फिरा मन अति सकुचाई।। भयउ तेजहत श्री सब गई। मध्य दिवस जिमि ससि सोहई।। सिंघासन बैठेउ सिर नाई। मानहुँ संपति सकल गँवाई।। जगदातमा प्रानपति रामा। तासु बिमुख किमि लह बिश्रामा।। उमा राम की भृकुटि बिलासा। होइ बिस्व पुनि पावइ नासा।। तृन ते कुलिस कुलिस तृन करई। तासु दूत पन कहु किमि टरई।। पुनि कपि कही नीति बिधि नाना। मान न ताहि कालु निअराना।। रिपु मद मथि प्रभु सुजसु सुनायो। यह कहि चल्यो बालि नृप जायो।। हतौं न खेत खेलाइ खेलाई। तोहि अबहिं का करौं बड़ाई।। प्रथमहिं तासु तनय कपि मारा। सो सुनि रावन भयउ दुखारा।। जातुधान अंगद पन देखी। भय ब्याकुल सब भए बिसेषी।।
Seeing the monkey's strength, all the demons lost heart. Ravana himself rose, provoked by the monkey's challenge. As he grasped at the foot, the son of Vali spoke: 'By holding my foot you will not find deliverance.' 'O fool, go and clasp the feet of Rama!' Hearing this, Ravana turned back with a heart full of shame. His radiance vanished, all his glory departed, like the moon appearing faintly at midday. He sat upon his throne with bowed head, as though he had lost every treasure he possessed. Rama is the soul of the universe, the lord of all life. How can one who turns away from Him ever find peace? O Uma, by the mere play of Rama's eyebrow the world comes into being and is destroyed again. He who can turn straw into thunderbolt and thunderbolt into straw: how can His messenger's vow be thwarted? Again the monkey spoke wise counsel in many ways, but Ravana would not listen, for death was near. Having crushed the enemy's pride and proclaimed his Master's glory, the royal son of Vali departed. I chose not to kill you on the field after toying with you. What glory would it bring me to slay you now? Earlier the monkey had slain Ravana's son. Hearing this, Ravana was plunged into grief. Witnessing Angada's vow, all the demons were seized with dread.