Called a Firefly before Rama's Sun, Ravana Draws His Sword
Sundara Kanda, Doha 9
Doha 9 · Movement 2 of 2
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Ravana hears the comparison clearly within the Ashoka grove. His splendor has been reduced to the momentary gleam of a firefly, while the absent prince has been named the sun.
Sita's severe words leave no opening for persuasion, gifts, threats, or division. Every method the king brought into the garden has broken against her fidelity.
Humiliation becomes rage. Ravana draws his sword before the woman who will not turn her eyes toward him. Steel rises where speech has failed, and the hidden Hanuman watches the firefly attempt to answer the sun through violence.
Ravana cannot endure the measure of Rama's sun, so the defeated persuader reaches for steel.
Read the passage from the Manas
आपुहि सुनि खद्योत सम रामहि भानु समान। परुष बचन सुनि काढ़ि असि बोला अति खिसिआन।।9।।
Hearing himself compared to a firefly and Rama likened to the sun, hearing Sita's sharp words, Ravana drew his sword in a blaze of fury.