Ten Million Obstacles Cannot Turn the Saint or Angada's Foot
Lanka Kanda, Doha 35
Doha 35 · Movement 2 of 2
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Warriors as mighty as Meghnad rise in uncountable ranks. The challenge fills them with eagerness, and they hurl themselves upon Angada's planted leg with all the power that has guarded Lanka's gates.
Again and again they lunge. The monkey's foot remains joined to the earth while each champion retreats and sits with his head bowed. As the foot refuses movement, the pride of the enemy drains from the hall.
The physical contest opens into an inward image. Ten million obstacles may seize, pull, threaten, and exhaust a saint, yet the saint's heart does not abandon the path of righteousness. Angada's unmoving foot becomes that fidelity made visible. Strength is no longer measured by violent motion, but by the truth from which no pressure can separate the devotee.
Lanka pulls with ten million hands, and steadfast dharma answers by remaining exactly where it stands.
Read the passage from the Manas
कोटिन्ह मेघनाद सम सुभट उठे हरषाइ। झपटहिं टरै न कपि चरन पुनि बैठहिं सिर नाइ।।34(क)।। भूमि न छाँडत कपि चरन देखत रिपु मद भाग।। कोटि बिघ्न ते संत कर मन जिमि नीति न त्याग।।34(ख)।।
Millions of warriors, each as mighty as Meghnad, rose up eagerly. They lunged again and again, but the monkey's foot would not budge; so they sank back, heads bowed in shame. (34a) The monkey's foot did not leave the ground. Seeing this, the enemy's pride fled. Just as a saint's heart never abandons righteousness even through ten million obstacles, so stood that foot. (34b)