A Moth and a Burdened Donkey Answer Ravana's Claim to Heroism
Lanka Kanda, Doha 29
Doha 29 · Movement 2 of 2
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Angada places two small images beside Ravana's enormous austerity. A moth, seized by delusion, rushes willingly into the flame. Its body burns, but the burning does not make the creature a hero.
A herd of donkeys moves beneath crushing loads. The animals bear their burdens hour after hour, yet weight alone does not confer courage. Pain can be real while the mind carrying it remains bound by ignorance.
Think carefully, dull witted king. The envoy asks Ravana to look beneath the spectacle of severed heads and see the intention that entered the fire with them. Suffering, repetition, and impossible endurance may astonish the world, but none is valor when delusion chooses the path. Wisdom must name the purpose before hardship can be crowned as sacrifice.
The moth burns and the donkey bears, while true courage waits for wisdom to show it where to stand.
Read the passage from the Manas
जरहिं पतंग मोह बस भार बहहिं खर बृंद। ते नहिं सूर कहावहिं समुझि देखु मतिमंद।।29।।
Moths burn themselves out of delusion, and herds of donkeys bear heavy burdens. They are not called heroes for that. Think on it carefully, O dull-wit!