Four Vanara Champions Crush the Dark Sprouts of Ravana's Maya
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 21
Doha 96 · Movement 2 of 3
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Those who know the majesty of the Lord remain fearless because the apparent enemies are recognized for what they are. Yet most bears and vanaras stagger beneath the sight and run crying to the merciful Lord for protection.
Four champions stand within the storm. Hanuman, Angada, Nila, and Nala meet the deceptive forms with immense strength. While illusion spreads a ten headed opponent before every eye, they continue to fight rather than surrender the field to appearance.
They crush Ravanas by the million, like tearing up dark sprouts that have suddenly covered the earth. The botanical image exposes the nature of the host. These warriors have not grown from truth, though they seem to multiply with living abundance. The named servants of Rama move through the false crop with a courage rooted in the power beneath appearances.
Maya covers the earth with dark shoots, and Rama's steadfast servants tear through the crop without mistaking it for reality.
Read the passage from the Manas
जाना प्रताप ते रहे निर्भय कपिन्ह रिपु माने फुरे। चले बिचलि मर्कट भालु सकल कृपाल पाहि भयातुरे।। हनुमंत अंगद नील नल अतिबल लरत रन बाँकुरे। मर्दहिं दसानन कोटि कोटिन्ह कपट भू भट अंकुरे।।
Those who knew the Lord's true power remained fearless, while the enemies were recognized for what they were. The bears and monkeys wavered and fled, crying, 'O merciful Lord, protect us! We are overcome with fear!' Hanuman, Angada, Nila, and Nala, mighty and valiant in battle, crushed countless millions of Ravana's deceptive warriors, those evil sprouts upon the earth.