Ravana Marches Beneath Evil Omens After Preaching What He Will Not Practice
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 78
Doha 78 · Movement 1 of 3
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Ravana gives pure teaching while his own conduct remains dark. Many are skilled at counseling others, Tulsidas observes, but those who live what they teach are rare. Night ends upon this division between speech and life.
At dawn vanaras gather at all four gates. Ravana tells his warriors that anyone whose heart wavers may leave now, for no good comes from turning away during combat. He accepts that his own arms cultivated this enmity and vows to answer the enemy who has entered Lanka.
A wind swift chariot is prepared, war instruments thunder, and mighty demons move like a storm of black collyrium. Countless omens rise around the march. Ravana notices none of them through the vast pride of his strength. The world speaks consequence in every direction, but the king who taught impermanence during the night enters morning as though his form alone cannot perish.
Ravana leaves a true teaching behind him and rides into the omens that reveal how little of it entered his heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
तिन्हहि ग्यान उपदेसा रावन। आपुन मंद कथा सुभ पावन।। पर उपदेस कुसल बहुतेरे। जे आचरहिं ते नर न घनेरे।। निसा सिरानि भयउ भिनुसारा। लगे भालु कपि चारिहुँ द्वारा।। सुभट बोलाइ दसानन बोला। रन सन्मुख जा कर मन डोला।। सो अबहीं बरु जाउ पराई। संजुग बिमुख भएँ न भलाई।। निज भुज बल मैं बयरु बढ़ावा। देहउँ उतरु जो रिपु चढ़ि आवा।। अस कहि मरुत बेग रथ साजा। बाजे सकल जुझाऊ बाजा।। चले बीर सब अतुलित बली। जनु कज्जल कै आँधी चली।। असगुन अमित होहिं तेहि काला। गनइ न भुजबल गर्ब बिसाला।।
Ravana preached wisdom to the women, though his own conduct was wretched while his words were pure and sacred. Many are skilled at counseling others; rare indeed are those who live by their own advice. The night ended and dawn broke; bears and monkeys stationed themselves at all four gates of Lanka. Summoning his warriors, the ten-headed one declared: 'Let any man whose heart wavers before battle depart this very moment. Let him leave now and be gone, for no good comes of turning one's back in the hour of combat.' 'By the strength of my own arms I have nursed this enmity. I shall give a fitting answer to whatever foe dares advance.' Saying this, he readied his chariot swift as the wind, and all the war drums thundered forth. The mighty warriors marched out, incomparably strong, like a storm of black kajjal sweeping across the land. Countless evil omens appeared at that time, but in the vast pride of his arm's strength, Ravana heeded not a single one.