Kalanemi Counsels Ravana Before Preparing to Obstruct Hanuman
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 56
Doha 56 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hanuman holds Rama's lotus feet within his heart, speaks his strength, and departs into the night. A messenger carries the secret of the healing mission to Ravana, who goes at once to the house of Kalanemi and explains what must be stopped.
Kalanemi shakes his head. Who can block the one who burned Lanka before your eyes? Worship Raghupati and choose your own welfare, he tells the king. Abandon empty boasting and hold within your heart the beautiful dark Lord, blue as a lotus and delightful to the eyes.
Release the foolish divisions of I, you, and mine. Wake from the immense night of delusion. Rama devours even the serpent of Time, so how could anyone defeat him, even in a dream? The demon selected to deceive Hanuman first gives Ravana the teaching that would end deception itself. Ravana hears another enemy speak the truth and answers by remaining Ravana.
Before Kalanemi builds an illusion for Hanuman, he asks Ravana to awaken from the larger illusion of being separate from Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
राम चरन सरसिज उर राखी। चला प्रभंजन सुत बल भाषी।। उहाँ दूत एक मरमु जनावा। रावन कालनेमि गृह आवा।। दसमुख कहा मरमु तेहिं सुना। पुनि पुनि कालनेमि सिरु धुना।। देखत तुम्हहि नगरु जेहिं जारा। तासु पंथ को रोकन पारा।। भजि रघुपति करु हित आपना। छाँड़हु नाथ मृषा जल्पना।। नील कंज तनु सुंदर स्यामा। हृदयँ राखु लोचनाभिरामा।। मैं तैं मोर मूढ़ता त्यागू। महा मोह निसि सूतत जागू।। काल ब्याल कर भच्छक जोई। सपनेहुँ समर कि जीतिअ सोई।।
Keeping Rama's lotus feet in his heart, Hanuman spoke of his strength and departed. There a messenger revealed the secret matter. Ravana had come to Kalanemi's dwelling. The ten-headed one told him the secret, and hearing it, Kalanemi shook his head repeatedly. Who can block the path of one who burned your city before your very eyes? Worship Raghupati and do what benefits you. Abandon, O lord, this false boasting. Keep in your heart that beautiful dark-complexioned one, lovely as a blue lotus, who delights the eyes. Abandon the foolishness of 'I,' 'you,' and 'mine.' Awake from the night of great delusion. He who devours even Death, the serpent of Kala. Can such a one be conquered even in dreams?