Mandodari Trembles at Ravana's Feet and Pleads for the Life of Their Bond
Lanka Kanda, Doha 7
Doha 7 · Movement 2 of 2
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Mandodari's counsel ends where argument can go no farther. Tears fill her eyes. Her body trembles beneath the veil as she lowers herself and catches the feet of the husband whose will may now destroy them both.
Worship Raghunatha, she begs. The plea holds more than fear of death. Her saubhagya, the sacred blessing of wifehood embodied in Ravana's living presence, stands exposed before the approaching war.
If he bows to Rama, their bond may remain unbroken, Lanka may survive, and the path of renunciation may preserve what conquest cannot. Mandodari does not ask the Lord across the sea to spare her fortune from afar. She asks Ravana to secure it by surrendering the pride that has made him unreachable.
Her tears fall upon the king's feet while the life of their marriage waits upon whether those feet will bow to Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
अस कहि नयन नीर भरि गहि पद कंपित गात। नाथ भजहु रघुनाथहि अचल होइ अहिवात।।7।।
Saying this with tears in her eyes, grasping his feet, her body trembling, Mandodari pleaded: 'O Lord, worship Raghunath, so my saubhagya may remain secure.'