Millions of Ravanas Fill the Ten Directions While the Knowers Remain
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 96
Doha 96 · Movement 1 of 3
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Ravana vanishes for a moment and returns in countless forms. As many bears and vanaras as stand in Rama's host, that many ten headed kings appear around them. Every companion seems to receive a Ravana of his own.
Courage breaks. Bears and monkeys flee in all directions, crying to Lakshmana and Raghuvira for protection. Millions of Ravanas rush through the ten quarters with hard, terrifying roars until even the gods abandon hope and seek the shelter of mountain caves. One Ravana defeated heaven, they say. What can remain before so many?
Brahma, Shiva, and the wise sages do not move. They know something of the Lord's glory, and that knowledge holds them steady inside a world overrun by appearances. The illusion measures itself against the number of Rama's servants, but the knowers remain established in the immeasurable source whom no multiplication can divide.
When false Ravanas occupy every direction, those who know Rama's glory discover a stillness that number cannot overwhelm.
Read the passage from the Manas
अंतरधान भयउ छन एका। पुनि प्रगटे खल रूप अनेका।। रघुपति कटक भालु कपि जेते। जहँ तहँ प्रगट दसानन तेते।। देखे कपिन्ह अमित दससीसा। जहँ तहँ भजे भालु अरु कीसा।। भागे बानर धरहिं न धीरा। त्राहि त्राहि लछिमन रघुबीरा।। दहँ दिसि धावहिं कोटिन्ह रावन। गर्जहिं घोर कठोर भयावन।। डरे सकल सुर चले पराई। जय कै आस तजहु अब भाई।। सब सुर जिते एक दसकंधर। अब बहु भए तकहु गिरि कंदर।। रहे बिरंचि संभु मुनि ग्यानी। जिन्ह जिन्ह प्रभु महिमा कछु जानी।।
Ravana vanished for a moment, then manifested himself in countless wicked forms. As many bears and monkeys as there were in Raghupati's army, that many ten-headed Ravanas appeared everywhere. Seeing limitless forms of the ten-headed one, the bears and monkeys fled in all directions. The monkeys ran without keeping their courage, crying, 'Save us, save us, O Lakshmana! O Raghuvira!' Millions of Ravanas rushed in all ten directions, roaring with terrible, frightening sounds. All the gods grew afraid and fled, saying, 'Brothers, abandon all hope of victory now.' 'One ten-necked demon had already defeated all the gods; now that he has become many, seek shelter in mountain caves.' Only Brahma, Shiva, and the wise sages remained, those who knew something of the Lord's true glory.