Dawn Finds Ravana Unawakened After a Night of Jests
Lanka Kanda, Doha 17
Doha 17 · Movement 2 of 2
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Ravana passes the remaining night in jest, turning Mandodari's tears and the fallen crown into material for laughter. Dawn rises over Lanka, but no inward morning comes with it.
Naturally fearless and now blinded by pride, the ten headed king appears and walks again toward his court. The daylight reveals towers, walls, bridge, and enemy camp, yet the ruler within those walls remains sealed from what every sign has shown.
A reed will neither blossom nor bear fruit even if clouds rain nectar upon it. In the same way, the fool's closed heart does not awaken even when a teacher equal to Brahma stands before it. The failure lies no longer in the counsel. Nectar has fallen all night, and Ravana has chosen to remain barren.
Morning reaches every roof of Lanka except the chamber in which Ravana's understanding sleeps.
Read the passage from the Manas
एहि बिधि करत बिनोद बहु प्रात प्रगट दसकंध। सहज असंक लंकपति सभाँ गयउ मद अंध।।16(क)।। फूलह फरइ न बेत जदपि सुधा बरषहिं जलद। मूरुख हृदयँ न चेत जौं गुर मिलहिं बिरंचि सम।।16(ख)।।
Thus making many jests through the night, dawn arrived and Ravana appeared. The lord of Lanka, naturally fearless and blind with pride, went to his court. A reed does not flower or bear fruit, even if the clouds rain nectar upon it. A fool's heart does not awaken, even if he finds a guru equal to Brahma.