Ravana Laughs at Mandodari's Warning and Enters a Court Without Truth
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 37
Doha 37 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ravana hears every word and laughs. Famous throughout the worlds for pride, he dismisses Mandodari's fear as the soft nature of women. If the monkey army comes, he boasts, the demons will receive living food. How amusing that his wife should tremble when even the guardians of the worlds tremble before him.
He draws her to his heart with affection, then walks toward the royal assembly. Mandodari remains behind with anxiety lodged within her. Fate, she feels, has turned against her husband, though he crosses the palace as if all creation still moves beneath his command.
News reaches the court that the army has come to the shore across the sea. Ravana asks his ministers for proper counsel. They answer with laughter and approving silence. He conquered gods and demons without effort, they imply. What account should anyone make of humans and monkeys? The throne is surrounded by voices, but truth has no place to sit.
Ravana carries Mandodari's embrace into the court, but leaves her warning outside its doors.
Read the passage from the Manas
श्रवन सुनी सठ ता करि बानी। बिहसा जगत बिदित अभिमानी।। सभय सुभाउ नारि कर साचा। मंगल महुँ भय मन अति काचा।। जौं आवइ मर्कट कटकाई। जिअहिं बिचारे निसिचर खाई।। कंपहिं लोकप जाकी त्रासा। तासु नारि सभीत बड़ि हासा।। अस कहि बिहसि ताहि उर लाई। चलेउ सभाँ ममता अधिकाई।। मंदोदरी हृदयँ कर चिंता। भयउ कंत पर बिधि बिपरीता।। बैठेउ सभाँ खबरि असि पाई। सिंधु पार सेना सब आई।। बूझेसि सचिव उचित मत कहहू। ते सब हँसे मष्ट करि रहहू।। जितेहु सुरासुर तब श्रम नाहीं। नर बानर केहि लेखे माही।।
Hearing her speech, the world-renowned abhimaani laughed and dismissed her words as foolish. 'The fearful nature of women is only too real. Even in auspicious times their tender hearts tremble with dread.' 'Should the monkey army come, the poor demons will have living food delivered to their door.' 'He at whose terror the guardians of the worlds shake, and yet his own wife is afraid? What a grand comedy!' Saying this with a laugh, he embraced Mandodari to his heart and went to the court, full of affection. Mandodari felt the weight of chintaa in her heart: fate had turned viparita, hostile, towards her husband. Ravana took his seat in the assembly. News arrived that the entire army had crossed the ocean. He asked his ministers: 'Speak your uchit counsel.' But they all laughed and held their silence. 'You conquered suras and asuras without effort. What account are mere men and monkeys?'