Angada's Words Become Arrows While Ravana Draws Replies Like Swords
Lanka Kanda, Doha 24क
Doha 24क · Movement 2 of 2
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Angada pretends to confirm that Hanuman burned the city without Rama's command and then hid from Sugriva in fear. He calmly agrees that no warrior in their host is fit to fight Ravana, not because the demons are greater, but because statecraft joins friendship and enmity only between equals.
Would anyone praise a lion for killing frogs? Rama would gain no honor in Ravana's death, and slaying him would burden greatness with a low task. Yet the anger of the protector toward one who harms the helpless is fierce and cannot leave the crime unanswered.
Crooked wit becomes Angada's bow and each sentence an arrow scorching the enemy's heart. Ravana searches for replies like a warrior drawing swords from sheath after sheath. At last he laughs that monkeys possess one great virtue: they labor in every way for whoever feeds them. He tries to reduce devotion to appetite because service freely given lies beyond his rule.
Angada fights without rising from his seat, and Ravana's many mouths reach for weapons made of words.
Read the passage from the Manas
सत्य नगरु कपि जारेउ बिनु प्रभु आयसु पाइ। फिरि न गयउ सुग्रीव पहिं तेहिं भय रहा लुकाइ।।23(क)।। सत्य कहहि दसकंठ सब मोहि न सुनि कछु कोह। कोउ न हमारें कटक अस तो सन लरत जो सोह।।23(ख)।। प्रीति बिरोध समान सन करिअ नीति असि आहि। जौं मृगपति बध मेड़ुकन्हि भल कि कहइ कोउ ताहि।।23(ग)।। जद्यपि लघुता राम कहुँ तोहि बधें बड़ दोष। तदपि कठिन दसकंठ सुनु छत्र जाति कर रोष।।23(घ)।। बक्र उक्ति धनु बचन सर हृदय दहेउ रिपु कीस। प्रतिउत्तर सड़सिन्ह मनहुँ काढ़त भट दससीस।।23(ङ)।। हँसि बोलेउ दसमौलि तब कपि कर बड़ गुन एक। जो प्रतिपालइ तासु हित करइ उपाय अनेक।।23(छ)।।
'So that monkey truly burned your city without even receiving his Lord's command? It seems he was so afraid that he never returned to Sugriva and has been hiding ever since!' 'You speak the truth, O ten-faced one. I hear it all without the least anger. There is no one in our army fit to fight you, one who would look worthy in battle against you.' 'Friendship and enmity should be with an equal. That is the rule of statecraft. If a lion were to slay frogs, would anyone call that praiseworthy?' 'Although it would diminish Rama's honor to slay you, and there is great fault in killing you, yet hear me, O ten-faced one: the anger of those who protect the helpless is fierce.' 'With crooked speech as his bow and words as arrows, the monkey scorched the enemy's heart. Ten-faced Ravana sought replies like a warrior drawing swords from many sheaths.' 'Then the ten-crowned one laughed and said: There is one great virtue in monkeys. They strive in every way for the welfare of the one who feeds them.'