Rama Grants His Own Abode Even to Enemies Who Remember Him in Hatred
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 45
Doha 45 · Movement 1 of 2
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Whenever Hanuman and Angada seize a great demon chief, they send him before Rama. Vibhishana names each fallen warrior, and Rama grants even these enemies his own divine abode.
They were cruel man eaters who consumed even the flesh of Brahmins, yet they attain the destination yogis seek. Shiva tells Uma that Rama is tender hearted, an ocean of compassion. The demons hold him within their final awareness through enmity, and even that distorted remembrance opens beneath his grace.
Who else is merciful in this way, Shiva asks Bhavani. One who hears of such a Lord and still refuses worship remains profoundly unfortunate. Within Lanka, Angada and Hanuman move like two Mount Mandaras churning the ocean. Battle turns the hidden depths, and from enemies who came bearing hatred, Rama draws a final remembrance and gives what their lives never knew to ask.
Even hatred cannot make Rama ungenerous when a dying mind has nowhere left to turn but him.
Read the passage from the Manas
महा महा मुखिआ जे पावहिं। ते पद गहि प्रभु पास चलावहिं।। कहइ बिभीषनु तिन्ह के नामा। देहिं राम तिन्हहू निज धामा।। खल मनुजाद द्विजामिष भोगी। पावहिं गति जो जाचत जोगी।। उमा राम मृदुचित करुनाकर। बयर भाव सुमिरत मोहि निसिचर।। देहिं परम गति सो जियँ जानी। अस कृपाल को कहहु भवानी।। अस प्रभु सुनि न भजहिं भ्रम त्यागी। नर मतिमंद ते परम अभागी।। अंगद अरु हनुमंत प्रबेसा। कीन्ह दुर्ग अस कह अवधेसा।। लंकाँ द्वौ कपि सोहहिं कैसें। मथहि सिंधु दुइ मंदर जैसें।।
Whichever great demon chiefs they could seize, they grasped them by the feet and flung them before the Lord. Vibhishana would speak their names, and Rama would grant even them His own divine abode. Wicked man-eaters who had feasted on human and brahmin flesh attained the state that yogis long for. O Uma, Rama is tender-hearted and an ocean of compassion. Even demons who remember Him through enmity receive His grace. Knowing this in your heart, He grants them the supreme state. Tell me, Bhavani, who else is so merciful? Those who hear of such a Lord and still do not worship Him, abandoning their delusion, are the most unfortunate of all. Angada and Hanuman entered the fortress, as the Lord of Ayodhya had commanded. How magnificent the two monkeys looked in Lanka, like two Mount Mandaras churning the ocean!