Hanuman and Angada Bring Ravana's Palace Down by Its Golden Pillars
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 44
Doha 44 · Movement 1 of 2
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The two monkeys remember Rama's majesty within their hearts and rush upon Ravana's palace crying the name of the Lord of Kosala. They seize the structure with its golden pinnacles and bring it crashing down. For the first time, fear enters the demon king at the sight of their strength.
Women beat their breasts and cry that two agents of havoc have come. Hanuman and Angada answer with playful vanara movements, terrifying the household while proclaiming the bright fame of Ramachandra through the broken halls.
Then their hands close around golden pillars. Let the destruction begin, they declare, and leap roaring into the enemy ranks. Arms, feet, and open palms strike with crushing force. To every demon they kick or slap comes the same fierce interpretation: you did not worship Rama, so now receive the fruit. The palace's own gold becomes a weapon inside the lesson it refused to hear.
Two servants take hold of Ravana's golden house, and Rama's name sounds through every pillar as it falls.
Read the passage from the Manas
जुद्ध बिरुद्ध क्रुद्ध द्वौ बंदर। राम प्रताप सुमिरि उर अंतर।। रावन भवन चढ़े द्वौ धाई। करहि कोसलाधीस दोहाई।। कलस सहित गहि भवनु ढहावा। देखि निसाचरपति भय पावा।। नारि बृंद कर पीटहिं छाती। अब दुइ कपि आए उतपाती।। कपिलीला करि तिन्हहि डेरावहिं। रामचंद्र कर सुजसु सुनावहिं।। पुनि कर गहि कंचन के खंभा। कहेन्हि करिअ उतपात अरंभा।। गर्जि परे रिपु कटक मझारी। लागे मर्दै भुज बल भारी।। काहुहि लात चपेटन्हि केहू। भजहु न रामहि सो फल लेहू।।
The two monkeys, fierce in battle and filled with wrath, remembered Rama's glory deep within their hearts. They rushed and climbed upon Ravana's palace, invoking the name of the Lord of Kosala. Grasping the palace along with its golden pinnacles, they brought it crashing down. Seeing this, the demon king was filled with fear. The women beat their breasts in despair: 'Now two terrible monkeys have come to wreak havoc!' Performing playful monkey antics, they terrified the demons and proclaimed the glorious fame of Ramachandra. Then, grasping the golden pillars in their hands, they declared, 'Let the great destruction begin!' Roaring, they fell upon the enemy army and began crushing them with their tremendous strength of arm. Some they kicked, others they slapped, saying, 'You did not worship Rama; now receive the fruit of that neglect!'