Shuka Sees Eighteen Padma Hosts Straining Against Rama's Command
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 55
Doha 55 · Movement 1 of 2
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Shuka continues until the scale of the farther shore overwhelms number. The named warriors are all equal in might to Sugriva, and millions upon millions stand like them. By Rama's grace their strength has become incomparable, and the three worlds weigh no more in their thought than a blade of grass.
The spy heard that eighteen padma divisions of monkey commanders fill the host. Not one warrior among them, he tells Ravana, doubts his power to defeat the king of Lanka. They wring their hands in fierce impatience, held back only because Raghunatha has not given the order.
At a word they would dry the sea with its fish and serpents, or bury its waters beneath immense mountains. They speak of grinding the ten headed king into dust. Their fearless roars roll toward Lanka as if the forest army already opens its jaws to swallow the golden city whole.
The ocean still protects Lanka only because Rama has not released the strength waiting at its shore.
Read the passage from the Manas
ए कपि सब सुग्रीव समाना। इन्ह सम कोटिन्ह गनइ को नाना।। राम कृपाँ अतुलित बल तिन्हहीं। तृन समान त्रेलोकहि गनहीं।। अस मैं सुना श्रवन दसकंधर। पदुम अठारह जूथप बंदर।। नाथ कटक महँ सो कपि नाहीं। जो न तुम्हहि जीतै रन माहीं।। परम क्रोध मीजहिं सब हाथा। आयसु पै न देहिं रघुनाथा।। सोषहिं सिंधु सहित झष ब्याला। पूरहीं न त भरि कुधर बिसाला।। मर्दि गर्द मिलवहिं दससीसा। ऐसेइ बचन कहहिं सब कीसा।। गर्जहिं तर्जहिं सहज असंका। मानहु ग्रसन चहत हहिं लंका।।
"All these monkeys are equal in might to Sugriva. Who can count the millions upon millions like them?" "By Rama's grace they possess incomparable strength. They consider the three worlds as mere blades of grass." "Thus I have heard with my own ears, O ten-headed one: there are eighteen padma troops of monkey captains alone." "O lord, there is not a single monkey in that army who could not defeat you in battle." "In supreme fury they wring their hands, yet Raghunatha holds them back and does not give the command." "They would dry up the ocean with all its fish and serpents, or else fill it by hurling in vast mountains." "They would crush and grind the ten-headed one to dust. Such are the words every monkey speaks." "They roar and threaten with fearless abandon, as though they would swallow Lanka whole."