Indra's Chariot Descends Before Ravana Multiplies Rama Across the Field
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 89
Doha 89 · Movement 1 of 3
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The gods see their Lord standing on foot and anguish rises among them. Indra immediately sends his own chariot. Matali brings it with delight, a brilliant and incomparable vehicle drawn by four beautiful horses, ageless, deathless, and swift as thought.
The king of Kosala joyfully mounts it. At the sight of Raghunatha upon the divine chariot, the vanaras receive new strength and charge. Ravana cannot endure their assault, and so he releases the vast illusion prepared within his isolation.
Maya passes Rama untouched, but Lakshmana and the vanaras take it to be real. Across the battlefield they see many demon armies and many kings of Kosala, each accompanied by his brother. The one Rama remains seated beyond deception while countless Ramas appear inside it. The Lord of reality cannot be divided by the spectacle that multiplies his form in the eyes of those around him.
Ravana fills the field with copies of Rama, yet the one Rama remains untouched at the center of every appearance.
Read the passage from the Manas
देवन्ह प्रभुहि पयादें देखा। उपजा उर अति छोभ बिसेषा।। सुरपति निज रथ तुरत पठावा। हरष सहित मातलि लै आवा।। तेज पुंज रथ दिब्य अनूपा। हरषि चढ़े कोसलपुर भूपा।। चंचल तुरग मनोहर चारी। अजर अमर मन सम गतिकारी।। रथारूढ़ रघुनाथहि देखी। धाए कपि बलु पाइ बिसेषी।। सही न जाइ कपिन्ह कै मारी। तब रावन माया बिस्तारी।। सो माया रघुबीरहि बाँची। लछिमन कपिन्ह सो मानी साँची।। देखी कपिन्ह निसाचर अनी। अनुज सहित बहु कोसलधनी।।
The gods saw their Lord on foot and felt great anguish in their hearts. Indra at once sent his own chariot, and Matali brought it with great delight. The king of Kosala joyfully mounted that brilliant, divine, and incomparable chariot. Its four horses were swift and beautiful, ageless and deathless, moving at the speed of thought. Seeing Raghunath mounted on the chariot, the monkeys surged forward with redoubled strength. Unable to endure the monkeys' assault, Ravana then spread his magical illusion. That maya could not touch Raghuvira, yet Lakshmana and the monkeys took it for truth. The monkeys saw many demon armies and many kings of Kosala, each with his brother beside him.