Angada Pulls Ravana From the Sky After Rama Dispels the Darkness
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 97
Doha 97 · Movement 1 of 3
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Rama cuts away the illusion in an instant, as darkness splits when the sun rises. The gods see one Ravana again, rejoice, and rain flowers upon the Lord. Raghupati raises his arms and calls the scattered vanaras back one by one.
Strength returns through his call. Bears and monkeys hurry into battle while the gods offer praise above them. Ravana watches and decides that heaven has conspired to leave him alone. His isolation becomes blame, and he rushes into the sky shouting that the gods have always sought his destruction.
The celestial companies flee before him, crying that nowhere remains safe. Angada sees their distress, leaps upward, and closes both hands around Ravana's feet. The king who filled the sky with copies is dragged down by one servant of Rama and cast upon the earth from which his illusion had tried to escape.
After Rama restores one Ravana to the field, Angada takes that single body by the feet and pulls its pride out of heaven.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रभु छन महुँ माया सब काटी। जिमि रबि उएँ जाहिं तम फाटी।। रावनु एकु देखि सुर हरषे। फिरे सुमन बहु प्रभु पर बरषे।। भुज उठाइ रघुपति कपि फेरे। फिरे एक एकन्ह तब टेरे।। प्रभु बलु पाइ भालु कपि धाए। तरल तमकि संजुग महि आए।। अस्तुति करत देवतन्हि देखें। भयउँ एक मैं इन्ह के लेखें।। सठहु सदा तुम्ह मोर मरायल। अस कहि कोपि गगन पर धायल।। हाहाकार करत सुर भागे। खलहु जाहु कहँ मोरें आगे।। देखि बिकल सुर अंगद धायो। कूदि चरन गहि भूमि गिरायो।।
In an instant the Lord dispelled all illusion, just as darkness vanishes when the sun rises. Seeing Ravana alone once more, the gods rejoiced and showered many flowers upon the Lord. Raising His arms, Raghupati called back the monkeys, and they all returned, heartened by His call. Gaining strength from the Lord, the bears and monkeys charged forward and came swiftly to the battlefield. Seeing the gods praise Him, Ravana thought, 'I have become alone. These beings have done this to me.' Saying, 'You wretches have always conspired to destroy me!' he angrily rushed skyward. The gods fled crying in alarm. 'O where can we go before this wicked one?' Seeing the gods in distress, Angada rushed forward, leaped up, grasped Ravana's feet, and brought him crashing down to earth.